Tree lighting kicks off Christmas season

The Bethesda Foundation Gifts of Light tree lighting event kicked off the Christmas season on Sunday in front of Bethesda Regional Health Centre.

The annual tradition once again featured caroling, horse drawn wagon rides, visits with Santa and fireworks.

Board chair Chris Goertzen began by thanking contributors to the event and to their various projects.

“Our community and health care is better in Steinbach because of many people,” he said.

Those people have helped raise $168,000 from the tree initiative alone.

That results in 264 red trees hanging along Main Street and Highway 12 and 165 trees and hedges lit up at the hospital.

With approximately 1,200 strands of lights installed, that equals about 120,000 Christmas lights to cheer hospital patients and their families.

It also represents 33 hours of work by 11 volunteers to make it all happen.

This year the honourary tree lighters were Linda and Judy Penner, owners of the EG Penner Building Centre.

“Linda and Judy have carried forward the proud legacy of Ernie Penner whose vision and leadership continue to inspire our community since his passing in 2016,” Goertzen said. “From the very beginning of the Bethesda Foundation in 1980, the Penner family has stood beside us with unwavering support, helping bring vital health-care services close to home.”

Goertzen remarked on the difference that 45 years of support has made.

“Their generosity has touched countless lives through projects such as the cancer care centre, crisis stabilization unit, Bethesda Primary Care Centre, the Rest Haven expansion and the most recent surgery department,” he said. “Today, we are honoured to celebrate Linda and Judy for their extraordinary impact and their heartfelt commitment to making life better for everyone here in the community.”

Judy Penner told the crowd it was a privilege and an honour to be recognized in this way.

“The foundation is a dear cause to us because in one way or another it has or will impact each one of us in the future,” she said.

Penner said her father spent the last five and a half years of his life in Bethesda Place.

“During that time, he received excellent care as well as a great measure of kindness and compassion,” she said.