On Thursday, Vaughan Regional Medical Center (VRMC) held its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony surrounded by hospital staff and citizens.

The scene was festive, children enjoyed cookies and candy canes while adults sipped hot chocolate alongside them.

“This tree’s been a bit of a laughing stock,” said VRMC Chief Executive Officer David McCormack.

This is the third year the local medical center has held the tree lighting event and the last two have been fraught with tragedy.

The first year, heavy rain and thunderstorms brought the tree crashing to the ground.

Last year, snow caused it to slide and tumble. Further, the trucks that came to raise the tree sunk into the front lawn and scarred it.

“We’ve had some bad luck with it,” McCormack said with a smile, noting that this weekend’s forecast calls for rain. “We’re hoping it will go a little better this year.”

The crowd of a couple of dozen people gathered around the front of the tree as the Selma High School choir launched into a series of Christmas classics including “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Carol of the Bells.”

The choir will be hosting its Christmas concert Sunday, Dec. 9 in the Selma High School auditorium at 4 p.m.

Admission to the event is $5.

After a few songs, McCormack welcomed everyone and thanked them for coming.

While reminding everyone to be thankful during the holiday season, he encouraged those in attendance to remember the medical staff, still busy in the building beyond the tree and the festive scene outside, that work day in and day out to care for those in need.

After a quick countdown, the tree sprang to luminous life and the children resumed running and playing around it.