Jett Schwaier/CHAT News

By Jett Schwaier

SMILE SUNDAYS

Video: ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas’ as holiday decor is raising donations for the Medicine Hat SPCA

Dec 7, 2025 | 5:00 AM

As the holiday season is upon us, a Christmas light display in Medicine Hat draws thousands of people while raising donations for the SPCA.

Shane Matuska has been bringing Christmas decor to a new level for the public to enjoy since 2004 and has raised donations for the SPCA for his eighth year.

Matuska and his mom took three weeks to complete the decorations, with more still to come.

“We just really enjoy doing it, it brings out the community, and they really support it, so I enjoy doing it,” Matuska said.

“I leave it up for the whole month of December, and no word of a lie, I’m going to say at least 10,000 people would come through in that month.”

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Matuska said he raises donations for the SPCA because of his love for the animal shelter.

“Over the years, we’ve adopted quite a few animals from there, [we] know how hard it is to run a shelter like that,” Matuska said.

“I’ve always had it in my heart for the SPCA, so every year we put [a donation box] out,” he added.

“I don’t ask for them, but [people] have been donating, and we’ve been doing really well supporting the SPCA.”

Every Christmas, Matuska thinks this will be his last year, but he plans to keep going as long as he enjoys it.

“Just to hear the kids when they come through, it’s worth it, that just makes me want to keep doing it,” Matuska said.

“I’ll just keep doing it until I can’t.”

Located at 602, 7 Ave. SW, the decorations viewing is free and open to the public to enjoy.