Santa’s elves from 1 Wing Headquarters at CFB Kingston hold onto their hats as the wind picks up beneath a RCAF Giffon helicopter at the helipad outside of Kingston General Hospital (KGH) on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. Photo via KHSC.
The spirit of the season can be difficult to find when you’re spending the season in hospital, but for kids in care at Kingston General Hospital and the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, Santa delivered that spirit himself.
Continuing a tradition that brings smiles to all involved and the greater community – not to mention those young patients in care at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) sites (which include both KGH and the Cancer Centre) – the jolly man himself teamed up with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)’s 1 Wing Headquarters at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Kingston. With the expertise of those at 1 Wing and the use of their Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Griffon helicopter, Santa Claus arrived at the helipad usually reserved for medical emergency transfers along the shores of Lake Ontario on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, as Operation Ho Ho Ho was carried out with military precision and all the bells and whistles associated with old Kris Kringle.
Accompanied by two of his elves from 1 Wing, Santa exited the helicopter, bag of gifts in hand, and made his way across King Street, much to the delight of those watching from the windows of KGH, including patients, visitors, and hospital staff. From there, Santa toured both KGH and the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario, delivering 60 teddy bears to children undergoing treatment at the Cancer Centre, the Kidd 10 Pediatrics Unit, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and the Child and Youth Mental Health program.
Santa arrives in pure CAF style via a Griffon helicopter of the RCAF. Santa and one of his elves wave up to those in the many windows above at Kingston General Hospital. Photos via KHSC.
According to KHSC, the bears given to kids in care were purchased through donations by staff at 1 Wing Headquarters. This year, the bears are wearing special hand-sewn scarves made of a special RCAF tartan fabric in honour of the RCAF’s 100th anniversary.
“This is one of our favourite days of the year and we offer our thanks to the team at 1 Wing Headquarters for their efforts to fundraise for the bears and also drop Santa off in style,” said Jason Hann, Executive Vice President of Patient Care and Chief Nursing Executive at KHSC.
“This event brightens the day for our youngest patients and their families, but it’s really special for our staff and physicians, too, who decorate areas around the hospital to make this such a memorable occasion.”
Operation Ho Ho Ho delivers Santa – and joy – to kids in care at Kingston Health Sciences Centre
