While much of Eastern Canada is in store for a green Christmas this year, a small group of children in Ottawa was given the gift of snow to help get them into the holiday spirit.

Local company Go-Green typically does landscaping and snow removal. But on Wednesday they delivered some of the white stuff to Roger's House, a palliative care hospice for children with severe, often terminal illnesses. The snow came from local hockey arenas.

Go-Green founder Dave Thompson said he wanted to give the kids at Roger's House some snow for the holidays, because he always enjoyed playing in it when he was young.

"I was raised in a very Christmas-savvy loving family," he told CTV Ottawa. "So when I see a green Christmas, it's just not the same for me."

Thompson once even dumped snow on his mother's lawn for Christmas in 2011, and this year he wanted to do it for someone else. When a friend suggested Roger's House, Thompson jumped at the chance.

So on Wednesday, Thompson and several volunteers hauled eight tons of snow onto the grounds surrounding Roger's House.

The gesture brought smiles to the faces of the children and staff at the hospice.

Emma Gofton's son, Tate, was keen on throwing some snowballs.

"It's perfect," Gofton said of the snow delivery. "I can't think of children more deserving of a snowball fight or snowmen today then these kids."

Lise Beauchemin, a co-ordinator of volunteer services at Roger's House, said the gift brought a nice surprise to the children's day.

"We're always looking at bringing smiles to the children's faces. They have shortened lives and we like to make the best of everyday that they have. This is a really nice gift," she said.

Jade and her mother spent some time forming snowballs to make a snowman. The eight-year-old is battling leukemia. She said the snow reminds her of Christmas time back in her hometown of Timmins, Ont.

As for Thompson, he said the snow delivery was everything he hoped it would be.

"It was amazing," he said. "I hoped they enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed giving it."

Thompson estimates enough snow was dumped so that some of it will stick around for Christmas Day.

With a report from CTV Ottawa's Eric Longley