Santa, his helper, members of BCEHS and Pediatrics team at VGH
Santa truly does fly, sprinkling magic across the sky! December 10, Mr. Claus himself made a heartwarming visit to Victoria General Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to spread holiday cheer for sick children and their caregivers in Pediatrics.
At VGH, kids peeked over balconies and out windows in amazement as Jolly Old Saint Nick and his cheerful elf arrived in a BC Emergency Health Services helicopter and strolled into the hospital, with a bag of toys in tow.
Each child was given the opportunity to receive a surprise visit and a special gift from Santa Claus Tuesday morning. Kids wandered out of their rooms with a look of wonder as Santa jingled his way through the corridors, stopping to give a hearty Ho-Ho-Ho and share a warm moment with each child.
This magical tradition, now in its 20th consecutive year, was made possible through the efforts of our incredible Child Life Specialists and Pediatric unit teams. Generously supported by Helijet and BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), Santa also stops off at BC Children's, Surrey Memorial, Abbotsford, and Royal Columbian Hospitals.
Thank you to our Pediatrics teams at NRGH and VGH, whose time and dedication ensured that our young patients and their loved ones experienced a much-needed moment of joy this holiday season.
A special shout-out to NRGH's Sandra Hirota, Alix Polywkan, Nikki Adshead, and Trina Knight; and to VGH's Diane Edwards, Tamara Cotton, and Krista Molia of for helping organize the event.
Check out more photos in our Island Health Flickr Album.
Santa's visit also covered in:
