Every year, from late November through mid-December, the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society’s “Lights of Life” program is offered in the Trail Bay Mall in Sechelt and the Sunnycrest Mall in Gibsons. 2011 marked the 21st year for this annual event.

Gibsons” Lights of Life” was held at Sunnycrest Mall beginning on Monday, November 21st and ran through to Saturday, December 3rd from 10am – 4pm.

Sechelt “Lights of Life” was held at Trail Bay Mall from Monday December 5th and run through to Saturday, December 17th from 10am – 4pm.

The “Lights of Life” is for persons of all ages, faiths and cultures. It is an opportunity to personally remember the life of a loved one. All are invited to write a note on a card which will be placed on one of the Christmas trees. At that time the volunteer will exchange the blue bulb for a white one, a symbol of remembrance .

At both locations Hospice volunteers were available to answer questions about Hospice and to accept donations.

At 2 PM on January 1st, 2012 2pm at Snickett Park in Sechelt there was a special ceremony called “Lighting the Memories”. Cards from the trees at both Gibsons and Sechelt were placed into a fire on the beach and burned. This symbolized the completion of the “Lights of Life” program for the 2011 season. The ceremony included a few final words and song. “Lighting the Memories” has become a very special and moving event. It is a wonderful way to begin the New Year. Light refreshments and a hot drink were available immediately following this program. Each year this event draws a larger gathering and last year over 100 people attended.

COAST REPORTER STORY, Lighting the Memories, January 6, 2012

Mark Lemon leads the Lighting the Memories ceremony - CoastReporter.net photo

Sunshine Coast Hospice presented the annual Lighting the Memories ceremony at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Day at Snickett Park in Sechelt. This event marked the conclusion of the Lights of Life program for this season. Many thanks to everyone who donated to hospice during Lights of Life at Sechelt and Gibsons..

Lighting the Memories takes place every New Year’s Day at Snickett Park at 2 p.m. This year marked the 16th year this event has been held.

The candle ceremony was once again led by Rev. Mark Lemon. Following the ceremony, all the cards from the Lights of Life Christmas trees were placed into a bonfire on the beach. The burning of these cards signifies a lasting symbol of love for all those people being remembered. This year there were approximately 75 people in attendance.

Special thanks go to the Threshold Choir who added to the atmosphere of the event by singing a number of songs at various times throughout the service.

Light refreshments were available following the ceremony

The Lights of Life and the Lighting the Memories programs are an annual event put on by the Sunshine Coast Hospice Society.

— Thank you to the Coast Reporter for running this story!