Valley folks gathered outside Cowichan District Hospital Wednesday, Dec. 7, for the 26th annual Tree of Remembrance ceremony.
Braving a bitterly cold night, they listened to music, words and a blessing before assembling around two Christmas trees to turn on white lights as they remembered friends and family who have died.
This deeply moving event, organized by Cowichan Valley Hospice and the Cowichan District Hospital, can attract a large number of people who often find great comfort in talking to Hospice volunteers, or even others who are grieving, or simply sharing the companionship of others who are missing someone at the holiday season.
As they have done for many years, the choir from nearby Queen Margaret’s School sang during the event, and later, a group of adults from Cari Burdett’s Threshold Singers presented several songs.