The holiday season is officially underway on the Maternal Newborn Unit!

Candyce McKinnon has been a nurse for 17 years and has worked on the Maternal Newborn Unit for the last ten years. Over the last few years, Candyce noticed that her fellow staff needed a morale boost. “Nursing has been tough the last few years. I thought I could do something special to help raise the spirits of my fellow staff,” said Candyce. ”I decided to decorate during the holiday season to bring a bit of joy to everyone’s life, especially all the staff, to ensure they work in an environment full of joy.”

Since then, Candyce has spread holiday cheer by decorating the unit with beautiful ornaments. Candyce and her husband handcrafted all the decorations, and it took her about 15 hours to decorate the unit.

This year’s theme is for ‘unto us a child is born’. A very special wreath is the focal point of the décor this year. Among the glittering snowflakes, there are personalized ornaments with the names of those who work on the unit (created by Kathleen Dunne). Wooden snowflakes, wooden trees, angels, floral arrangements and greenery with lights also adorn the nursing station.

Nurse Lynn Boyko donated a large wreath to the Unit many years ago. Lynn retired three years ago and unexpectedly passed away in October 2023. This loss was a shock for everyone. To honour Lynn, Candyce decided to dress the wreath with many angels and included an inspirational quote for the conference room.

The beautiful décor has created a sense of calm throughout the unit and inspired other units to dress up their work area. Women’s and Children’s including Paediatrics, Labour and Delivery and NICU have also taken up the tradition.

After the holiday season, the snowflakes that hang from the ceiling will remain to ensure a bit of magic throughout the rest of the winter. Thank you, Candyce for bringing holiday cheer to the Hospital!