Every year since 1996 the Sunshine Coast Hospice has held a special event in Snickett Park on Jan. 1 called Lighting the Memories.
This ceremony officially completes the annual Lights of Life program that happens each December in Gibsons and Sechelt.
Many readers will remember the Christmas trees with their special message cards and their white and blue lights at Trail Bay Centre and Sunnycrest Mall. This year more than 600 cards were placed on the trees to honour and remember loved ones who have passed on. The messages from these cards were burned in a fire on the beach, and as the smoke rose it was seen as sending messages to all of those people who were remembered. This year more than 55 people took part in the ceremony on Tuesday that was led again by Rev. Mark Lemon. "There is something uniquely special about the words being spoken during the candlelit ceremony and the roar of the sea happening at the same time," said Grant Thompson from the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society. "It seems as if people are truly communicating with those being remembered in a very personal way. It is an honour to recall those who have touched our lives. Their memories will live with us forever.
"As luck would have it, even the weather was on the side of this year's ceremony. The rain and wind that had been predicted were somehow graciously postponed until after nightfall."
Lighting the Memories has become a tradition that Hospice is honoured to host every year no matter what the weather may bring. Everyone is always welcome to attend.
The Sunshine Coast Hospice Society thanks every person and business that has donated to this cause.
