Students at Vancouver Island University received an early holiday gift as VIU Foundation’s 18th Annual Festival of Trees raised $115,000 during the two-week event.
Money raised will be used to support students through newly created bursaries and scholarships, as well as help fund state-of-the-art improvements to campus.
More than 3,000 people attended the various festival events at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, which included an opening reception, family days and the black-tie gala.
New to the festival was the tree decorating challenge, which encouraged community groups to donate a tree to the event and also gave attendees the chance to vote for their tree.
Festival organizers were happy to recognize Rose Kolodrubsky as the inaugural winner for her Nativity themed tree featuring many hand-made decorations.
The Festival of Trees is Vancouver Island University’s premier fundraising event running.
Last year the the festival raised $85,000 in support of students.