Hub Staff

There was a late Christmas gift for the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation on March 8 as the Chantry Island Cham-bettes presented the Foundation with a cheque for $16,634, the proceeds from the Cham-bettes Christmas Home Tour in Saugeen Shores, which took place in November.

The Christmas home tour has now been running for seven years and Cham-bette, Martha Bennett said that this one saw the most in attendance. “We sold 887 tickets with over 900 people through the homes,” said Bennett, who explained that the decorators and home owners receive complimentary tickets.

“The last three years we've donated to the hospital,” said Bennett, adding that the previous year saw 637 tickets sold and $11,000 raised. “That's the biggest year. In fact we even surpassed Owen Sound,” she added.

The Cham-bettes, now in their 60th year, find homes for the tour easily with members of the community coming forward because they know the money raised is going to a good cause. “We get a lot of people participating and we get a lot of merchants wanting to help,” said Bennett.

Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation Executive Director, Sally Kidson praised the Cham-bettes. “On behalf of the Foundation I just want to say what an amazing thing you've done and what an amazing weekend it was.”

Kidson said that this latest donation brings the Cham-bettes’ total contribution to the Emergency Room campaign to over $50,000, granting them a spot in the over $50,000 section of the donor walls in both Southampton and Owen Sound hospitals.

Kidson said that all the preparation has been done and the hospital is ready for work to start on the new expansion. “There's all kinds of things happening and we should find out about the contractor hopefully the end of March, early April and then start doing the expansion in May.” She added that the whole front section of the building is empty and the hospital gift shop is now closed.

“The tender has been approved locally and sent to the ministry,” she said. “We're just waiting for the ministry to give their final approval on the tender process and the contractor.”