Inspired by the Tree of Hope, KelownaNow wants to know: What does hope mean to you?
Is it the comfort and security of family, friends and community?
Is it the aspiration for a better tomorrow as COVID drags on?
Is it a desire, wish, expectation or ambition your good fortune continues or your bad luck changes?
Is it being thankful for what you have while still aiming higher?
Or is it all of the above?
We all have hope, need hope and generate hope.
So, join KelownaNow this holiday season and share what makes you hopeful.
You can comment on this story on KelownaNow's Facebook or Instagram or share your story of hope at the bottom of this article.
It doesn't have to be long.
Just make it to the point and heartfelt.
We'll be using some of the comments to generate another story on hope as a way of inspiring yet more people to join the movement for a more peaceful and fulfilling tomorrow.
As an example and to get you warmed up, we asked a couple of people what they're hoping for this festive season and beyond.
"Realizing this year will feel different than most, let's take a moment to be thankful for the bright spots," said Jodie Foster, the director of communications at the Central Okanagan Regional District.
"We can spend time with our families, enjoy the fabulous Okanagan outdoors and share kindness wherever we go. From my family to yours, may spirit and cheer find you.
Nicole Brown, the corporate communications advisor at FortisBC, is on the same page.
"I love seeing the positive leadership of Dr. Bonnie Henry and hope that style of leadership endures," she said.
"On a personal note, I'm thankful for the opportunity to work from home during this pandemic at a time when my kids are nearing leaving home and I get to spend extra time with them."
Stretching 120 feet into the sky and festooned with 25,000 brilliant lights, the Tree of Hope truly is a beacon of inspiration, cheer, community and fundraising.
For the 23rd year in a row, Kelowna's most dazzling Christmas tree is back, not just to create a visual spectacle at its high-profile address in the Landmark District on Highway 97, but to do good in the community.
You literally can't miss the massive and ultra-illuminated (with environmentally-friendly LEDs) Tree of Hope at night if you pass by on Highway 97 or are anywhere near the Landmark District.
This year, the Tree of Hope fundraiser will benefit the Child Advocacy Centre, the new one-stop resource for those impacted by child abuse.
"We've come up with several new and exciting ways to involve people with the Tree of Hope in these COVID times," said Dallas Gray of Stober Group, the company behind the Landmark District and the Tree of Hope.
"We couldn't have a big light-up gathering like we have in the past, so we live streamed the light up with (TV personality and interior designer) Jillian Harris and her family. We've also set up a giant selfie frame at the base of the tree where people can get a photo and share it with the hashtag #raisinghope and we're asking people to contribute to the Child Advocacy Centre fundraiser."
Over the past 22 years, the Tree of Hope has raised more than $1 million for various local charities, mostly with Stober Group donating $50,000 annually to the designated charity.
This year, it was decided the fundraiser would be opened up to the community to generate more money for the Child Advocacy Centre.
At TreeOfHopeKelowna.ca people can donate using the $20, $50 and $100 buttons and businesses can become a star, angel or bulb sponsor for $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500 respectively.
Stober Group will match all donations up to $100,000.
There's also a Hope in a Little Red Box fundraiser selling hand-painted Christmas tree ornaments for $30 each, which, of course, are packaged in a little red box.
You can buy the ornaments on the website and pick them up from QB Gelato in the Landmark District or have it delivered for $6 more.
The Tree of Hope was born when the late Al Stober, the founder and president of Stober Group, made use of a crane early in Landmark District construction to suspend a Christmas tree-shaped frame and lights.
It was meant to be a one-off, but by the next year became an annual tradition of illumination and hope.
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