The most successful Festival of Trees event staged yet by the R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation has helped speed it along to its goal of buying sophisticated equipment for the area’s plastic surgeon.Plastic surgeon James van der Merwe now has to order in what he needs and that can take three to five days to arrive.
Held Nov. 18 and Nov. 19 at Heritage Park, the event features decorated miniature Christmas trees and wreaths, each containing themed-prizes. Once viewed, those attending buy raffle tickets for their favourite trees or wreaths in hopes of winning one to take home.
This year the foundation raised $12,300 so that it now has $47,323 — more than halfway to the $93,500 needed for a collection of straight and angled metallic plates along with screws needed to straighten or otherwise repair damage to hands.
“We currently have the only plastic surgeon in the whole northwest,” said foundation administrative assistant Heather Bellamy. “His specialty is repairing chronic and traumatic hand injuries.”
“This medical equipment will give him the tools to do most surgeries locally, reducing the need for patients to travel to larger centers for care.”
In seeking donations, the foundation also notes that a person’s tendons retract over time, so that waiting for surgery makes repairs more complex. More then 640 people attended over the two days, said Bellamy.
In addition to having the event hosted at Heritage Park, the Greater Terrace Beautification Society joined in this year to help decorate the grounds with Christmas lights. Employees from McElhanney also contributed their time one day.
The trees and wreaths were decorated by employees of various departments within Mills Memorial Hospital and by employees of local businesses.
New features this year included ice-fishing for youngsters who caught either a Christmas duck or a prize to take home, hot cider and cookies and the opportunity for a selfie with Santa in a vintage Nordic suit.
Bellamy said the foundation looks forward to continuing its partnership with Heritage Park and the beautification society.
The society this year, after several years of increasing thefts and vandalism, stopping putting Christmas lights along the Grand Trunk Pathway. It has, however, decorated the trees at the main entrance to the Sportsplex.
PCL Construction, the prime contractor on the new Mills Memorial Hospital project, Stewart World Port, Westpoint Rentals, Canadian Tire and Safeway made contributions while The Terrace Standard, CFNR, Bounce Radio and Pure Country Radio provided promotion.
Another addition this year was a kids’ game, ‘Ice-fishing’ where every child took home a Christmas duck or prize. Hot Apple Cider and cookies sponsored by Safeway added a warm memory of Christmases past, giving energy to move ahead to the Santa Corner, where families could take a ‘Selfie with a vintage Nordic Santa.