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2024 Gail La Chapelle Education Fund Recipients

Each year, the GBGH Foundation awards monies from the Gail La Chapelle Education Grant and Bursary Fund for nursing staff to continue their education. The Bursary provides $1,000 in funding for RNs & RPNs advancing in their senior year of Nursing or pursuing a Masters. The Education Grant provides financial assistance for courses including palliative care, trauma nursing, advanced cardiac life support, perioperative nursing, critical care nursing and wound care. This year’s recipients received a total of $5,438 toward continuing their education and growing their skills.  

The forms for the La Chapelle Education Fund will be available on the Intranet in April, and can be submitted anytime to Jen Russell in the Foundation office (application deadline: January 20, 2025). 

Bursary Recipients: 
Erika Weber RPN-BScN Bridge
Casey McKenzie RPN  

Education Grant Recipients:
Alanna Bouffard Masters of Nursing – Advanced Practice Speciality
Alannah Eberschlag RPN-BScN Bridge
Destiney Benson RPN-BScN Bridge
Lark Francisco Emergency Nursing
Nicole Mordue ACLS
Shannon Buck MN Leadership & Professional Practice
Stephanie Amrein Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course
Zoe Robitaille RPN-BScN Bridging
Valerie Quesnelle RPN-BScN Bridging 

Glen Rebekah Lodge invests in Neonatal Resuscitation Monitor

On March 12, 2024, Glen Rebekah Lodge in Elmvale made a $500 donation to the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation to help purchase a neonatal resuscitation monitor for the hospital’s birthing unit. Sabrina Desjardins, a newly appointed 4th generation member of the Lodge was inspired to help fund this piece of equipment by Melissa Robinson’s annual fundraising campaign to honour her daughter Celia’s memory.  

In December 2023, Melissa and her family donated $7,250 in memory of their daughter, designating the gift to help purchase a new resuscitation monitor.  This particular piece of equipment holds a special place in their hearts as it was used at GBGH when the team was caring for Celia in 2019.  

“I’ve known Melissa since high school, and I am inspired by what she does each year with her Bake Sale for Celia,” says Sabrina. “I wanted to support her and help to purchase the resuscitation monitor that means so much to their family, so I approached our Rebekah Lodge members and they agreed to make a donation to the hospital.” 

Melissa joined Sabrina to present the cheque to the GBGH Foundation, along with Sabrina’s mother Bonnie, Vice President of the Rebekah Assembly of Ontario.  

“It makes me so happy to see Celia’s memory continuing to inspire good within our community,” says Melissa. “I know how valuable the neonatal resuscitation monitor is in providing life-saving care for babies at GBGH.” 

“Celia’s story has inspired so many people, and we are so grateful to Glen Rebekah Lodge for making a donation in her memory,” says Victoria Evans, community giving officer, GBGH Foundation. “Every investment in equipment for GBGH is helping to ensure that the teams can continue to provide excellent care close to home.” 

Each year, Melissa hosts a bake sale in memory of Celia, with proceeds donated to the hospital that worked so hard to care for her. You can watch the Robinson family’s amazing story here: https://youtu.be/vtOJvr699TY