Families honour lost loved ones in Light Up the Night event
On Thursday evening, St. Joseph’s Hospice of London hosted ‘Light up the Night’ in-person for the first time since last year’s event was virtual due to COVID-19.
Dozens gathered at the event outside the building, where people enjoyed live music from local artists including Brent Jackso and Sarina Haggarty, sipped on hot drinks and wrote messages to their loved ones who have passed.
“Sometimes the holidays are a difficult time for people so it really is about bringing everyone together,” said Colleen Harris, director and chief development officer with St. Joseph’s. “Let's just lean on people and make it a little brighter this Christmas season.”
The event, presented by Lerners Lawyers, allowed people to purchase a lantern, put a family member’s name on a bag that holds the lantern, along with a personal message inside to commemorate a loved one they’ve lost.
The donations collected from the lanterns will help cover the cost of care for patients at St. Joseph’s, said Janet Groen, the executive director.
“This year we sold over 300 lanterns which will be lit in honour of someone,” said Harris.
Their goal was to raise $50,000 this year. As of Thursday night, they had managed to collect $42,000 in donations.
“It's important for us to continue these services not only here within our residence but within the community, because we offer many services in London,” Harris concluded.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.