Ronald McDonald House lights the house to help stressed families find their holiday spirit
Calgary's Ronald McDonald House is getting into the holiday spirit.
A "Light the House" ceremony was held Friday, with lights and decorations provided by community donors.
There was also a special dinner, holiday activities and a visit from Santa.
The aim is to offer some holiday magic to those staying at the house over the holidays.
Ronald McDonald House offers a "home away from home" for families who need to travel to get their child vital medical care.
Debra Mavin's family was involved in a collision on Highway 1 this year, and has been using the house while her partner and one of her sons continues their recovery.
She's thankful they have a space to stay together over the holidays.
Debra Mavin and her family are staying at Ronald McDonald House in Calgary over the holidays
"You wake up and see all the Christmas decorations in the morning and then you come home after days in the hospital or at treatment and there's a warm meal," Mavin said. "It's needed. I can't even imagine what we would do if it didn't exist."
There are also Ronald McDonald Houses in Edmonton, Red Deer and Medicine Hat.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
WATCH LIVE Police arrest Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides
Police have arrested a Toronto woman in connection with three recent homicides and investigators say that they believe two of the victims may have been 'randomly targeted.'
NDP house leader says House dysfunction will be a factor in future confidence votes
NDP House leader Peter Julian says there's more his party wants to do in Parliament before the next election, but if the current dysfunction continues it will become a factor in how they vote on a confidence measure.
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme
A judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.
Youth pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of P.E.I. teen Tyson MacDonald
A teen charged with the murder of another teen on Prince Edward Island last year has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter.
BREAKING Jury begins deliberations in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
The jury tasked with determining if Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard sexually assaulted a young woman in northeastern Ontario eight years ago began deliberating Friday after nearly two weeks of testimony that saw the singer and his accuser give starkly different accounts of what happened.
BREAKING Here's what the jury didn't hear in Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial
A northeastern Ontario jury has started deliberating in Canadian musician Jacob Hoggard's sexual assault trial, we can now tell you what they weren't allowed to hear.
Canadian family stuck in Lebanon anxiously awaits flight options amid Israeli strikes
A Canadian man who is trapped in Lebanon with his family says they are anxiously waiting for seats on a flight out of the country, as a barrage of Israeli airstrikes continues.
Yazidi woman captured by ISIS rescued in Gaza after more than a decade in captivity
A 21-year-old Yazidi woman has been rescued from Gaza where she had been held captive by Hamas for years after being trafficked by ISIS.
Airlines' challenge of Canada's passenger protection rules rejected by Supreme Court
Canada's airlines have failed in their challenge of air passenger protection rules that the federal government implemented in 2019.