Remembrance Day decorations honour veterans on this Lake Country resident’s fence

A Lake Country woman known for her colourful and creative creations that line her fence for the seasons has created a special display for Remembrance Day.

Heather Irvine is well-known in the community, as she’s often cleaning up the district by collecting garbage alongside the roads. Walk along Lodge Road and you’ll see her house, which sticks out because the yard and fence are always decorated for each season and holiday.

For the last five years, she’s been decorating her property and says she got the idea when she was mowing the lawn one day. This year’s Remembrance Day is no exception.

She wanted to cover her fence with the names of veterans in the area, but was unable to this year due to a bad back, she said.

Luckily a relative of Jim Bailey dropped off a sign honouring Bailey's son's service during the Second World War, she said. Next year she’ll have more signage, but this year has been difficult to collect information due to COVID-19.

“But that is my goal for next year, to have a more personal-type people story, because I do know the kids read and look at the fence when they walk by so I was hoping for a little short (collection of) how many people did pass away and how many served.”

Currently, the yard is decorated with Canadian flags and grave markers honouring fallen veterans.

Irvine’s fence decorating began at Christmas time and was met with such a positive response that she continued doing it year after year.

She shops at dollar stores, thrift stores and accepts donations for her yard.

“It’s a popular route to walk by,” she said, adding that teenagers, neighbours and families all stop and look at the fence.

“I’ve actually had neighbours meet other neighbours (that didn’t know each other) at the fence and that’s how I got to know neighbours too,” she said.

“It’s kind of a little cool meeting place actually,” she chuckled.

Irvine has become a bit of a local celebrity in town, becoming well-recognized for her fence decorating and garbage clean up efforts.

Now that she has a fit bit, she’s happy to track her step count and has collected 500 Costco sized garbage bag this year, she said.

Public Remembrance Day ceremonies will not be taking place in Kelowna, Vernon and Lake Country this year due to COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

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