Glitter by the front door and sparkle in the chapel greet visitors to the Saanich Peninsula Hospital this season.
“Who wants to be in the hospital at Christmas? But if you are, at least we have beautiful trees to look at,” said Chris Foster, manager of volunteer services at the hospital.
A total of 22 trees worthy of magazine photos are spread through the Peninsula hospital, thanks to a drive spearheaded by one couple.
“Donna and David Petroski are among the volunteers at the hospital who not only take their duties seriously, but spend many hours there,” Foster said. The couple takes on the annual push to bring a little Christmas to the hospital.
“We needed new trees (this year). The trees we had were 25 years old and falling apart,” said Donna Petroski. So she started canvassing, including at Marigold Nurseries, close to her home.
The family business offered to donate and decorate two trees.
“This hospital is really important to our family,” said Brooke Smith of Marigold Nurseries.
The canvassing grew as residents on Arthur Drive, known in the area as the Street of Dreams and Friendships, came on board, buying enough trees and decorations to deck the halls throughout the hospital.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com