News Surrey electrical students help light up St. Paul’s Hospital and brighten patients’ lives

 

Surrey’s electrical students sure know how to brighten someone’s day – and night! 

Sixteen students who attend the Youth Train in Trades program at Princess Margaret Secondary helped set up this year’s huge Lights of Hope display at St. Paul’s Hospital. 

The display is a fundraiser for the hospital, and for more than a decade, students from the Surrey trades program have volunteered their time to the charitable endeavour, spending two weeks wiring lights and electrical panels, in addition to testing and waterproofing 10-kilometres of colourful light strings. 

The electrical program is a partnership between Surrey Schools and BCIT, led by longtime instructor Don Zaklan. Students attend classes at the BCIT satellite campus at Princess Margaret in Grades 11 and 12, earning their pre-apprenticeship training. 

While on site at St. Paul’s, the students – who this year come from nine of Surrey’s secondary schools and learning centres – also have the opportunity to learn about the hospital’s generators, transformers and fire alarms, as well as the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and electrical systems. 

Zaklan, who has been with the program from the outset, is retiring this year, making this his last cohort of students. We have genuinely valued his contribution to our district and students and wish him all the best!

This is the 21st year of the Lights of Hope display, which features about 100,000 bulbs and takes more than 150 volunteers six weeks to build using donated materials. 

Last year, the display raised $3.1 million for the St. Paul's Hospital Foundation, to support patients, residents and families. The hospital is located at 1081 Burrard St. The lights went on Nov. 16 and stay on until Jan. 8.