Trees are being lit up around Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, part of an annual fundraiser for the Hospital Foundation. (Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation)

By Alex Rawnsley

tis the season

‘Light the Trees’ campaign making holiday season brighter for Nanaimo hospital patients & staff

Nov 30, 2022 | 5:27 AM

NANAIMO — It’s about to get a whole lot brighter around the hospital.

The Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation are beginning, and expanding, their annual Light the Trees fundraiser, which sees holiday-themed trees and lights added to all areas of the hospital, driven by donations.

Foundation CEO Barney Ellis-Perry told NanaimoNewsNOW it’s bigger and better this year, moving beyond just the main entrance and hospital tower.

“We’re extending it and lighting up around the emergency ward and ambulatory care area, we’re even popping a tree on top of the hospital. It’s about sending a message of hope for our patients and workers in the hospital.”

Lights can be added to trees by donation to the Foundation, in their quest to raise $5 million for phase two of the new ICU (intensive care unit) initiative at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

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The second phase is a 12-bed high acuity unit, which will tend to people leaving ICU before heading home or to other areas of the hospital for recovery.

“Should there be another pandemic, or major bus crash or something awful in our community, the HAU can double as an ICU which gives us 24 beds of intensive care support for our communities all up and down the Island,” Ellis-Perry said.

Construction on phase one, involving a 12-bed ICU, is underway and expected to open to the public next fall.

The Foundation will host a light up event for the public on Dec. 13 from 4 p.m to 6 p.m. at the Hospital.

Donations can be made through the Hospital Foundation’s website, or in-person at their office near the main entrance off Dufferin Cres.

Ellis-Perry said development of state-of-the-art healthcare facilities in Nanaimo not only services the local community, but all in the central and northern parts of Vancouver Island.

“We are expanding so quickly here, it’s one of the fastest growing areas in Canada and the need has never been greater. There’s going to be more need for critical care for all of our families in the future, so we really hope people will get behind this.”

Over 400 patients went through the unit last year, part of over 60,000 who visited the emergency department at NRGH.

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