Latest News

GBGHF receives $100,000 gift from seasonal residents 

A $100,000 gift will provide vital funding to enhance the care experience for patients at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) in Midland, Ontario. Steve and Brenda, seasonal residents in Honey Harbour, made this gift to address some of the highest priority projects for the hospital in the coming year.  

Steve and Brenda have spent summers on Georgian Bay for more than 50 years, and have relied on the health care services at GBGH in the past.  The couple first heard about the need for critical medical equipment at GBGH through the Kickstart Your Heart campaign in February 2022, and it inspired them to connect with the GBGH Foundation to learn more about the hospital’s most important capital priorities.   

“Our sons and their families live in the area, and have received exceptional care at GBGH every time they have needed the hospital,” shares Steve.  “We are pleased that this gift will help ensure that the frontline care providers at GBGH have what they need to care for their patients.  We know that updated equipment is so important so the hospital can do what it needs to do.” 

This generous gift will support the GBGH Foundation’s Impact Fund, which addresses the highest priority capital equipment and infrastructure upgrades at GBGH. Some of the key equipment priorities this year include a hematology analyzer for the laboratory, a bladder scanner for the Emergency department & Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and a new patient bathtub for the 2N inpatient unit.  

“The impact that Steve and Brenda are having at GBGH is remarkable,” shares Matthew Lawson, interim president and CEO, GBGH. “Amidst very challenging times in health care, providing functional, reliable and effective equipment for our teams makes their jobs just a little easier.  The investment in equipment and infrastructure also means our patients can receive their diagnosis, treatment and recovery close to home, which is what we all want for our family, friends and loved ones.” 

McHappy Day lights up Birthing Unit at GBGH!

On May 11, 2022, McDonald’s restaurants in Midland and Elmvale partnered with the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto for McHappy Day®.  A total of $26,000 was raised, and the GBGH Foundation received $13,000 to purchase safe, reliable Phototherapy Light Systems, used to help newborns with hyperbilirubinemia (jaundice).

“Year after year we feel so very proud to be part of such a giving community,” says Carol Cruden, co-owner of the McDonald’s restaurants in Midland & Elmvale. “We want to say thank you so much to everyone for their generosity and support. A special thank you to our entire McDonald’s team, and the many volunteers who came out to help make McHappy Day® a great success.”

In 2018, Mark & Carol Cruden, owners of the McDonald’s restaurants in Midland and Elmvale, began a partnership with the GBGH Foundation to direct a portion of McHappy Day® proceeds to help the local hospital’s smallest patients.  Funds from the campaign have helped to build a children’s play area in the redeveloped Emergency department at GBGH, and they continue to help purchase items for the hospital’s Birthing Unit.

“We are so fortunate to see such amazing generosity from passionate community supporters like Mark & Carol Cruden,” shares Angie Saini, vice-president of Clinical Services and chief nursing executive, GBGH. “Their contribution to equip our Birthing Unit with new phototherapy lights will provide safe treatment and recovery for babies with jaundice and empower our team to continue to deliver exceptional patient-centered care.”