Northern woman puts Christmas miniatures on display in Sundridge

A northern Ontario woman is spreading holiday cheer through a large Christmas table display in Sundridge.

When stepping into the Masonic Hall on Union Street, you enter a holiday village that Ann Swallow presides over.

Christmas miniatures on display in Sundridge. December 11, 2024 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)

It’s a jumble of miniature figures she’s collected and assembled over the years.

This is the second year Swallow’s miniature Christmas village is set up for all to enjoy.

"What I love most about this is the people who come and tell me stories," she said.

"So, they'll come in and they'll say, 'Oh, my mom used to have this' and 'we, as kids, used to set this up.'"

The display features figurines of Christmas carollers and children carrying their tree home to Santa’s workshop.

There are 17 trains in all, a skier who only skies backwards and four trolls hidden in the display to find.

Trees are decorated, lights and glitter shoot up throughout the village and there’s even a little girl being lifted by her dad so she can reach the mailbox to drop her letter to Jolly Old Saint Nick inside it.

The collection has become her yuletide tradition, which started during the pandemic as a hobby to keep her occupied.

Christmas miniatures on display in Sundridge. December 11, 2024 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)

She’s picked up pieces and other figurines along the way, many from second-hand thrift stores and others were generously donated to her.

• Download the CTV News app now
• Get local breaking news alerts
• Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox

"Most have great memories of Christmas and that's what's so wonderful about it," Swallow said.

"They come in here and they can sort of get immersed in this sort of fantasy."

She said she draws inspiration when she reminisces of Christmases past.

As a child growing up near Toronto, she would go see the decorated windows of the Eaton’s department store.

Now, living in the northeastern Township of Strong, she has more than 450 miniature houses and buildings and close to 2,000 figures.

Christmas miniatures on display in Sundridge. December 11, 2024 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)

"The more the merrier," she said.

This year’s theme pays homage to The Nutcracker.

"In the story of The Nutcracker, there are four realms. So, the 'far' realm is the realm of snowflakes,” Swallow explained pointing out each section of the display.

"There is the realm of sweets, the realm of flowers and the realm of entertainment."

Christmas miniatures on display in Sundridge. December 11, 2024 (Eric Taschner/CTV Northern Ontario)

Part of the display also depicts the villages of Sundridge and nearby South River.

"Locals would come and tell me stories about being in the town at Christmas and what was it like to grow up here," she said.

"It's just been fascinating."

The display is free to view from 12- 6 p.m. Thursday to Sunday until Jan. 5.

Anyone who wants to stop by the lodge to see it is encouraged to bring a donation for the local food bank.

Swallow said it’s her holiday gift to all.

"Everybody has memories of Christmas," she said.