The community contributed more than half a million dollars during the 21st edition of the Festival of Trees.
The Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation's annual event brought in more than $550,00 between Nov. 22 and 30, with proceeds going to improving healthcare in the region.
"No amount of words can express how thankful we are for the support we received for this event," said Spirit of the North CEO Judy Neiser. "We are so grateful to our sponsors, donors and everyone who attends this event to ultimately strengthen healthcare in the North."
The 10-day festival at the Civic Centre included sold-out events in the form of a Teddy Bear Breakfast, family brunch, fashion show, two seniors' events and a community Christmas dinner and dance.
The community Christmas dinner and dance was a new addition to the Festival of Trees festivities this year, based on the idea that smaller offices were looking for options for a holiday party but couldn't afford the costs of renting a venue, DJ and other common costs.
More than 12,000 hours were volunteered by 500 people to put this year's Festival of Trees together.
Almost half of the Festival's take came from the gala event, held Nov. 28. The 307 attendees contributed $266,850 on items such as Bea's Tree, a trip to the Indy 500, a landscaping package, Shirley Gratton's fruit cake as wells as the goodie-laden trees.
"We respect that donors have a choice in where they donate, and we are so thankful that the community has embraced the Spirit of the North in their philanthropic wishes," said Neiser.
The foundation was also able to close the book on the diagnostic SPECT CT scanner project - a $1.4 million campaign to bring in a new piece of equipment that is ready for its first patient at the University Hospital of Northern B.C.
