Every October, rows of decorated trunks, more than a thousand costumed kids, and dozens of local businesses fill an afternoon in Fredericton with Halloween fun. Behind the candy and smiles is something bigger: a community rallying around pediatric care close to home. For Kara Angus, President and Founder of Go-Go Group and East Coast Leadership Academy, that was the idea from the start.
A Halloween Tradition with a Purpose
Kara created Trunk or Treat to bring families and businesses together at a time of year when few large community events take place.
“I thought it was an excellent way to bring community together in a time that there’s typically not a lot of huge community events happening,” she says.
She also saw a chance to show children what giving back looks like. By supporting pediatric care through Chalmers Foundation, every family that attends helps strengthen the care their own children may one day need.
“What a better way to teach them about giving back to a community in an organization that could help them,” Kara says.
A Personal Connection to Local Healthcare
Kara knows firsthand what local care means. When she and her husband experienced recurrent pregnancy loss while trying to start their family, they relied on the expertise and compassion of the team at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.
That care stayed with her. Today, as a mother of four, Kara gives back to the hospital that was there for her family when they needed it most.
The Community That Shows Up
What began with a $5,000 goal is now an annual tradition welcoming more than 1,000 children and over 40 local businesses and organizations. Each brings its own creativity to a decorated trunk, and for many teams, it’s a chance to come together outside the workplace for something that matters.
Kara is especially proud that more kids can share in the fun. Working with schools and community organizations, organizers offer free admission to children from families facing barriers to participation, so they can dress up, explore, and head home with a bag full of treats and memories that last well beyond Halloween.
Every Treat Makes a Difference
This year, Trunk or Treat aims to raise $15,000, with 100% of proceeds supporting pediatric care through Chalmers Foundation. Thanks to community partners like Kara and every family and business that takes part, we can keep investing in the equipment and programs that care for children and families across our region.
“It’s important that us as a community, we rally around the healthcare organizations, and the organizations that fund the equipment that every single one of us will need at some point in our life” Kara says.
Join Us on October 25
Trunk or Treat returns Sunday, October 25, 2026. Come in costume, bring a trunk, or help spread the word. Every treat shared helps build better healthcare for the children of tomorrow.
