On Thursday evening, April 21, the Hospital Foundation hosted an evening to honour and thank the families who have dedicated donations in memory of a loved one to the hospital for the 2015 calendar year.

The program consisted of harp and vocals by Janet Squire, reflections by the Hospital Chaplain, Rev. Darlyne Rath, along with updates from the Hospital Manager, Donna Chappelle and Foundation Chair, Jonna Ebel. A Litany of Remembrance and a Floral Tribute with the reading of names of those who had passed away completed the evening.

“It’s emotional, but also uplifting,” said one guest. “I found it comforting to meet other families who are going through the same thing. I felt so alone.”

“In memoriam donations make a significant contribution to the purchase of equipment at the Hospital,” said Foundation Chair, Jonna Ebel. “It’s a way to be remembered, to have our loved one’s name on the Donor Wall perhaps, or just knowing that a good thing happened because of the donations in their name.”

Ebel spoke about attending the evening a few years ago when her Grandmother had passed away. “It wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be,” she said. “I found it comforting.”

In the 2015-2016 fiscal year, almost $40,000 was donated through in memoriam gifts. The dollars were used to purchase a range of equipment and some were ear-marked for the new Emergency Room and Laboratory Expansion project, the Cancer Care Unit in Owen Sound or other projects.