The Christmas holidays are a time to spend time with family and loved ones, but they also often resurrect the memories of those no longer with us.

Serving as a token of memory for loved ones who have passed, the Crowsnest Pass Hospital Auxiliary is selling ornaments for their annual Tree of Hope, which has been an ongoing project for over 30 years.

“It’s to remember their loved ones and then to help with things at the hospital. We like to be able to give back to the hospital,” says Margaret Woodward, chairperson of the Crowsnest Pass Hospital Auxiliary.

Set up in the atrium of the Crowsnest Pass Health Centre, the Tree of Hope is decorated with ornaments inscribed with loved ones’ names.

The tree goes up in December and in January when the tree is taken down, people can bring their ornament home as a keepsake or leave it at the tech shop to donate towards and put up the next year.

Ornaments can be purchased for a $5 minimum and all proceeds go back to the hospital or the extended care unit to purchase items that aren’t covered by grants and that can’t fit into the hospital budget.

Over the years, the auxiliary has purchased chairs, televisions, kitchen appliances, clocks.

The Crowsnest Pass Hospital Auxiliary has been in existence for 70 years, since April 1950.

In addition to the Tree of Hope, they host three bake sales throughout the year and operate the tuck shop in the hospital’s atrium.

Due to Covid-19, donation slips for the Tree of Hope Ornaments for 2020, can be found in the paper.

Slips can then be mailed to Jean Makin at PO Box 152, Hillcrest Alberta T0K 1C0.

Please make sure you mail in the names of your loved ones with the donation slips.

E-transfer will also be accepted and can be sent to cnpasshospaux@gmail.com.

The security question answer will be christmastree.

There is a message box there where you can type in your loved ones names that you want on the Christmas balls.

The Crowsnest Pass Hospital Ladies Auxiliary will also be at Christmas in the Mountains Market on November 28th from 10am-4pm selling knitting and other items and will also have Tree of Hope Donation slips.
Thank you in advance for supporting your local hospital!

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