Well, Victoria, it’s time to face the reality—the magic of Christmas has come and gone!
Whether you’re quick to pack up your decorations as soon as the holidays end or prefer to hold onto the festive spirit a little longer, one thing is certain: it’s time to decide what to do with your Christmas tree.
Before dropping off your tree for chipping, be sure to remove all screws, nails, lights, and ornaments. These items can pose a hazard to chipping equipment, so take a moment to carefully inspect your tree first.
Ready to wrap up the season and start fresh for the new year? Here are a list of places in and around Victoria where you can get your Christmas tree chipped and properly recycled:
The Central Saanich Lions
Back for another year, the CS Lions Club will kick off their annual Christmas tree chip by donation! The Christmas Tree drop off location on Hovey Road is now open to accept your trees and generous donations that go back into the community. The trees are chipped and go to the municipality to be used on park paths and trails.
After many years in the same location, the annual tree chipping will be held in the parking lot at 1800 Hovey Road (adjacent to the Central Saanich Lawn Bowls Club) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and there will be people there to assist anyone who needs help with the tree!
Chipping will begin in the afternoon of December 26th and will continue on select dates until January 12th. Trees can be dropped off 24/7 and a well marked donation box is available on-site.
- Where: 1800 Hovey Road
- When: Volunteers will be on location on Saturday January 4th and 5th, and January 11th and 12th to help unload the tree
St Patrick’s Elementary School
St. Patrick’s Elementary School’s tree chipping event is by donation and all the proceeds will go towards the school’s programs.
- Where: 2368 Trent Street
- When: Sunday, December 29th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Castaway Wanderers Rugby Club
The Castaway Wanderers Rugby Club will be hosting a variety of tree chipping events as well as bottle drives from the end of December to mid-January.
They’ll be offering a tree chipping service by donation. All of the money goes towards supporting their sports programs!
- Where: Windsor Park along Currie Road (beside the rose garden)
- When: View the full schedule here
12th Garry Oak Sea Scouts
Christmas tree chipping and bottle driver over two day span. This event will support the only lower islands Sea Scouting Group that hosts youth from all over the Greater Victoria meeting in the Cadboro Bay hall. Funds are used to acquire necessary safety equipment and programming to get youth aged 5 and up outdoors and on the water.
- Where: Cadboro-Gyro Park, 2625 Sinclair Road
- When: Saturday, January 4th and Sunday, January 5th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Township of Esquimalt
Esquimalt is once again offering their tree chipping service in the Arching Browning Sports Centre back parking lot.
This service is provided by donation and helps support a local charity organization.
- Where: Arching Browning Sports Centre in the back parking lot, 1151 Esquimalt Road
- When: Saturday, January 4th and Sunday, January 5th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
McKenzie Elementary School
McKenzie Elementary School and Bartlett Tree Excerpts are teaming up for their annual Christmas Tree Chipping Fundraiser.
The event runs by donation, with proceeds going to the creation of Outdoor Learning Spaces!
Tree pick up is also available by request, so long as you’re within 3 kilometres of them. To arrange this, email tracylee16@hotmail.com by January 1st.
- Where: Back parking lot of McKenzie Elementary School, 4005 Raymond Street North
- When: Saturday, January 4th and Sunday, January 5th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Oak Bay Firefighters’ Tree Recycle
The Oak Bay Firefighters are offering a tree chipping service by donation with the help of Bartlett Tree Services!
The proceeds will go towards the Oak Bay Bursary program, helping local students achieve their dreams.
- Where: 1703 Monterey Avenue, just to the left of the fire department
- When: Saturday, January 4th and Sunday, January 5th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Central Middle School PAC
A tree chipping fundraiser for the school’s programs will be held both January 4th and 5th!
They also have a bottle drive running on the 5th.
The tree service is by donation.
- Where: 1280 Fort Street
- When: Saturday, January 4th and Sunday, January 5th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cloverdale Traditional School
With support from the Bartlett Tree Experts, Cloverdale Traditional School is hosting a tree chipping event as a PAC fundraiser for the school.
Cost is by donation!
- Where: Cloverdale Traditional School, 3427 Quadra Street
- When: Saturday, January 4th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Reynolds Music Tree Chipping & Bottle Drive
Reynolds Secondary School is hosting a bottle drive and tree chipping fundraiser for the school’s music programs!
Bring a donation and your tree (and your empty bottles and cans if you’ve got some to spare).
- Where: Reynolds Secondary School, 3963 Borden Street
- When: Saturday, January 4th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Victoria Minor Hockey Association
In honour of a teammate diagnosed with leukemia, the Victoria Minor Hockey Association’s Admirals U11A Development team is holding a tree-chipping fundraiser on January 4th.
They’ll be chipping in two locations: Saanich Fusion and Houle Electric from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The chipping is by donation.
- Where:
- Saanich Fusion FC, 4368 Tyndall Avenue
- Houle Electric, 4240 Glanford Avenue
- When: Saturday, January 4th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monterey Middle School
Monterey Middle School hosts a band trip fundraiser by offering a tree chipping and bottle drive. The event, sponsored by Garden City Tree and Landscape is by-donation (suggested $10) in Oak Bay.
- Where: School staff parking lot off Monterey Avenue, 851 Monterey Avenue
- When: January 4th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Oaklands Elementary School PAC
Tree chipping provided by Urban Tree Care and bottle drive held by PAC at Oaklands Elementary, 100 per cent of funds raised support PAC school initiatives.
- Where: Oaklands Elementary School, 2827 Belmont Avenue
- When: January 11th, 9 a.m. to noon
The Easter Seals Christmas Tree Recycling Fundraiser
Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan is offering their annual Christmas tree chipping service by donation and the proceeds will go towards running their overnight summer camp program for children and adults with disabilities!
Drop-off locations in Victoria include the following:
- Tillicum Shopping Centre
- Save-On-Foods – Fort & Foul Bay
- Westshore Town Centre
- Broadmead Village Shopping Centre
For other Vancouver Island locations, visit their website.
Due to rising costs, they won’t be offering a pick-up service this year.
- Where: Locations above
- When: Saturday, January 4th and Sunday, January 5th, times not specified
GFL Environmental
Throughout the month of January, GFL Environmental is offering Christmas Tree drop-off!
Bring your real trees and enjoy a stress-free January.
- Where: GFL Environmental, 1045 Dunford Avenue
- When: Throughout the month of January—hours are Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Want to add your Christmas tree chipping event to the list? Email us at tips@victoriabuzz.com and include all the details.
