67 big rigs take part in Alberta Christmas Convoy

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It’s not often that an event can surpass all expectations, but the first annual Lesco Country Christmas Convoy on Dec. 11 did just that. The convoy consisted of 67 trucks and other large vehicles as well as nine pilot vehicles, much more than the 19 trucks the convoy had in experimental form a year ago.

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“Last year we only went down Highway 2, with about 19 trucks, it was a much more quiet thing. This year, we wanted to do more, and are thrilled with how it went. Going forward, there’s so much more we can learn and do, and we’re really excited,” said Tina Clark of Lesco Distrubutors, who organized the event along with coordinator Bradley George.

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The convoy started at Blackjacks Roadhouse in Nisku and ended at Leduc Country Lights at the Leduc West Antique Society grounds. Members of the public were able to drop off toys and food bank donations before and after the ride, with a total of four pallets of food and toys being donated to the Leduc & District Food Bank and Leduc Santa’s Helpers, respectively.

From front to back, the convoy spanned 2.5 kilometres, winding through the heart of Leduc, with residents parked alongside the road in anticipation. This year’s drive had a police escort, with the City of Leduc changing the streetlights to allow the convoy a safe and consistent route.

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Clark hopes to see a lot more lights on each of the trucks next year, though she says the convoy will be limited to 75 vehicles each year. As well, Lesco will start accepting donations a lot earlier, right after its annual truck show in September with hopes of having a full trailer’s worth of donations to drop off.

“We had trucks come in from Thorhild, from Calmar, from Leduc, Grande Prairie, and all over. We really appreciate it, and we really appreciated everything Leduc has done for us, and we’re glad we could do this for the people of Leduc,” said Clark.