Brighten the Lives of Seniors Campaign


Thank you to everyone for your generosity during our Brighten the Lives of Seniors fundraising campaign.

Because of your kindness, we raised $32,322 in support of our Quality of Life Fund.

Thank you for helping brighten the lives of seniors!

The campaign will light up again in November 2026. In the meantime, please consider making a donation to support seniors all year long.

What is Brighten the Lives of Seniors?

This fundraising and community awareness campaign was inspired by the illumination of the trees and buildings at Central Services and McQueen Place Lodge along 142 Street.

This initiative celebrated the season of giving and shined a light on how donations bring warmth, joy, and connection to seniors. By lighting up these spaces, we created a powerful visual that symbolizes the difference community support makes. Each light represents the hope and happiness that donations to our Quality of Life Fund provide by funding meaningful initiatives, programs, experiences, and service improvements that enrich the lives of seniors across our communities.

You can still donate to our Quality of Life Fund and help brighten the lives of seniors today!

See below for the different ways the community got involved during this campaign.

Donate Here!

Brighten the Lives of Seniors 2025 is complete!

We kicked off the campaign with a Light Up Launch event at GEF McQueen Place Lodge on December 5th! The event featured the official lighting moment, music performed by Matt Grier, and hot drinks and sweet treats around cozy fire pits. It was a fun and festive celebration for all!

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us on this special evening and for braving the chilly weather! We were thrilled to celebrate with McQueen Place Lodge residents and their families and friends, staff, volunteers, and community partners. We were also honored to be joined by City of Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack; The Honourable Sarah Hoffman, MLA for Edmonton-Glenora; Councillors Jo-Anne Wright (Ward Sspomitapi) and Reed Clarke (Ward Nakota Isga).

Watch the event highlight video here!

Brighten the Board offered a unique way for individuals, families, and businesses to share messages of positivity and support, while contributing to programs that brighten seniors’ lives.

From December 8, 2025 to February 28, 2026, GEF’s billboard (located on 142 Street and 109 Avenue) was surrounded by a vibrant display of lights. Donors to our Quality of Life Fund had the opportunity to share their own messages on this billboard, drawing attention from commuters and the community.

Donors submitted a short message to be featured on the billboard for either three days or one week – based on their chosen donation level.

These messages included personal greetings, heartfelt tributes, or corporate holiday greetings, provided they followed guidelines that emphasize positivity, inclusivity, and family-friendly content.

Eligible contributions received a tax receipt.

Families and Individuals:

Message DurationDonation Amount
3 Days$100 Minimum
1 Week$250 Minimum

Vendors and Corporate Supporters:

Message DurationDonation Amount
3 Days$325 Minimum
1 Week$750 Minimum

To keep the board cheerful, respectful, and inclusive for everyone in the community, all submitted messages followed these guidelines below.

Messages We Welcome:

  • Festive and positive: Share holiday cheer, well-wishes, or gratitude.
    “Happy Holidays from the Thompson Family!”
    “Wishing joy to Edmonton’s seniors — from ABC Plumbing.”
    “In memory of Grandpa Joe — forever in our hearts.”
  • Family-friendly: Suitable for all ages and public viewing.
  • Supportive of the campaign’s spirit: Messages that celebrate kindness, community, and seniors.
  • Inclusive: Welcoming of everyone, regardless of faith or background.

Messages We Cannot Accept:

  • Offensive or discriminatory content (including language or innuendo targeting any group or individual).
  • Political or partisan messages (including endorsements, campaign slogans, or political commentary).
  • Messages that promote a specific religion or belief system (gentle seasonal greetings like “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hanukkah” are welcome).
  • Advertising focused content (including sales pitches, pricing, or product promotions – business names and goodwill messages are welcome).
  • Messages longer than the allowed character count.

GEF’s Right to Edit:

  • Minor edits for spelling, clarity, or formatting may be made.
  • Any messages that do not meet the established guidelines may be declined or be revised.

Character Limit:

  • Up to 12 characters per line (including spaces), with 4 to 5 lines available.