It Takes A Village

STORY RACHAEL HAVENS l PHOTOGRAPHY SANDY MACKAY

Tradition is big in this household, especially during the Christmas season. From building snowmen after the first snowfall of the year to an annual gingerbread house contest, the Spitzig family is creating lifelong holiday memories together.

Jessie and Ryan Spitzig are busy. They live and work in Walkerton, where Jessie owns The Guest House, a plant shop, and LaDel’s, a coffee shop, while Ryan runs Spitzig Framing. They also have five children: Leah, Lilly, Evan, Dez and Ally (LaDel’s is an anagram of the first letters of the children’s names).

They love living in a small town, and Jessie believes the best part is “the comfort of knowing you can count on your neighbours.” This became even more apparent when the couple had children and realized volunteers make the community go ’round. As the saying goes, it takes a village.

Now, Jessie and Ryan use the holiday season as an opportunity to teach their children about giving back to their community. Each December, they celebrate with the “25 Days of Kindness Advent Calendar.” Each day brings a new act of kindness, from delivering donuts to the local firefighters to leaving a candy cane on all cars at the arena during a hockey tournament. This sweet tradition is a wonderful way for the five children to think about, and thank, the people in their town with a small gesture that brightens their day.

Back at home, the family has a cosy place to relax together, surrounded by festive decorations and greenery. Jessie’s favourite ornaments are those made by the kids. Every year, the tree is only decorated as tall as the children can reach, though when the home was on the Walkerton Holiday Home Tour in 2019, the tree was temporarily decorated in full by their grandmothers.

Of course, Christmas Day itself comes with traditions of its own. Each child unwraps “something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read.” Dinner is the one element that could be considered untraditional. Jessie asks “What would everybody like?” and creates a buffet from the children’s answers. Options tend to include pizza, spaghetti and mashed potatoes.

Come Christmas Eve, seven stockings hang from the mantel. Next to the fireplace is a framed saying, “Make Today Happy.” The family takes this sentiment to heart, making the holiday season a happy one for all they encounter by spreading kindness, gratitude and joy, one act of kindness at a time.