Decorations fill the Meadow Lake Civic Centre during the Festival of Trees gala on Nov. 29, 2025. The event raised $112,600 in support of the Meadow Lake Hospital Foundation. (Facebook/ Meadow Lake Hospital Foundation)

By meadowlakeNOW Staff

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

Festival of Trees raises over $100K as Meadow Lake rallies behind local hospital

Dec 2, 2025 | 3:44 PM

The Meadow Lake Hospital Foundation’s biggest night of the year has once again delivered a major shot of support for local health care, with the Festival of Trees raising $112,600 for new medical equipment.

The total continues a long-standing tradition of six-figure community generosity at the annual gala. More than 200 guests filled the Civic Centre on Nov. 29.

Board chair Scott Campbell said the success reflects the deep commitment people across the region have to their local hospital.

“It’s important to people to support us in our quests because we’re all going to use the hospital at some point,” he said.

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Campbell, who has sat on the board for six years, said the Festival of Trees has reliably hit the six-figure mark. He added the support stretches well beyond city limits.

“A huge amount of money, for a small community, all raised locally,” he said. “And not just Meadow Lake people, like there’s Rapid View, Makwa, Dorintosh … surrounding areas also support us, because they all come to Meadow Lake to use the hospital.”

Equipment purchases planned for 2025

The Foundation has already posted its list of 2025 equipment purchases, totalling $214,000, including:

• Sleeper sofa – $6,000
• Birthing bed – $38,000
• Anesthetic machine monitor – $21,000
• Pyxis machine – $67,000
• Centrifuge – $16,000
• Two ECG 12-lead machines – $32,500
• Bariatric air-support surface – $7,500
• Rhapsody standard tub – $26,000

Campbell said the Foundation bases its purchases on requests submitted by departments throughout the hospital each year.

“We try to buy something for each group.”

Even with global economic challenges, Campbell said local giving remained strong.

“You weren’t sure how your people are going to react and how much money they’re going to give, but we had almost no difference from last year,” he said. “So people still gave.”

He believes the reason is universal.

“I think it’s just something you can get behind… we’re all going to use [the hospital],” Campbell said.

Foundation board members: Back row, from left: Kyle Harder, Shelley Arnold and Scott Campbell. Front row, from left: Penny Adamson, Connie Marsh-Yuhaz and Alicen Hubbard. (Facebook/Meadow Lake Hospital Foundation)

Foundation hopes to grow its volunteer board

With only six board members, the Foundation is encouraging more residents to join.

“We surely need some more members to keep going,” Campbell said. “And it’s very gratifying to give back to your community. We all have time and we all have talent.”

The Foundation’s annual general meeting will take place Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at Meadow Lake Hospital.

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com