The concept was simple. Launch the Festival of Trees and use the proceeds to buy medical equipment for the University of Alberta Hospital.
Here we are, folks, 34 years later and the Festival of Trees is a must-see destination. The hospital is one of the premier treatment facilities in Canada and the Festival of Trees continues to inspire with its special brand of Christmas magic.
Is it the hundreds of thousands of twinkling lights? Or perhaps the 100 imaginatively decorated trees? Or even the decorated cakes and sweet-smelling gingerbread houses?
It’s all of it – a childhood Christmas wonderland that includes the North Pole, a visit with Santa, a shop of sweets, and even a hospital where children are invited to bring their teddy bear for a checkup.
This year’s theme is Experience a Royal Christmas running four days at the Shaw Conference Centre from Wednesday, Nov. 28, to Sunday, Dec. 2.
“There will be an amazing castle in the centre with royal gardens and everything will be decorated in royal colours – royal blue, emerald green, ruby red, purple and gold,” said Dr. Patricia Allewell Nieberding, 2018 Festival of Trees chair.
St. Albert quilter Sharon Monk is an annual contributor once more showcasing a seven-foot quilt alongside 3D quilted tree sculptures.
“She’s very talented and always does such a wonderful job,” said Sandra Dickie, co-chair of outside design.
Sturgeon County Youth Council once more hit the decks, this time decorating a white tree with blue, purple and gold ornaments.
“They always decorate on site and they have such a great time.”
In addition to the traditional fundraising Gala and Auction on Wednesday night, the Luncheon and Fashion show on Friday, and Sunday’s Santa Breakfast, organizers have introduced a new event.
Taking place on Friday night, the inaugural Silver Bell Soiree hosted by Ryan Jespersen of 630 CHED is a night of adult fun with tasty snacks, host bar and live entertainment.
“This is a new event that we hope will attract a younger demographic. It’s adults only and a very unique event,” Nieberding noted.
She also stressed that doors will be closed to the public on Friday night at 6 p.m. to allow volunteers to prepare for the 7:30 p.m. event.
However, the festival’s lasting impact lies in the cause. This year volunteer elves are mounting the festival to purchase a CT scan that produces crystal clear detailed images.
It will be used mainly for neuroscience patients, and will give doctors vital information for anyone suffering head injuries, brain tumours, strokes and coma. They can also be used to assess multiple sclerosis as well as other neurological diagnosis.
The cost of the scanner hardware and software, to be housed in the hospital’s new brain centre, is $2 million.
“It’s very quick. Using an MRI takes 20 minutes to an hour. You can do a CT scan in 47 seconds and you can do them day or night,” said Dr. Keith Aronyk, head of neurosciences.
“It can make the difference between walking out of the hospital intact or with an alarming disability.”
The University Hospital already has three CT scanners, two that only operate during the day and are closed nights and weekends. Aronyk explains the staffing expense is an issue.
Brain injury patients are usually housed on the hospital’s upper floors while CT scanners are down on first-floor emergency units where they operate 24 hours daily. Putting patients on a gurney and travelling across the hospital up and down elevators can risk the patient’s health.
With a 24-hour scanner on the upper floors, a scanner technician borrowed from emergency could technically walk upstairs and operate the equipment.
“We desperately need another scanner in neuroscience. A CT scanner can justify the risk and problems of moving patients through elevators and the potential problems and delays.”
Aronyk is a big booster of the festival, in part from its service to the hospital, in part because of the joy it spreads.
“It’s a community event. It’s a recognition of the holiday. It’s a recognition of the season. It’s a recognition of our whole community.”
