St. Paul's Foundation kicks off Lights of Hope with free fireworks on November 12
St. Paul's Foundation opens its 29th annual holiday light display on November 12 with a free public event at the hospital, including fireworks, food trucks and Santa photos.
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St. Paul's Foundation opens its 29th annual Lights of Hope fundraiser on November 12 with a free public event outside St. Paul's Hospital, including fireworks, food trucks and Santa photos. Daily Hive reported the details on November 4; the outlet is a named sponsor of the 2026 campaign, so all figures below come from the Foundation itself.
What is happening and when
St. Paul's Foundation switches on more than 100,000 lights on the outside of St. Paul's Hospital on Thursday, November 12. A free kickoff event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. at the hospital at 1081 Burrard Street. The display then stays lit nightly until early January.
The 29th edition of Lights of Hope arrives as St. Paul's Hospital prepares to move to the Jim Pattison Medical Campus. The Foundation has not given a date for that move.
What the kickoff includes
St. Paul's Foundation says the November 12 evening includes:
- A fireworks display open to all ages
- Holiday photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, with a suggested donation of $20
- Food trucks: Gary's Kettle Corn and The Great Canadian Cotton Candy Company
- Hot drinks from Beyond Coffee and Starbucks
- Live music from Sarabande (Vancouver Bach Choir), Hot Tea A Capella Group and the What's Next Band
- A community mural painting activity for a suggested donation of $5
Admission to the event is free.
About the fundraiser
St. Paul's Foundation describes Lights of Hope as its largest community fundraiser of the year. According to the Foundation, its goal is to pay for research projects, medical equipment and the recruitment of clinicians and researchers at St. Paul's Hospital and Providence Health Care. The Foundation says donations to the campaign have totalled nearly $60 million across its history, though it has not published a breakdown of that figure.
Sheila Biggers, CEO and president of St. Paul's Foundation, is quoted by Daily Hive: "Every day, our care teams across Providence Health Care see patients and families at some of their darkest times. Lights of Hope raises funds that will help save lives and ensure British Columbians have access to world-class, compassionate care right here at home."
What you can do
Vancouver residents can attend the free kickoff event on Thursday, November 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street. The light display is free to view nightly until early January. Online donations to the campaign are accepted at helpstpauls.com/lights-of-hope/.
Questions this story answers
When is the Lights of Hope kickoff event?
St. Paul's Foundation says the kickoff event is Thursday, November 12, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. outside St. Paul's Hospital at 1081 Burrard Street in Vancouver. The light display then runs nightly until early January 2026.
Is the Lights of Hope event free to attend?
St. Paul's Foundation says admission is free. The Foundation accepts donations at helpstpauls.com/lights-of-hope/. Holiday photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus are available for a suggested donation of $20.
What happens at the kickoff event on November 12?
St. Paul's Foundation says the November 12 event includes a fireworks display, food trucks from Gary's Kettle Corn and The Great Canadian Cotton Candy Company, hot drinks from Beyond Coffee and Starbucks, live music from groups including Sarabande (Vancouver Bach Choir) and Hot Tea A Capella Group, and a community mural painting activity for a suggested donation of $5.
What is the Lights of Hope campaign?
St. Paul's Foundation describes Lights of Hope as its biggest community fundraiser, now in its 29th year. The campaign supports research, medical equipment purchases, and clinical recruitment at St. Paul's Hospital and Providence Health Care. According to the Foundation, donations to the campaign have totalled nearly $60 million throughout its history.
What is the Jim Pattison Medical Campus mentioned in the coverage?
St. Paul's Hospital is scheduled to move to a new facility called the Jim Pattison Medical Campus. Daily Hive notes this year's Lights of Hope is 'a momentous occasion' as the hospital approaches that transition. The Foundation has not published a confirmed date for the move.
Where is St. Paul's Hospital?
St. Paul's Hospital is at 1081 Burrard Street in Vancouver, in the West End neighbourhood. The Lights of Hope display is on the outside of the building, visible from the street. The November 12 kickoff event takes place on the hospital grounds. The closest SkyTrain station is Yaletown-Roundhouse on the Canada Line, about a 10-minute walk away.
How can someone donate to Lights of Hope?
St. Paul's Foundation accepts online donations at helpstpauls.com/lights-of-hope/. Physical donations are also accepted at the event site. Daily Hive is listed as a sponsor of the 2026 campaign, which means its coverage of the event is paid promotional content.
Who runs Lights of Hope?
Lights of Hope is run by St. Paul's Foundation, the fundraising body for St. Paul's Hospital and Providence Health Care in Vancouver. Sheila Biggers is the CEO and president of St. Paul's Foundation, according to Daily Hive.
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