The Hudson's Bay Company Foundation Brings Holiday Magic to SickKids Hospital with Launch of Winter Lounge

Winter Lounge for Patients and Families Opens with Tree Lighting and Snow Globe-Making

TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2015 /CNW/ - The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) Foundation is proud to partner with The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) for the third consecutive year to create an enchanting Winter Lounge for children and families spending time at the hospital this holiday season. Throughout the month of December, a section of the hospital's atrium will be transformed into a holiday haven, providing patients and their families with a devoted space to feel at home during the holidays.

To help bring the spirit of the season to life, the Winter Lounge is set in a snowy Canadian scene complete with an ice rink in the form of a floor decal. The space is illuminated with beautiful lit Christmas trees, comfortable couches, and familiar holiday décor, bringing the comforts of the holidays at home to the hospital. This year, the HBC Foundation is also bringing some of the magic from Hudson's Bay's famous winter window displays, by decorating the windows on "Main Street" in the hospital with playful, life-sized woodland and arctic animals like polar bears and bunnies. With the goal to spread good cheer and put smiles on the faces of patients this season, every child staying at the hospital in December will also receive the HBC Foundation's 2015 Heritage Charity Bear, Tolmie.

"We are incredibly proud to partner with SickKids to help make the holidays a little bit brighter for patients and their families this holiday season," commented Stephanie Thornbury, VP, Communications and Community Investment, HBC. "We hope the Winter Lounge makes a meaningful difference to everyone having to spend time at the hospital during this special time of the year."

"We are grateful for the support of the HBC Foundation through this wonderful holiday initiative," stated Seanna Dempsey, Vice President, Corporate Partnerships, SickKids Foundation. "The Winter Lounge has become a celebrated annual tradition at SickKids that's appreciated not only by our patients and their families, but also our staff. It's a cherished space that gives those who stay at the hospital over the holidays a lovely area to celebrate with their families and loved ones."

What:		The HBC Foundation Opens Annual Winter Lounge at SickKids
Where:		555 University Avenue, Toronto, ON. M5G 1X8 (Entrance to Winter Lounge through Elizabeth Street entrance)
		*Media to meet at Information Desk next to Starbucks in the hospital's Atrium to be escorted to the event space
When:		Tuesday December 1, 2015
		Time: 10:30am
		*Please note: media/filming in the lounge will end at 11am sharp
Photo Op:		The Winter Lounge will officially open with the lighting of its trees, welcoming patients and families to participate in holiday crafts including festive snow globe making!

      

About the HBC Foundation
The HBC Foundation is a leading registered charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians, supporting Canadian organizations and initiatives that contribute to healthy families, strong communities and sport excellence. Since 2005, the HBC Foundation has donated more than $84 million in cash and in-kind donations to charitable organizations, including our official charitable partners: Canadian Olympic Foundation, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Beauty Gives Back, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Habitat for Humanity Canada.

SOURCE Hudson's Bay

Image with caption: "The Hudson's Bay Company Foundation Brings Holiday Magic to SickKids Hospital with Launch of Winter Lounge (CNW Group/Hudson's Bay)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151201_C2330_PHOTO_EN_555658.jpg

For further information: Anna Ng, Specialist, External Communications, Hudson's Bay Company, 905-595-8721, 289-325-4883 (cell), [e-mail]