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On Tuesday July 2, 2024, The Weber Foundation presented major gifts to thirteen local charities, totalling $22.5-million. The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation was honoured to receive $3.3-million at the invite-only event, held at the Midland Cultural Centre (MCC).

The Weber Foundation was established in 1997 by Reinhart and Alexandra Weber. Over the past 27 years, the Foundation had donated more than $28-million to local charities, including more than $2.1-million to GBGH. These gifts have had a profound impact on health care in our community, through investment in equipment, technology, education and capital developments.

“The Weber Foundation was an integral partner in the redevelopment of the Emergency Department, giving patients a much more comfortable arrival to our hospital and the space needed for our clinicians to support them. When GBGH needed a new Ophthalmoscope to ensure our surgical teams can provide gold standard eye care during cataract surgery, the Weber foundation stepped up to provide the funding to purchase that equipment. They have made a lasting impact at GBGH.” – Matthew Lawson, President & CEO, GBGH.

The gift received on July 2nd will build on the legacy of The Weber Foundation today, and well into the future.  $833,333 will be invested in the newly named ‘Weber Foundation Endowment Fund’ marking the first contribution toward future new hospital expansion.  This allows for $2.5-million to be dedicated to addressing the highest priorities at GBGH, including building a new acute mental health program.

“The Weber Foundation has enhanced health care in every part of our hospital. This investment for the future is going to benefits patients for generations to come, and we are thrilled to celebrate this lifetime of philanthropy as we build an acute mental health program, and, following that, a new hospital.” – Nicole Kraftscik, CEO, GBGH Foundation.

In the first year since the gift, the GBGH Foundation has been able to invest in significant equipment upgrades for GBGH, including a Urology Laser for Surgical Services, a Chemistry & Immunochemistry Analyzer for the Lab and a specialized MRI ventilator.

The impact of these new pieces of equipment will be felt by the patients and care teams at GBGH for many years. Being able to offer urology surgeries locally will mean shorter wait times, and better outcomes for hundreds of patients every year, while having an MRI ventilator will ensure safe scans for those on life-support. The Lab Analyzers perform 90% of all the lab tests at GBGH, so this investment will benefit tens of thousands of patients annually.

With the launch of the We See You: Inside & Out capital campaign in 2025, and the hospital’s commitment to building an acute mental health program, the Weber Foundation will impact the lives of thousands of individuals who will have better access to urgent, acute mental health support close to home. 

The Foundation – and everyone at GBGH – is profoundly grateful to the Weber Foundation for this incredible gift for our entire community.



For more than 35 years, Kathleen Gignac dedicated her career to nursing. First on the surgical floor and later in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in Orillia, Kathleen loved caring for the tiniest of patients and supporting new parents, especially mothers. It was more than a job to her; it was a calling. 

Now retired and living just five minutes from Georgian Bay General Hospital, Kathleen hasn’t lost her passion for care. In fact, she’s found a new way to support local families and patients by becoming a Monthly Donor to the GBGH Foundation. 

Kathleen and her husband Roger, a fellow healthcare worker turned local real estate agent, know firsthand how essential it is to have access to quality care close to home. When Roger needed emergency support after a procedure, the team at GBGH — including Dr. McNamara and the ICU staff — provided compassionate, expert care that left a lasting impression. 

That experience, combined with Kathleen’s deep understanding of the healthcare system, inspired her to start giving monthly. 

“I’ve seen how healthcare is evolving,” she shares. “If we don’t support our hospital with the equipment and resources it needs, we won’t be able to keep up. It’s not just about the hospital, it’s about our whole community.” 

As a nurse, Kathleen knows that critical equipment like MRI technology, surgical tools, and even patient beds aren’t funded by the government. They rely on donations. And monthly gifts, in any amount, add up to real impact. 

Thanks to donors like Kathleen, GBGH can offer more timely scans, shorter wait times, and care that’s closer to home.

“You don’t have to drive to Barrie or Newmarket at 4 a.m. anymore,” she says. “That means more time with your family, less stress, and better outcomes.” 

From her love for the GBGH Gift Shop to her excitement about Giving Tuesday and the Foundation’s Impact Market, Kathleen is a true advocate for supporting local. Her message is simple: give what you can, when you can. 

“Every dollar matters. Supporting our hospital means investing in the future of care, right here in our own backyard.” 

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Jeff Holloway, Director

Jeff works at RBC Dominion Securities in Midland and joined RBC Wealth Management in 2014. In his current role, Jeff provides wealth management solutions to business owners, executives, professionals, and retirees.

Prior to working at RBC, Jeff was a partner at a leadership consulting firm and was a vice president at a Fortune 500 consulting company. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) while working for a multinational audit, tax, and consulting firm, he was the Controller at the National Hockey League Players’ Association.

Jeff was born in Kitchener-Waterloo and spent most of his childhood living in Owen Sound.  He moved to the Midland area full-time in 2019. He graduated from the University of Waterloo with an Honors degree in Mathematics (Computer Science). Jeff also holds the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation and the Chartered Investment Manager (CIM) designation.

Jeff is very supportive of many worthwhile causes in our local community. Currently, he is the Treasurer for the Quest Art School and Gallery in Midland.