Saugeen Memorial Foundation fundraising volunteers were recognized at a Donor and Volunteer Appreciation Night at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, September 29.

Hub Staff

The Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation (SMHF) invited dedicated fundraising volunteers and donors to an evening of thanks and hospital updates at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, September 29.

Hospital Manager Donna Chappell showed imagery from when the hospital was first constructed and included a photo of the first team of nurses at the hospital. She then explained the 10 million dollar construction project to the crowd, which included facts about the current hospital, while going over the new additions that are currently being constructed room by room.

Chappell said the new addition for the ER will be approximately three and a half times its current size. “So it’ll be 12 rooms, nine treatment rooms and three trauma rooms. A waiting room and clearly defined triage with more space for ambulatory care.” Chappell added that the laboratory will also three times larger than it is currently.

She said the hospital currently receives between 16,000 and 17,000 visits to the ER every year. In the summer months it sees between 50 and 75 patients per day and a total of 1,000 ambulatory care visits each year.

Chappell told the donors that their fundraising has provided the hospital with essential items like such as a paediatric crash kart, vital signs monitor, a bypass machine for assisted breathing, family sleep chair, transport monitor and defibrillator.

Michael Spendic of Grey Bruce Health Services, Senior Project Manager for the estimated two year build, which began in May, showed slides of the current state of the build and went through project challenges candidly with the crowd of donor and fundraising volunteers.

He became excited when be spoke about interesting things the construction team had found underground, like remnants of what they believe to be a farm house, rubble foundation and a sidewalk that was built two-feet under where the current sidewalk was.

He projected that the atrium would be open some time during the winer and the main entrance will be normal again. Then in the spring they will begin work on the ER.

Sally Kidson, SMHF Executive Director said that she was humbled by everyone’s presence. ”You are truly an amazing group of people, you give and look what you are doing. You are truly community builders.”

Kidson went on to say that they've contributed to very important work no matter the amount they’ve given and told stories of how they have become “life savers” as she has seen instruments purchased from donations save lifes at the hospital.

Trustee and representative of the Guy and Josephine Bevan Foundation, Doug Gore was a welcomed speaker, as he was part of the kickstart donation to the campaign, when the SMHF received $400,000 from the Foundation.

Gore remembered when he went to the then SMHF Development Officer Christine Kelly with donation. “I still remember going up to Christine’s office and remember handing that cheque across to her and watching her open the envelope and tears were flowing down her cheeks because I think at that point she realized that the future was good for the hospital,” said Gore.

“We will always be indebted to corporate donors because they're wonderful citizens and they do a lot for the community, but we must also remember that there are private donors and you as private donors are the backbone of the community,” continued Gore.

The SMHF then acknowledged all the volunteer fundraisers, from Cruiser Cruise night volunteers to the hospital board of directors to longtime ambassadors. Each were provided with a certificate, as were donors who will see their names etched in a hospital donor wall.

The levels of donors thanked were: Friendship - $2,500; Supporters - $5,000; Sponsors - $10,000; Patrons - $25,000; Benefactors - $50,000; Builders - $100,000; Developer - $250,000; Investor - $500,000; Visionary - $1,000,000 plus.

Senior Project Manager Michael Spendic of Grey Bruce Health Services, showed a variety of images from the current $10 million addition to the Saugeen Memorial Hospital.

Members of the Saugeen Memorial Hospital Foundation at the Donor and Volunteer Appreciation Night, September 29. From left, Jim Barbour, Shannon Van Valkenburg, Sally Kidson, Mary Jo Arnett, Jonna Ebel, Jenn Tuer, Susan Dunlop, Mary McCallum, Sara Dolbeck; Tony Sheard (right).

Representatives from donor levels Developer, Investor and Visionary were also awarded with certificates. From left: Henry Weickert - Hospital Auxiliary; Doug Gore - Guy & Josephine Bevan Foundation; June and John Van Bastelaar - Huron Shore Run; Christine John - Bruce Power.