The 2023 Northwestel Festival of Trees began Thursday evening with the Newmont BAH Humbug Cocktail Party at the Jim Smith Building and the opening of the online silent auction.

The festival is celebrating its 20th anniversary.

All event proceeds will support the new 12-bed Mental Wellness Unit under construction at Whitehorse General Hospital.

Other festival events include the Skookum Asphalt Santa Breakfast on Saturday at the Jim Smith Building; the Save-On-Foods Seniors’ Soirée on Dec. 1; and the Alkan Air Grand Ball on Dec. 2 at the Yukon Convention Centre.

A cocktails and crafts event will take place on Saturday hosted by, and held in, The Mini Maker Space on Front Street.

The online silent auction will be open until 10:30 p.m. Dec. 2.

It features the festival’s silent auction trees and dozens of items donated by individuals, organizations and local businesses.

Several festival trees will be available for public viewing in the foyer of the Jim Smith Building.

Tickets for the Northwestel 50/50 raffle are also available until Dec. 4. Last year’s winner received more than $60,000.

“I would like to personally thank our valued community partners, local businesses and volunteers, who come together year after year to share in the spirit of the season,” Northwestel president Curtis Shaw said Thursday.

“Yukoners’ generosity during the festival will have a huge impact on our health care for years to come.”

Tammy April chairs the Yukon Hospital Foundation’s board and is vice-president of customer ex-perience at Northwestel.

“We are so pleased to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Northwestel Festival of Trees and two decades of community generosity and giving,” April said.

“We cannot thank Yukoners enough for their commitment to enhanced health care here in the territory and the incredible support continually demonstrated for our hospitals and our medical teams.”

Last month, Northwestel renewed its five-year commitment to the foundation with $450,000, as did Alkan Air with $200,000 to support the Building Better Together Campaign and the creation of the Mental Wellness Unit. It’s expected to be completed in mid-2024.

“An event of this magnitude is simply not possible without all the amazing support of our sponsors and volunteers,” saaid foundation president Karen Forward.

“Reflecting on the last 20 years and recognizing all those who have been part of the festival over the past two decades is truly inspiring and uplifts us all as we look forward to the next two decades of enhanced health care for Yukoners right here at home.”