Calgary family's Christmas tree lot carries on in spite of cancer & COVID

When Kim DeGagne was diagnosed with incurable blood and bone cancer in 2013, he continued to do what he loved most: sell Christmas trees to Calgarians.

Kim opened the Nova Scotia Christmas Tree Lot in southeast Calgary over 15 years ago, and not much could derail him — or the joy he finds in the holiday season.

But this year, Kim's cancer got worse, and his son, Graham DeGagne, has stepped in to keep the business afloat — in spite of having a full-time job and four kids of his own. 

"[I] just finish my one job, throw on my snowsuit, head to the tree lot and fire it up. I'm going for it, right?" Graham told the Calgary Eyeopener on Wednesday.

"It's literally everything [my dad] has. I would say that it's really what he's living for, in my opinion. I mean, he looks forward to it every year, and it's really his identity."

A deep love for the community

According to Graham, running a Christmas tree lot comes naturally for his father.

Growing up, it was a time that his dad cherished — to the extent that the house looked like it "exploded Christmas" come the holidays, Graham said.

"I think he's got a deep love for the community. I think that the holiday just falls into a special time where he gets to sort of put it all together, and the community really does come together," Graham said.

"Just being able to be in that social atmosphere, and connecting with people in their own lives on a holiday that kind of brings everybody together in a positive way, really brings him more joy than anything else I find."

When Kim was diagnosed with multiple myeloma about eight years ago, he continued to work, Graham said.

But 2020 has been a different story; the family has called an ambulance five times for Kim this month alone.

His condition is worsening every day, Graham said, and COVID-19 has made the situation even riskier.

"When I found out that he potentially wasn't going to be able to run [the tree lot] — not only due to COVID, but due to his condition — me and my wife kind of looked at each other and said, 'Yeah, this is not happening. We've got to make this happen for my dad,'" Graham said.

"So we've really stepped up … [and] it's not our tree lot. It's … it's my dad's. And we're doing this for him."

A personal level

When Graham said he has stepped up, he meant it.

He has set up plenty of lights at the lot on McKenzie Towne Avenue S.E. He has played old Christmas movies and even made an appearance dressed as Santa Claus.

And best of all, when Kim was able to leave the hospital, he was able to sit inside, from the safety of a nearby camper, and watch his son in action.

"I've really created a cool atmosphere," Graham said.

"I think it brought him a lot of joy. Every time I'd walk in that camper, I was playing Santa Claus, right? So I'd come in and chat with him and in my Santa Claus tone. And he was laughing away. I think it brought a few tears to his eyes, for sure."

According to Graham, his dad always worked hard to make the tree lot special for customers, and there is no substitute.

But if anyone is going to try to channel some of Kim DeGagne's Christmas magic, his son might be the closest thing.

"Ninety-eight per cent of the people that walk through that door wonder where my dad is. They have stories. They connect with him on a personal level," Graham said.

"Being his son, I'm able to connect with those people — with my dad's spirit, so to speak.… I mean, big shoes to fill, but I'm still doing the best I can to make sure that all of these people are able to connect, and they're able to leave with that joy of Christmas spirit that he left."

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener.