Candy Cane Lane Express holds third virtual event to keep up with decades-old tradition

Member Stories

Welcome to the Candy Cane Lane Express, where Santa Claus and his elves have been bringing Christmas spirit to the children at the Stollery Hospital and making sure they all know they made it onto Santa’s list.
 

Typically, this special event includes taking children down Edmonton’s famous “Candy Cane Lane,” a neighbourhood known for its amazing Christmas light displays, in ambulances and ETS buses. Then the kids and their families would enjoy some fun and be greeted by Santa — who came bearing gifts, of course — all while the Elves (EMS paramedics) would ensure the kids were closely monitored and having a lovely time.
 

Mark Carson, HSAA member and Advanced Care Paramedic, has been playing Santa for all 38 years of Candy Cane Lane Express, which is yet another example of the dedication of our health-care heroes.
 

HSAA’s Social Justice Committee approved Mark’s application for sponsorship and contributed $500 towards the event.

“myself, it’s not Christmas until I see these smiles on the children’s faces and the helpers’ faces as well,” Mark wrote in an email to sponsors. “Unfortunately, this year, with all the social restrictions due to the pandemic, we need to modify our plans.”
 

Santa and his elves could not be stopped. For the third year in a row, a pivot to a virtual event ensured the cheery Christmas tradition kept trucking along while keeping the kids safe.
The wishes of 23 kids were filled with gifts and a crafted quilt, from Quilts for Everyday Heroes, to keep them warm. Each family also received an individualized message from Santa and a YouTube link to view the spectacular lights of Candy Cane Lane.
 

This heart-warming event wouldn’t be such a tradition or success without the amazing volunteers – paramedics, nurses, and more – who put in the work to bring a bit of Christmas joy to kids and their families who are spending their Christmas in hospitals.
 

Thank you to all those involved in making this event happen year after year, and to all the health-care workers out there who will be caring for any Albertans spending their Christmas in hospitals this year.
 

HSAA’s Social Justice Committee is always accepting applications for sponsorship for humanitarian donation. Interested HSAA members can access the Sponsorship for Humanitarian Donation application form to view the full criteria and requirements for application.