NHH lights up with Christmas Magic
Photo courtesy of Northumberland Hospital
By Cecilia Nasmith
Northumberland Hills Hospital's Rotary Club of Cobourg Courtyard has been lit up for the holiday season as an extension of the Town of Cobourg's Christmas Magic.
Patients and their family members were invited to join staff, physicians, midwives and volunteers as the new decorations and twinkling lights blazed on, illuminating this interior space at the hospital with a festive glow.
For a number of years, a dedicated group of NHH Foundation volunteer “elves” has ensured a gaily decorated courtyard each winter to brighten the days of all throughout the hospital. This year brought a challenge, however, as a number of the elves notified the Foundation that they would be hanging up their tools and enjoying a well-deserved retirement after years of this important work.
It was at this time that the next generation stepped in – Rick Cromlish (son of long-time elf Dave Cromlish) and Natasha Jacobs (daughter of long-time elf Basil DeMattos) raising their hands to step in and carry on.
They even decided to take it a step further when Rick – a Town of Cobourg employee – helped to strike a new partnership and extend Cobourg's popular outdoor-light festival Christmas Magic to include the hospital as an additional location.
NHH President and Chief Executive Officer Susan Walsh expressed her gratitude to this amazing team, as well as “a heartfelt thank-you to all of our former elves who began this special tradition. Their years of service and the joy they brought to our hospital will always be remembered.
“We also extend our sincere appreciation to the NHH Foundation's new volunteer team and the Town of Cobourg's dedicated Christmas Magic crew,” Walsh added.
“This is a beautiful display of community support for NHH, and it is much appreciated.”
The festive display includes pieces hand-crafted by former courtyard elves intermingled with new additions and beautiful lights, all co-ordinated under the guidance of Manager of Culture, Events, Tourism and Waterfront Jackie Chapman-Davis and supported by the hospital's own maintenance team. It will remain lit each evening into the new year.
