Every ticket, bid, donation and GBay Bag helped strengthen local health care
There is something incredibly powerful about seeing a community come together for its hospital.
On September 19, the waterfront hangar at Wye Heritage Marina was filled with music, laughter, generosity and a passion for supporting excellent health care close to home. By the end of the 2026 Power of Giving, that belief had translated into an incredible $446,385 raised for the Foundation’s We See You: Inside and Out campaign.
But the true impact of Power of Giving cannot be measured by one number alone.
It can be seen in every ticket purchased, every auction bid placed, every GBay Bag brought home, every sponsorship secured and every gift made. It was present in the volunteers who gave their time, the businesses that contributed products and experiences, the guests who filled the room and the people who supported the event from home.
Every person who participated made a difference.
Hundreds of individuals participated in different ways, creating the momentum that made this year’s incredible result possible. Together, they showed just how many people across our community believe in Georgian Bay General Hospital and want patients, families and care teams to have the very best resources available when they need them.
“Power of Giving reminds us that meaningful change doesn’t happen because of one person, one donation or one moment,” says Robyn Kaczanowski, Community Giving Officer with the GBGH Foundation. “It happens when an entire community comes together. Whether you joined us at the event, made a donation, placed a bid, purchased a GBay Bag, volunteered or supported one of our fundraising activities, you helped make this possible. Thank you!”
Presented by Faris Team Real Estate Brokerage, the annual celebration brought community members and health care champions together for an evening of food, music and philanthropy. Guests enjoyed cuisine from Feast Catering, signature drinks from Clam Digger Events and cocktail-hour music by Alex Barber. Returning host Layne, The Auctionista brought energy, humour and heart to the evening’s fundraising, before the Montreal Rhapsody Orchestra filled the waterfront hangar with hours of high-energy, dance-worthy performance.
The evening also celebrated the impact already being felt through the first phase of We See You. Investments in MRI, mammography and specialized equipment, including portable ultrasound and GlideScope technology, are changing how care is delivered at GBGH. Funds raised through this year’s Power of Giving will build on that momentum as the campaign goal stretches further to $35-million.
The event’s success was also made possible by the dedication of the volunteer Power of Giving Committee, led by Committee Chair Marie Holloway. From logistics and auctions to sponsorships and GBay Bags, committee members worked alongside the Foundation team to bring every piece of the celebration together.
“This event is special because there are so many ways to be part of it,” says Kaczanowski. “Each person may participate differently, but all of that generosity comes together to create one incredible impact for patients and families. That is the real Power of Giving.”
Because of this collective support, GBGH will continue to have the equipment, technology and spaces needed to provide personal, compassionate care. Patients will feel the difference. Families will feel supported. Health care teams will have more of the tools they need to do their best work.
Most of all, the success of the 2026 Power of Giving sends a powerful message to everyone who walks through the hospital’s doors:
Your community believes in you. Your community is here for you. We See You.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Power of Giving an extraordinary success.
