Despite challenges, the 2020 Red Deer Festival of Trees was a virtual success.

Thanks to the generosity of community, donors, sponsors, and the help of volunteers, the Red Deer Regional Health Foundation will be able to fund part of the electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) project for Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre and other healthcare centres in rural Central Alberta.

Although last minute changes resulted in Festival of Trees being closed to the public, people were still able to view and bid on the hundreds of silent auction items and trees.

Planning is well underway for the 2021 Red Deer Hospital Lottery which will launch in a few months. Over $1.1 million in prizing will be offered this year including a grand prize dream home located in the Laredo neighbourhood in Red Deer.

Proceeds from this year’s lottery will also benefit electronic fetal monitoring. Upgrading to an electronic fetal monitoring system is an enormous project that will take place across a number of hospitals and healthcare sites in Central Alberta. EFM will introduce new features like preset alarms, electronic access to records, and reduced risk of user error through the elimination of a paper-based system.