2024 Festival of Trees Raises $184K for Moose Jaw Hospital

MOOSK JAW – 33rd Annual Festival of Trees Galahosted by the Moose Jaw Health Foundation (MJHF), transformed the Moose Jaw Events Center into a Roaring ’20s-themed attraction for about 300 guests who recently helped raise funds for the Moose Jaw Hospital.

It raised $184,000 for new medical equipment for the Dr. F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital.

“This year’s Festival of Trees was absolutely amazing,” said Kelly McElree, MJHF Director. “We’re excited because we know the festival saves lives.”

This year’s festival was created by Kim Waldo and her team of MJHF volunteers. “We will be bringing (a new bronchoscopy) service to the hospital thanks to the tremendous support at the Festival of Trees,” McElree said.

To date, the festival has raised approximately US$5.5 million. Healthcare Foundation’s Vision for Tomorrow Campaign ensuring that the Dr. F. H. Wigmore Regional Hospital was one of the best equipped on the prairies.

To prepare for this year’s gala, the curling rink at the Moose Jaw Events Center has been transformed into the “largest event ever named Moose Jaw” called “Sugar & Spice & Notoriously Nice.”

Preparations for the festival, which included a themed entrance tunnel, stylish ’20s-themed decor and even a McLaughlin-Buick, began on October 16 and ended four days later on October 19. Credit for the glamorous setting goes to Kim Waldo, her team of volunteers, the Tunnels of Moose Jaw staff and several businesses who volunteered their time.

“I have to say the team at Moose Jaw Events Center was absolutely outstanding and the food they prepared was phenomenal—I still get rave reviews to this day,” McElree added. “JGL (Livestock) sponsored the beef tenderloin… (and) we are very grateful for that.”

McElree also credited hosts Dr. Nishaan Cheddy and Dr. Chun Huang, vocalist Stella Salido Porter and auctioneer Scott Johnston, who hosted the auction with Tunnels of Moose business development specialist Kelly Carty, for her first experience with a live auction. Jaw.

He also wanted to thank artists from Dance Images And band Mascara from Reginawho “closed the evening with a superb live performance.”

The volunteers included several doctors and nurses, and McElree said their role was very valuable.

“(These health care professionals) realized the impact donations can have on improving health care in the community,” he said. “They came out and were extremely supportive – not only donating their time, but actively bidding throughout the evening.”

Two items auctioned at this year’s festival included a quilt donated by the Prairie Hearts Quilters Guild and an 18-foot (5.48-meter) Christmas tree that will soon be installed in the hospital lobby.

The “Splash of Color” quilt was donated by the guild in memory of Wendy Findlay.

“It was a very touching moment,” McElree said. “(Findlay) was much loved and passed away from dinnertime cancer. We’re raising money for a bronchoscope, which is used to help people with lung cancer and COPD, so it was a double meaning.”

Dr. Thorpe won the blanket and then donated it back to the auction, where Findlay’s daughter Tammy bought it. Together they raised $7,150 for the campaign.

Another auction item was the Holidays Hospital Lobby Light Up Tree, sponsored by JGL Livestock, for an impressive $25,000.

“The festival is a community effort and the volunteers are the heart and soul of Moose Jaw,” McElree said. “I just want to thank everyone in the community that came out to the Festival of Trees and the brunch…

“You know,” he continued, “for a community as big as Moose Jaw, (it) may not be the biggest city, but the people in Moose Jaw have the biggest hearts.

“We at the foundation and the medical staff – and most of all the patients who benefit from people’s generosity – (would like to say) thank you very much.”

For more information about MJHF or to donate to the Vision for Tomorrow campaign, visit MJHF.org or call 306-694-0373.