With new provincewide health orders leading to more restrictions on gatherings, many events in November and December have been postponed or cancelled.
One such event that falls into the latter category is the Festival of Trees, an annual endeavour held to raise money for, and awareness of, the Marjorie Willoughby Snowden Memorial Hospice Home.
The event was to have taken place from Dec. 11 to Dec. 13, hosted by Berwick on the Park and Uptown Chefs Catering and Events and held at the Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre in Aberdeen. The Festival of Trees sees businesses buy in for $250 and decorate a Christmas tree. Public admission is by donation and visitors vote on their favourite trees.
Organizers expressed their reasoning for cancellation in an email.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of this year’s Festival of Trees in support of Hospice,” wrote Erin Currie, community relations manager for Berwick on the Park Retirement Community. “We know that this will be disappointing to all participants; however, it was not a decision we made lightly. Due to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and Dr. [Bonnie] Henry’s new provincial orders, we feel cancelling the event is in the best interest of all.”
Those who would like to support the Kamloops Hospice Association is invited to donate the equivalent of the cost they would have incurred in visiting the Festival of Trees, either as a cash donation or by purchasing items on the association’s wish list.
The wish list can be found online at kamloopshospice.com/contribute/wish-list.
