We've been kicking off the holiday season for 40 years (since 1986!) becoming a family favourite in Saskatoon and a seasonal tradition for so many.
Purpose
Our purpose is to engage the community in an event that celebrates the holiday season through special events, attractions and decorated displays while raising funds to support our beneficiary, Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation.
Revenue is generated through general admission, the sale of decorated displays, gingerbread cookies, special events, raffles and most importantly - sponsorship.
A grand total of 22,147 people attended the 2024 Saskatoon Festival of Trees. Thanks to the support of our generous sponsors, visitors, volunteers and supporters, proceeds of $103,939.39 supported our beneficiary, Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation, towards the purchase of a new CT scanner.
2025 Proceeds
Your diagnosis. Your treatment. Your recovery. It starts here.
Saskatoon City Hospital is reimagining healthcare. An addition of 109 acute care beds will increase capacity and alleviate pressure throughout the system in Saskatoon. By increasing acute care space in Saskatoon, emergency departments can admit patients more efficiently, reducing patient wait times for hospital admission and ensuring patients receive the right care in the right care setting.
As it has for more than 40 years, Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation will support the advancement of healthcare at Saskatoon City Hospital. Your support of the 2025 Festival of Trees will position the Foundation to support equipment, resources, and programming necessary to facilitate the added beds.
It starts here. And it starts with you. Together we can continue to build a vibrant healthcare model that responds to needs of patients and their families.
Our Team
We're a non-profit organization led by a volunteer board of directors. A core committee plans year-round while the event itself is powered by up to 250 volunteers. Ronna Hjertaas, Chair & CEO Perry Kjargaard, Vice Chair Mary-Lou Eastman, Secretary Kim Callbeck, Treasurer Kayla Kobiela, Director Kayla Gamola, Director Raylene Kershaw, Operations Manager
History
The Festival of Trees started in 1986 as a one-day event at the TCUP organized by the Canadian Progress Club – Saskatoon Meewasin. Proceeds were shared amongst the Progress Club, Saskatoon Crisis Nursery and Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation.
1987: the Festival became a two-day event hosted at the Delta Bessborough hotel
1988 to 1990: the Festival continued to grow and gain popularity
1990: Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation organized the Gala Evening & the Progress Club turned over the Festival to the Foundation to run
1991: the Festival was named the Saskatoon City Hospital Festival of Trees
Non-Profit
The Festival of Trees developed into a 9-day event. With a strong volunteer committee in place, the decision was made to establish the Festival as its own non-profit. On April 1, 2006 the Festival became the Saskatoon City Hospital Festival of Trees Inc. (later changing its name to the Saskatoon Festival of Trees Inc. on March 11, 2014).
Today we're in our 40th year of operations and still going strong thanks to the support of sponsors, visitors and volunteers.