The annual, free holiday event offers Yukoners a chance to honour those who are no longer with us.
Emotions can run high over the holidays. It can be a time of excitement, of course, but it can also be a time of reflection and remembrance—especially for those whose loved ones are no longer here.
For people wanting a special way to honour the memory of friends and family who have passed, Hospice Yukon Society will host its annual Lights of Life Opening Ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 11, at noon in the lobby of the Elijah Smith Building, says Heather Finton, the communications coordinator with the organization. This gentle ritual is a favourite Yukon tradition that includes thoughtful reflections, as well as songs by the Persephone Singers, she adds.
This year’s theme is When the Losses Keep Coming, and the event’s guest speaker will be Elder Lorraine Netro of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, Finton says.
“In a challenging time, we can pause to acknowledge the pain of loss. Sometimes it can be comforting to feel the support of other people.”
Yukoners can hang a remembrance tag on Lights of Life trees around Whitehorse and in the communities.
Stacey Jones, who is the executive director at Hospice Yukon, says this time of year can feel lonely when we’re missing people who have died. “Lights of Life allows us to take a few moments to honour those relationships,” she adds.
The event will also include a Child Tree, where kids are welcome to hang tags, or visitors can remember children who have passed away. There’s also a Pet Tree where people can celebrate the lives of their pet companions, says Finton.
The opening ceremony will be filmed for later broadcast to benefit rural Yukoners and others, thanks to support from the NorthwesTel Community TV channel.
Please visit hospiceyukon.net/events for a list of all Lights of Life tree locations in Whitehorse and in rural Yukon.
Trees at the Elijah Smith Building are available for hanging tags on weekdays from the afternoon of Dec. 11 until 11 a.m. on Dec. 18. A more private space is offered at the Hospice Yukon tree at 409 Jarvis St., from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.
