Officials are in full swing with planning the 22nd annual Festival of Trees. This year’s Festival will not include Festival Lights the Night and the Festival’s Winter Solstice. The Senior Appreciation and Volunteer Sneak a Peek will be combined as well.
For 21 years the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre has received more than $11.8 million from the Festival of Trees, and their mission is to continue this great event through the ever changing economy, officials said. The business of fundraising is no different for ‘for profit’ businesses which make up part of the event’s supporters, officials say.
Further reductions will be to take the Festival back to two pavilions at Westerner Park by returning the children’s activity area Candy Cane Lane, back to Stockmen’s Pavilion. However, in regards to the Festival Lights the Night, officials are excited to announce that the City of Red Deer, in partnership with the Downtown Business Association, will host a similar event ‘Red Deer Lights the Night’. This event will be a community celebration that will kick off the winter holiday season.
Fundraising efforts for this year’s Festival of Trees will be directed to enhance client care and services in the Medical Specialty Clinics at the Red Deer Regional Hospital.
Medical Specialty Clinics provides a multidisciplinary approach to care for clients in Central Alberta living with multiple sclerosis, Hepatitis C, heart failure and anticoagulation therapies as well as specialized geriatric services and stroke prevention complex medical conditions.
Over 2,000 clients per year access ambulatory services in the Medical Specialty Clinics. This number is anticipated to double by 2024.
All Central Alberta residents will benefit from the renovation and expansion of services by improving access to a specialized team and thereby decreasing wait times, officials said.
The renovations will result in an improved physical environment that supports clients with mobility aides, family presence at clinic appointments and allowing for the creation of new and the expansion of existing services.
Enhancements to the Medical Specialty Clinics space will support individuals with chronic conditions to maintain maximum independence and avoid hospitalization.
For more information on this year’s events and being involved with the Festival of Trees, check out www.reddeerfestivaloftrees.ca, email foundation@albertahealthservices.ca or contact Alaine Martin at 403-406-5517/403-343-4773.
– Fawcett
