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Generous bids at Festival of Trees light up the Christmas tree at hospital

"Moose Jaw is truly a special place and, from the Foundation's perspective, we are so thankful and have immense gratitude towards people that give donations to us as a Foundation," said Health Foundation executive director Kelly McElree
mjhf tree
L:R: Dr. Mike Prestie and Dr. Mark Lazurko of Ominica Dental, Moose Jaw Health Foundation executive director Kelly McElree, Charles Vanden Broek of Murray GM, and Moose Jaw Health Foundation board member Camron Howe.

Each year at the Festival of Trees, the Moose Jaw Health Foundation (MJHF) takes bids from the crowd for the honour of lighting up the majestic 18-foot Christmas tree in the lobby of the Dr. F.H. Wigmore Hospital — and this year’s winning sponsorship reached heights as tall as the tree. 

Dr. Mike Prestie and Dr. Mark Lazurko of Ominica Dental offered a winning bid of $20,000, which was generously matched by the previous year’s sponsor Charles Vanden Broek of Murray GM. 

The two local businesses will share the spotlight over the holiday season, with both their business names displayed in the lobby alongside the enormous, festive Christmas tree that is modelled after the tree in Rockefeller Plaza, New York.

“Coming to the hospital over the holidays is never an easy occurrence, and what that tree symbolizes is hope for people needing medical treatment,” said Kelly McElree, executive director of the MJHF. “It not only provides comfort to people when they come in the hospital, but it actually saves lives, so it is truly the tree of giving.”

The Health Foundation has run the Light Up the Holiday Tree auction at the Festival for about five years now, collecting a total of $86,750 for Foundation initiatives. 

All of the funds this year will go towards the Mammography Matters campaign, which will bring new mammography equipment to the hospital that will detect cancer better, faster, and with less radiation exposure to patients. 

What began as a friendly competition has resulted in a partnership that benefits many people.

“Murray GM has had the sponsorship of the tree for a few years and I figured, well, I don't necessarily want them to have it by default,” said Prestie. “And then Charles came over and offered to share the sponsorship with us, which I thought was great.”

“I'm pretty happy to be here, with a new partner in Ominica Dental as a co-sponsor,” said Vanden Broek. “Dr. Mike Prestie and his team, we always had a heated battle on the auction floor, so it's good to be partnering with him and his group.”

The partnered donation received a standing ovation at the Festival this year, much to the Foundation’s appreciation, and for both Ominica Dental and Murray GM, the most important part of the donation is how it helps their community. 

“We're lucky to have a hospital of this magnitude, and so this is just another way for us to be able to contribute to the hospital to make sure that . . . all families in the area get the best care and the best out of this facility,” said Vanden Broek.

Lazurko and Prestie echoed the sentiment. 

“Our practice thrives and goes because people in the community put their trust in us to help them with what we can help them with, so it's always good, in a way, to give back,” said Lazurko. “Any way we can contribute, I'm sure it will go to a good cause.”

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