Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation Director and Chair of the Hospital Campaign Cabinet, Tony Sheard (left) with Pretty In Pink Co-Chairs Sylvia Sheard and Cheryl Heizer (right) outside one of two examination rooms to be named after the Pretty in Pink organization.

Hub Staff

Saugeen Shores was well represented at the Owen Sound Hospital as Grey Bruce Health Services (GBHS) hosted an official opening of the new Cancer Centre May 12.

As part of the day's proceedings, a new donor wall was unveiled, listing supporters of The Hospital Campaign since its launch in May, 2014, from around the region including many Saugeen Shores individuals, businesses and service clubs.

“This Cancer Centre is an essential part of the $11.4 million Hospital Campaign and to date we've raised about $11 million,” said Saugeen Memorial Hospital Campaign Chair and Chair of the Hospital Campaign Cabinet, Tony Sheard.

Sheard said the Cancer Centre had been in operation for a few weeks and had received very positive feedback from patients, doctors, nurses, staff, and volunteers.

Sheard thanked all the individuals, businesses and service clubs across the region who had donated and supported the campaign. He also gave recognition to Honourary Campaign Chair and Bruce Power's former CEO, Duncan Hawthorne. “He and his wife, Leslie have been great personal supporters of the campaign and in addition Bruce Power is the lead donor to the campaign and we are delighted to display a plaque recognizing Bruce Power as the lead donor.”

Bruce Power's Vice-President of Corporate Affairs, James Scongack said they were honoured to have a plaque in their name but the real success in a small community was people donating what they can. “Bruce Power tends to get a lot of recognition for our contributions. They do tend to be larger but we're just part of this community like a range of other organizations and businesses of all sizes and just because Bruce Power gets the recognition for the million dollar donation, we also have to equally recognize the small business who also gives a donation, that for their business is just as significant as the contribution Bruce Power's making,” he said.

Sheard explained that the Campaign has also recently supported a new CT scanner along with other diagnostic equipment critical in diagnosing and treating cancer. “The new Emergency Department and Lab and the Saugeen Memorial Hospital is also part of The Hospital Campaign,” said Sheard.

Saugeen Shores' goal was to raise $2.9 million for The Hospital Campaign, which included $1.8 million towards the Saugeen Memorial Hospital expansion and another $300,000 towards the Cardiac Management System and other site improvements. Sheard said the remaining $800,000 was towards the CT scanner, interventional radiology suite and included $250,000 toward the Cancer Centre in Owen Sound.

GBHS President and CEO, Lance Thurston said the Centre now books over 14,000 cancer patients every year. He said that Oncology used to be spread across three floors of the hospital but has now been consolidated onto one floor with the exception of the lab services. “It's a space that is 40 percent larger than the original space we had and it's been designed with the patient in mind.” Thurston added that there are now three oncologists, two chemotherapy treatment rooms - which offer more space and privacy - a waiting room and a specialized state-of-the-art chemo pharmacy.

Also in attendance at the ceremony was Sylvia Sheard and Cheryl Heizer, Co-Chairs of Pretty In Pink. The organization pledged $100,000 towards Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation's goal in support of the new Cancer Centre and now have two of the examination rooms at the Cancer Centre named in honour of the group's contribution.

Sheard, who is a breast cancer survivor of almost 11 years, said she had most of her treatments in London with only a few in Owen Sound.

“We had one tiny little room [in Owen Sound] that was packed with chairs that nobody could sit next to you,” said Sheard, adding that going down to London for the day was “horrendous”.

“So this is just amazing,” said Sheard.

Cutting the ceremonial ribbon to officially open the new Cancer Care Centre, (L-R) Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation Campaign Chair and Chair of the Hospital Campaign Cabinet, Tony Sheard; Owen Sound Campaign Chair, Peter Rissi; Bruce Power Vice-President of Corporate Affairs, James Scongack; GBHS President & CEO, Lance Thurston; Former Chair of the Campaign Cabinet, Ron Goldsmith; Centre Grey Campaign Chair, Denise Edwards; Meaford Campaign Chair, David Glass; GBHS Board Director, Brenda Kearney and Lion's Head and Wiarton Campaign Co-Chair, Ashley Miller.

Major donors, volunteers and local Foundations and Auxiliaries toured the new Cancer Care Centre at the Owen Sound Hospital, May 12.

The new donor recognition wall in the Cancer Care Centre waiting room includes many businesses, organizations and individuals from Saugeen Shores and other communities throughout Grey and Bruce counties.