Memory Tree returns to St. Vital Centre

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This article was published 01/12/2021 (1766 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Palliative Manitoba’s Memory Tree was taken down and stored away at the end of 2019, most people couldn’t have known that life would be turned upside down less than three months later.

Now, after being sidelined last year because of the ongoing pandemic, the physical tree is now standing tall again at St. Vital Centre in time for the countdown to the holidays. Once again, it’s located near The Bay.

The tree, which is now in its 34th year, has become a popular way for individuals to acknowledge someone close to them that has died by writing a personal message in a card of remembrance and hanging it on the tree during the holiday season.

On Nov. 21, a team of volunteers, which included members of Winnipeg Environmental Remediations Inc., assembled the 18-foot tree after the mall closed. Thankfully, all of its many lights were still working and intact. The tree is open during mall hours until noon on Dec. 24.

“I’m really elated that we’re able to offer service in-person again this year,” Jennifer Gurke, Palliative Manitoba’s executive director, told The Lance on Nov. 25 — the day the tree was officially opened via a livestream on Palliative Manitoba’s Facebook page, rather than the customary public opening event.

“It can be so hard for some people to grieve at this time of year, especially when so many others are bustling and happy. We’re so happy to once again be able to offer the tree as a way for people to able to share their grief in a non-judgmental way,” she added.

Once again, a team of trained volunteers will be on-hand to offer grief and bereavement support and information to visitors that feel they might need it.

“Our volunteers offer a compassionate ear and recognize and understand that grief is a perfectly normal thing, and that everyone expresses grief differently,” Gurke added.

As in previous years, the service is free, although donations are always gratefully appreciated. Last year, in light of COVID-19, the memory tree went virtual. And while it obviously wasn’t the same, Gurke was still touched by how the community supported it.   

“It was lovely to be able to offer individuals a virtual memory tree last year, but unfortunately it wasn’t the same. But we still ended up getting 167 cards and people were so very generous that they still donated more than $6,000,” she said.

“This highlighted the continued generosity of individuals that come to the memory tree and support the memory tree. We never take their contributions for granted and we continue to be so grateful for their support.”

Go online at palliativemanitoba.ca for more information.