Rushed parking job turns into annual Christmas tradition in Saint John, N.B.
For many Saint John, N.B. residents, the sight of a Volkswagen Beetle in front of an old-school barbershop on the city’s west side has become a sure sign that the holidays have arrived.
It started 10 years ago, when Bob Keays parked his 1970s era classic car at the Lancaster Barbershop on Main Street West as he went to go and referee a hockey game.
“We had a game going on, and one of the referees cancelled out,” says Keays. “So, I was supposed to be in the west side Christmas parade and I said to Blaine, ‘Blaine, I’m so sorry but let me tell you what, I’d love to park my car outside your shop.’”
Little did he know that decision was the beginning of what would become a time-honoured holiday tradition in Saint John.
“It’s not until I came back from the Santa Claus parade that I saw people sitting on the bumper... and taking pictures from across the street,” says Blaine Harris, owner of the Lancaster Barbershop.
Ever since, the picturesque scene of a Christmas tree tied to the top of the Beetle and the old-school barbershop in the background, has become a beloved and iconic sign of the holiday season.
“It’s almost like when we park the Beetle here, it’s the start of Christmas in Saint John,” says Keays.
The scene has inspired not only photographers but also painters from the region, and for many, stirs up a sense of nostalgia.
“It’s reminiscent of a Norman Rockwell picture,” says Harris. “And that’s sort of what draws people to it. It’s the look of both the properties as well as the car and they’re both from that era.”
The car itself, which is named Jude after the famous Beatles’ song, has also become something of a celebrity in Saint John – making appearances at many different events over the years.
“When I’m driving you have people that are beeping their horns and it makes them feel really good,” says Keays.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors say capital gains tax changes will jeopardize their retirement. Is that true?
The Canadian Medical Association asserts the Liberals' proposed changes to capital gains taxation will put doctors' retirement savings in jeopardy, but some financial experts insist incorporated professionals are not as doomed as they say they are.
Something in the water? Canadian family latest to spot elusive 'Loch Ness Monster'
For centuries, people have wondered what, if anything, might be lurking beneath the surface of Loch Ness in Scotland. When Canadian couple Parry Malm and Shannon Wiseman visited the Scottish highlands earlier this month with their two children, they didn’t expect to become part of the mystery.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.
What do weight loss drugs mean for a diet industry built on eating less and exercising more?
Recent injected drugs like Wegovy and its predecessor, the diabetes medication Ozempic, are reshaping the health and fitness industries.
He replaced Mickey Mantle. Now baseball's oldest living major leaguer is turning 100
The oldest living former major leaguer, Art Schallock turns 100 on Thursday and is being celebrated in the Bay Area and beyond as the milestone approaches.
What a urologist wants you to know about male infertility
When opposite sex couples are trying and failing to get pregnant, the attention often focuses on the woman. That’s not always the case.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Made-in-Newfoundland vodka claims top prize at worldwide competition
A Newfoundland-made vodka has been named one of the world’s best by judges at this year’s World Vodka Awards.