Filling its balconies with glittering trees is a passion project for the staff at the Bay Centre in Victoria, which takes on all production of the annual Festival of Trees this winter.
“My team gleefully took that on,” said general manager Darlene Hollstein. “We wanted to make sure that the region didn’t lose this great opportunity to support our BC Children’s Hospital and the folks from the Island who benefit from it.”
A longtime sponsor, the Bay Centre took on 100 per cent management this year with the same goal, raising funds and awareness for the hospital that cared for 3,379 Island kids last year. That’s more than nine children every day of the year who received life-saving care.
Steeped in more than three decades of tradition, the Festival of Trees brings together the community and local businesses to celebrate and support BC Children’s Hospital. Local businesses sponsor the trees, each uniquely decorated, to help raise awareness and funds through their staff, customers and the broader community. About 80 businesses participate each year, many have been part of Festival of Trees Victoria since it began. The festival also includes patient trees, tied to the people most impacted by the hospital.
“That’s the real meaning of all of this, supporting those folks,” Hollstein said.
Since the Bay Centre started hosting the annual display in 2015, it has generated over $1.4 million, raising critical funds for the most urgent needs at BCCH. The goal this year is to raise $100,000 and hit that $1.5 million mark.
Guests can vote by donation by scanning the QR code next to their favourite trees and support BC Children’s Hospital Foundation.
An estimated 650,000 visitors take in the festival each year. For visitors seeking a quieter visit, Hollstein recommends weekdays after 4 p.m. as a more peaceful time to take in the holiday ambience. On-site parking is also free after 4 p.m. with the first hour free on weekends except Nov. 16 and 23 when the first three hours are free.
The centre also offers free holiday photos on select weekends (www.thebaycentre.ca for dates and times). New this year, Oso Cafe Dessert in the food terrace will offer partial proceeds to the children’s hospital.
The team has also crafted a playlist – available online at www.thebaycentre.ca/festival-of-trees – for people to enjoy while they take in the trees.
The Bay Centre, at 1150 Douglas St., hosts the Festival of Trees Nov. 15 to Jan. 5, 2025.
