November 24, 2019 (Halifax, NS)— Nova Scotians are celebrating the success of the 28th annual Compass Group Canada Festival of Trees. The signature fundraising event of the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia brought in revenue of almost half a million dollars for community mental health initiatives throughout the province bolstered by an outstanding donation of $57,300 from Steele Auto Group. In the weeks leading up to the festival, the auto dealer held the Drive to End Stigma Car Raffle raising funds and awareness for mental illness and addiction.
The Halifax Convention Centre hosted more than 1200 guests over the course of the two-day event featuring Friday’s Shannex Holiday Luncheon and Saturday’s RBC Black Tie Gala. Upon their arrival, guests were transported to a whimsical world of sugar and spice, and everything nice. Luncheon guests were treated to the delightful harmonies of THR!VE Children’s Choir and inspired by the words of mental health advocate Gizelle de Guzman who recently helped the Foundation with it’s The First Step to Treating It, Is Seeing It campaign.
Shannex has been sponsoring the Holiday Luncheon for more than a decade. Each year, Shannex partners with clients of Kings Regional Rehabilitation Centre to create ornaments for guests. Four different candy-inspired, felted ornaments were especially handmade for everyone who attended.
Guests at the Shannex Holiday Luncheon didn’t leave empty-handed. More than twenty cakes and two dozen wreaths were taken home by Luncheon guests and the 12 Days of Christmas Raffle didn’t disappoint, featuring 12 unique prizes for lucky winners with a top prize of $2,800 cash donated by Bell Aliant.
RBC marked its fifth year sponsoring the Black Tie Gala which had guests dancing to the Sounds of Motown into the wee hours of the morning. Sarah Ellen Morrison, who performed for A Different Stage of Mind earlier this year, returned to the Foundation stage to welcome guests into the ballroom with her signature smoky voice. And, A Different Stage of Mind Alumni Maggie MacGillvray inspired the crowd with her openness and honesty.
The RBC Black Tie Gala featured a silent auction, live auction, and three big-ticket raffles: Anywhere Air Canada Flies, Christmas Cash, for $5,000 cash donated by Bernardine & Tim Moore, and the final draw of Steele Auto Group’s Drive to End Stigma. Cherlynn Atkins left with the grand prize- a two year lease on one of 20 amazing vehicles. The Advocate Forest of Trees shone brightly with five designer trees set amongst a forest of evergreens with Advocate's Home and Native Land tree bringing in more than $5,500 for Nova Scotians living with mental illness and addiction, and their loved ones.
The Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia would like to extend its gratitude to its generous Sponsors: Compass Group Canada, Advocate, Shannex, RBC, Steele Auto Group, Cermaq Canada, and St. John Ambulance; Media Partner, CTV; Branding Partner, Revolve; A/V Partner, FMAV, Video Partner RPM Productions and Festival Partners, Glow The Event Store, Bell, Air Canada Foundation, Limelight, Oceanstone Seaside Resort- Moore Suites, Premiere Van Lines, and Bishop’s Cellar. A full list of sponsors and partners can be found online at mentalhealthns.ca/festival-of-trees.