Ted Reeve Hockey Association helping children this holiday season as part of Make-A-Wish Canada’s Trees of Joy campaign

By JULIA SAWICKI

The Ted Reeve Hockey Association is joining in with two other Toronto leagues to take part in Make-A-Wish Canada’s Trees of Joy 2025 fundraising campaign.

With participation from both Tornado and Thunder teams in the Ted Reeve association, the campaign has also joined forces with the Leaside and North Toronto hockey leagues with the goal of raising $10,000 to help children and families in need through Make-A-Wish Canada.

Make-A-Wish board director Jennifer Jones and board advisor Christine Miles, long-time east end residents and Ted Reeve Hockey Association moms, are the ones responsible for bringing the campaign to the local hockey community.

They managed direct communication with Make-A-Wish, helping organize initiatives and fundraisers along the way. Make-A-Wish Canada helps make wishes, such as trips, possible for children with critical illnesses and their families.

“I was eager to support this amazing cause and felt there was a natural connection between these important communities,” said Jones.

“All three of my children have had the pleasure of playing for Ted Reeve. Two of them also played at North Toronto and Leaside. It was an obvious choice to combine these three incredible associations in our efforts,” added Miles.

After a month of planning, the impact was immediate, with teams rallying, organizing bake sales, auctions and community skating events. The general manager of Ted Reeve Thunder (which has teams playing in the Greater Toronto Hockey League), Andy Johnstone said it’s been amazing to see everyone come together to support such an important cause.

“It’s been so well received and not only the community jumped in, but all the teams and players and families are all doing different events to help make sure that it’s a success for everyone,” said Johnstone.

Trees of Joy is an initiative started by Make-A-Wish, creating customized holiday trees for children and their families. Make-A-Wish Canada has matched the hockey associations with a Wish Child, a nine-year-old whose medical journey began at just 19 months, after being diagnosed with an inflammatory disorder. He has since undergone numerous medical procedures, with a wish to visit his favourite theme park with his family.

Through the efforts of the hockey community, his family has already received a personally decorated, hockey-themed tree and gifts, but Ted Reeve’s fundraising for Make-A-Wish will continue. The tree is the first one ever sponsored by any hockey association in Ontario.

“By creating Hockey for Wishes, our goal was twofold: to bring the strength and values of our hockey community to help critically ill children and wanting our kids, families and teams to be able to see their impact and connect in a way that drove empathy and compassion through action. The opportunity to drive hope, joy and healing power through the creation of wishes for children has had a great impact on all involved. Thank you to Ted Reeve, North Toronto and Leaside associations, players, families and friends,” said Miles and Jones in a joint statement to Beach Metro Community News.

Donations will be open until Dec. 15. To donate, please visit https://makeawishca.donordrive.com/teams/11923