WATCH: Collingwood's Tree Lighting Event Disappoints

Community Left in Darkness After Power Outage Halts Ceremony

Collingwood's annual tree lighting ceremony was plunged into darkness on Saturday evening after a power outage halted the festive event. The highly anticipated celebration, which draws thousands of residents and visitors to the downtown core, was abruptly canceled due to the electrical malfunction.

Power Outage Leaves Spectators Disgruntled

The outage occurred shortly before the scheduled 5:30 p.m. lighting ceremony, leaving the towering spruce tree shrouded in darkness. Spectators expressed their disappointment as the crowd waited patiently for the lights to be restored, but to no avail.

The power outage was traced to a faulty transformer near the tree, according to Collingwood Hydro. Crews worked throughout the evening to repair the issue, but the damage was too extensive to restore power in time for the ceremony.

Officials Apologize for Inconvenience

Town officials apologized for the inconvenience and expressed their regret that the event had to be canceled. Mayor Brian Saunderson acknowledged the disappointment of the community and promised to find an alternative way to celebrate the holiday season.

"We are extremely disappointed that the power outage prevented us from having our traditional tree lighting ceremony," said Saunderson. "We understand that this is a special event for our residents and visitors, and we will do everything we can to make it up to them."

Investigation Launched into Power Outage

Collingwood Hydro has launched an investigation into the cause of the power outage. The utility company is expected to release a report detailing the findings of the investigation within the coming days.

The canceled tree lighting ceremony has cast a shadow over the holiday season in Collingwood. However, residents are hopeful that the town will be able to find a way to salvage the festive spirit and bring some holiday cheer to the community.