Dusty Belisle is having a merry Christmas. For decades, he sold Christmas trees in the parking lot of an iconic retro Dairy Queen near the intersection of Merivale Road and Clyde Avenue. According to Belisle, the property owners planned to develop the site, forcing him to a lot in Bells Corners in 2023. But he said those plans haven’t materialized, allowing him back to his old spot.
Belisle has been selling trees for nearly 40 years, along with his trademark “huggy bear” and vintage trailer.
On a snowy November morning, some locals created new Christmas traditions, while others returned to the familiar scene after the long relocation.
The scene was reminiscent of a holiday greeting card, complete with fat, slow-falling snowflakes and the fresh smell of spruce. Belisle says this year’s early snowfall brought in enthusiastic customers ready to get decorating.
“It’s going to be crazy busy again in a few hours,” he said.
Family member André Theriault helps Belisle on weekends, which tend to be busier. Theriault says the Douglas fir is the best for those who “like the big Martha Stewart bulbs.”
Belisle said he will sell around 500 trees this year. When real trees were the first choice for most, Theriault said it was typical to sell several thousand trees in the three weeks before Christmas.
Tired of having a fake tree, Shauna Dinelle said she wants her children to experience picking out a real one.
“Our fake tree was starting to look pretty sad,” Dinelle said. “A real tree is so special. This is my first time getting a real tree since I was a kid.”
Dinelle’s family spent around a half hour deliberating between trees. Belisle said some people like to look at all the trees before choosing, but some fall in love with a tree at first sight.
