St. Paul’s Foundation holds final lights of Hope display at historic site

The St. Paul’s Foundation will light the Lights Of Hope Christmas display for the final time at the Burrard Street hospital campus in Vancouver.

The foundation plans to move the hospital campus to the Jim Pattison Medical Campus at 1002 Station St in January. Because of this relocation, the organization is preparing to transition the annual holiday tradition to a new location. Sheila Biggers, the president and CEO of the St.

Paul’s Foundation, said the foundation is actively discussing how to continue the event at the new site. The Lights Of Hope display has run at the current location for 29 years. The fundraiser supports research, medical equipment, and patient care at Providence Health Care Centres across British Columbia. The foundation uses these funds to provide items such as clothing for patients, special blankets for premature babies, and diagnostic equipment like a new PET scanner for radiology.

The event has expanded since its start in 1998. While the first event used nearly 1,000 lightbulbs and raised $70,000, this year's display features more than 100,000 bulbs and aims to raise an estimated $2.4 million. The public can attend the free event at 1081 Burrard St, which includes music, food trucks, and hot drinks.