After weeks of delays and many bumps in the road, Yellowknifers can finally get their trees from the Yellowknife Scouts tree yard starting Dec. 13.

The trees go on sale at the Yellowknife Co-op at 6 p.m. The opening marks an end to a long and difficult journey for the shipment of more than 400 Balsam and Fraser firs.

There is already a shortage of Christmas trees this year, due to a combination of environmental and economic factors. The ScoutsSA国际影视传媒� trees were supposed to go on sale the last week of November. However, SA国际影视传媒淚t wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 cold enough to cut the trees, so we said SA国际影视传媒榣etSA国际影视传媒檚 put it off a week,SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒� says Mike Kalnay, the ScoutsSA国际影视传媒� tree-yard co-ordinator.

Unfortunately, this was only the beginning of the ordeal: after the trees were harvested from Johnston Brothers Tree Farm south of Ottawa, the driver hired for the job doubled his fee. When the team instead put the trees on a train from Montreal to Calgary, the floods in B.C. shut down the rail network.

And as the trees arrived by truck in Edmonton, the shipment was stopped for a possible inspection, during which time the driver left.

SA国际影视传媒淐OVID, environmental crisis, general chaos,SA国际影视传媒� says Kalnay of the factors that led to the delays. SA国际影视传媒淓verythingSA国际影视传媒檚 harder everywhere.SA国际影视传媒�

Finally, on the last leg of the journey over the weekend, the truck ended up in a ditch on the side of the road. SA国际影视传媒淥ur driver went into the ditch, but he passed three other trucks in the ditch,SA国际影视传媒� says Kalnay.

When the trees finally did arrive at their destination in the Co-op parking lot, more than a dozen shoppers and passers-by stepped in to help with the unloading. SA国际影视传媒淲e on-loaded that truck faster than weSA国际影视传媒檝e ever unloaded,SA国际影视传媒� says Kalnay.

A shipment of trees is also on its way to Cambridge Bay via airplane. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 up to Buffalo Joe and Braden Burry [expediting] now,SA国际影视传媒� says Kalnay.

The Yellowknife Scouts have been operating the tree yard fundraiser for more than 30 years. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 an important source of revenue for the organization, which currently has less than 100 members. SA国际影视传媒淲e hope to sell all the trees to cover those costs,SA国际影视传媒� says Kalnay.

Kalnay is confident there will still be trees left this weekend. SA国际影视传媒淲e ran out last year after two weeks, and I think we have enough, so people donSA国际影视传媒檛 need to panic and stand in a long, long line tonight,SA国际影视传媒� he says.

Trees are on sale during the week from 6-8 p.m., and on the weekend from 10-4. Due to Covid-19-related restrictions, a maximum of three families or 16 people will be allowed in the yard at a time.