Northern Alta. Make-A-Wish recipients granted a little more holiday magic

Fifteen kids got a special surprise for the second annual Trees of Joy event at Fantasyland Hotel Wednesday night.

Wish makers and wish granters met in Edmonton on Wednesday to create a little more holiday magic.

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Fifteen families, whose children’s dreams were made reality by Make-A-Wish Canada, participated in the 2025 Trees of Joy fundraiser at Fantasyland Hotel.

Every year, the charity seeks donors to sponsor $10,000 – the average cost of a wish – and donate a customized holiday tree to a family.

“Being Stollery or medical kids, it’s tough sometimes, and so this is just a wonderful thing,” said Monica Nistor, whose son Christian received a heart transplant 10 years ago.

Christian’s wish was granted this summer, on the anniversary of the surgery.

“This is icing on the cake to top off a fabulous year,” the mother said.

Underneath their family’s customized tree, Christian and his brother Tyler also found presents: for Christian, signed Leon Draisaitl merchandise, and for Tyler, a gift card.

“We need donors to see the realization of their funds,” said local Make-A-Wish chapter director Jen Garden.

“Events like today also allow our families and children to see that their communities are still rallying around them, even after their wish has been granted.”

Across Canada, 13 cities this year are participating in the fundraiser, representing 274 trees and beneficiary families.

According to Garden, there are 3,700 kids across the country waiting for a wish, including 250 in northern Alberta and 130 in the Edmonton area.

“Wishes are essential to the medical treatment of a child,” Garden said. “Ninety-five per cent of doctors believe that wishes improve health outcomes, so we need to be able to grant every one of those wishes and every wish that hasn’t yet been referred to us.”

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Cam Wiebe