COCHRANE— Spreading holiday cheer with little rays of light, Fortis Alberta is making Christmas brighter for Bethany Cochrane with the Lights of Joy display.
Fortis wanted to do something to help brighten people’s lives in the community they serve, said corporate communications advisor Mona Bartsoff, and the idea for the Lights of Joy was born.
Fortis employees created holiday magic on Friday (Nov. 27) decorating the trees surrounding Bethany with decorations and 2,000 feet of Christmas lights.
“This was the pilot year and it seems to have been met with tremendous success so far,” Bartsoff said. “It seems to be very well received, not only by the employees of the senior's centres— But a lot of the senior citizens themselves have said how much they appreciate having been thought of.”
Fortis was inspired to launch The Lights of Joy as a way to bring holiday cheer to those whose Christmases would be most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.
Typically, Fortis would host their own Christmas parties for their employees, Batsoff said, but they are not doing so this year as they are working from home or independently on sites.
“We can’t be together. We’re not celebrating ourselves but it really makes us feel great to help somebody out— It’s what the seasons about,” Bartsoff said. “It also allows us as an essential service to stay safe because we're not going anywhere near the facility inside.”
Bartsoff added there are three parts to the project— The Lights of Joy at seniors' homes, the Trees of Joy for the Children's Wish Foundation and giving to food banks in local communities. This year alone Fortis has donated to around 70 food banks.
The Lights of Joy has received positive feedback from the more than 20 seniors' homes they have visited so far, Batsoff said.
After installing the winter wonderland at Bethany, Fortis then donated $2,500 to the senior's home to help light up the Christmas spirit in residents. Bartsoff added the goal was to provide a donation that would be customizable to the needs of the community. Part of the donated funds was used to bring a new 12-foot Christmas tree to the facility.
Bethany Cochrane was chosen for the Lights of Joy after being nominated by Fortis Alberta employees.
“Our intention is that over the years coming up we will have a chance to work with all of the different senior's facilities in the community,” Bartsoff said. “It only grows from here— This was a starting point.”
Diane Kashuba Director of Development with the Bethany Care Foundation said residents appreciated the generosity of Fortis Alberta in gifting the Lights of Joy to the senior's centre.
“They were able to decorate trees not only for residents that are facing the front of the building, but they also went around the back of the building,” Kashuba said. “They were so generous in that they purchased the lights, they provided the installation and then they gave a gift to the site in order to support all the residents at this time.”
The old Bethany Christmas tree was on its last legs so residents, Kashuba said, and Bethany staff are incredibly grateful for the donation and a gift basket that included individually packaged food.
She added residents and staff are incredibly grateful for the continued support they have received from the community and the unique ways people are finding to connect with those who call the centre home.
Typically, residents can participate in neighbourhood tours during the holiday season so they can see different light displays, which is not possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She added the Lights of Joy has proven to be a great way to help reduce the social isolation some residents may be feeling.
“This is just so meaningful in that they’ve brought the lights to our residents,” Kashuba said. “There’s a lot of gratitude— To be able to look out the window and see something twinkling is wonderful.”
