Salvation Army’s Captain Neil Wilkinson, Spruce Credit Union’s Crystal Knudsen, Coast Inn of the North General Manager Doug Andrews and Maintenance Manager Butch Doherty, Integris Credit Union’s Daniel Wingham, Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Program Director Ron Polillo

Prince George, BC – The tree atop the Coast Inn of the North is gone for another season, but the fundraising effort had a lasting impact on the community…

Salvation Army Captain Neil Wilkinson says donations to light up the tree – $5 per bulb – actually surpassed this year’s goal of $40-thousand dollars, by bringing in an additional $1,650.

Wilkinson admits the fundraiser got off to a bit of a slow start, which he attributes to the delayed start of winter and, also, to the community’s eagerness to help those affected by the Victoria Towers apartment building fire in early November.  So, he says, the Salvation Army was delighted to end above target.

The final tally for the local Christmas kettle campaign came in at $210-thousand dollars.  The goal had been to meet last year’s mark of $250-thousand.  Again, Wilkinson says volunteers were extremely busy helping those displaced by the Victoria Towers fire at the start of the campaign and the Salvation Army just wasn’t able to get the kettles out in the community.  He says once they were out, the donations rolled in.

Wilkinson is already looking ahead to next year when the Tree of Lights celebrates a milestone 25 years in Prince George.  He says planning will get underway in May or June.  Anyone looking to get involved can contact the Salvation Army at 250-564-4000.