What started as a few purchases here and there in 2013 has since evolved into a growing annual tradition.
David Robertson and his family began the inflatable minions setup on their property after the release of the animated comedy Despicable Me 2, which traces the exploits of Gru, played by Steve Carell, a villain who aims to become an internationally renowned master criminal.
“Canadian Tire had a couple of little ones and then it grew from there,” said Robertson. “They kind of multiplied like rabbits.”
With an extensive amassed collection, he faced not being able to fit them all on his lawn this year. So Robertson extended an invitation to neighbours, asking them to join in on the festive fun.
“I knocked on the doors and said, ‘You want three minions?’ and they all said yes. So it was that easy.”
Now, 197 inflatable minions line Wagoners Trail, ranging in size and activity.
“There’s eight more in the garage that aren’t up, as well as 50 Halloween, 12 Easter and one Valentine’s Day.”
Robertson said roughly 85 per cent of the blowups are from the United States because Canada’s market is too small for the niche collection.
When Robertson realized he had too many inflatables for this own lawn this year, he extended an invitation to neighbors who were interested in featuring minions on their own properties. (Karis Mapp/CBC News)
A minion community
Robertson said locals and people from across southern Ontario who travel to Guelph are among those who make a point of seeing the minions.
“We’ve had people from Uxbridge, Markham, Mississauga, Brampton, Brantford and Hamilton. They come from all over.”
Bailey Kennedy, Robertson’s neighbour and a new mom, she loves being part of the expanding display.
“My daughter’s 18 months now and she just loved the minions,” she said.
The minions go up every year at the beginning of December and remained there until the first dry day after Christmas. (Karis Mapp/CBC News)
“When Halloween came along, she had to go over and see them twice a day, every day. So when Dave came knocking on the door and asked if we’d like some this year, we had to say yes, of course.”
The holiday decorations typically go up the beginning of December and stay up until the first dry day after Christmas.
This year, Robertson said the setup took four days to complete.
“The choir takes about three hours. It’s just a matter of figuring out where they’re going to go, walking, pinning and staking.”
Inflatable minions on Robertson’s lawn are arranged to resemble a choir singing on pews. (Karis Mapp/CBC)
People who drive by can also tune their radio to 88.1 FM to hear the choir of minions sing some Christmas tunes, thanks to a small transmitter in his garage.
“It’s great and people have stopped by and said, ‘This is the eighth year we’ve come here and it gets bigger every year,’ so it’s fun.”
Kennedy added that now that he has a family, it’s nice to be part of such a caring community.
“Dave set it all up himself and he comes and checks on them and wipes the snow off,” she said.
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This year’s installation is also collecting Salvation Army donations via a QR code for passersby to scan.
Robertson said he’s unsure about expanding the minion display further, but there are plans to keep the festive tradition alive.
Three of the inflatable minions are on the roof of Robertson’s Guelph home. (Karis Mapp/CBC News)