Kickstart Your Heart

$30K Commitment from Tiny Township Supports Local Care and Physician Recruitment

The Township of Tiny has reaffirmed its strong commitment to local healthcare with a $30,000 investment supporting Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) and the community it serves. The contribution includes $20,000 to the GBGH Foundation in support of the We See You campaign, and $10,000 toward physician recruitment efforts to help strengthen care close to home. 

Presented during a recent Council meeting, the funding reflects the Township of Tiny’s continued dedication to ensuring residents have access to compassionate, timely, and high-quality healthcare. 

“Our hospital plays a vital role in the life and well-being of our community,” said Mayor David Evans, Township of Tiny. “This contribution is made on behalf of the residents of the Township of Tiny, to recognize the incredible care provided at GBGH and to support the people and services our neighbours rely on every day.” 

Funding directed to the GBGH Foundation will support the hospital’s most urgent priorities through the We See You campaign — an initiative focused on ensuring patients, families, and care teams feel supported, respected, and cared for at every stage of their healthcare journey. Community gifts to We See You help fund essential equipment, technology, and enhancements that improve comfort, safety, and dignity for patients across the hospital. 

“Support like this truly makes a difference,” said Matthew Lawson, President & CEO of Georgian Bay General Hospital. “Through the We See You campaign, the GBGH Foundation is helping ensure our teams have what they need to care for patients as whole people — with compassion, respect, and excellence. We are deeply grateful to the Township of Tiny for standing with our hospital and our community.” 

The $10,000 investment in physician recruitment will support efforts to attract and retain skilled physicians for the community, helping meet the growing healthcare needs of North Simcoe residents and ensuring continued access to timely care. 

“Strong physician recruitment is foundational to meeting the evolving healthcare needs of our region,” said Lesley Mallen, Director of People Services at GBGH. “We are grateful to the Township of Tiny for this meaningful investment, which directly supports our ability to attract and retain physicians who choose to build their practices—and their lives—here. This partnership plays an important role in strengthening access to care for our growing community. 

A long-standing supporter of local healthcare, the Township of Tiny has contributed more than $430,000 over the past 25 years toward hospital equipment, technology, and recruitment — demonstrating an enduring commitment to a healthy, resilient community.

For more information about the We See You campaign and how community support is making an impact at GBGH, visit WeSeeYouGBGH.ca. 

To learn more about physician recruitment in North Simcoe, visit georgianbayphysicianrecruitment.com. 

Community Generosity Fuels Lab Equipment Upgrades Through Kickstart Your Heart

Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation is celebrating the success of its 6th annual Kickstart Your Heart campaign, which raised $151,299 in support of critical laboratory equipment at GBGH. The two‑week campaign ran from February 1–20, 2026, rallying donors and local businesses across North Simcoe. 

This year’s success was amplified by the generosity of three matching gift donors – Conrad & Donna Huber, Steve & Brenda, and Doug Lamon – whose leadership inspired the community to give and helped maximize the impact of every donation. 

“The Kickstart Your Heart campaign was first inspired by local philanthropists Conrad and Donna Huber in 2021,” says Robyn Kaczanowski, community giving officer, GBGH Foundation. “Their love for each other and for this community brought the idea to life, and six years later, it continues to bring people together around a shared goal — supporting excellent care close to home.” 

Funds raised through the 2026 campaign are being invested into GBGH’s Laboratory, helping to fund essential equipment across the lab, including a new laboratory refrigerator and freezer, as well as a urinalysis analyzer used to process patient samples. These upgrades support the lab’s ability to handle high testing volumes efficiently and safely. 

“We were very excited to be part of the Kickstart Your Heart campaign, bringing awareness to the lab, as we’re often a hidden‑away department that no one sees,” says Jen Stewart, senior medical laboratory technologist at GBGH. “We’re an integral part of the hospital care team, and we’re so grateful to receive support through initiatives like this.” 

The campaign once again received strong support from local media partners Pure Country 106 and Bounce Radio 104.1, who promoted Kickstart Your Heart on‑air and online. As part of the campaign, the stations hosted a Heart Balloon Selfie Contest, encouraging community members to visit and support participating businesses. 

This year, 18 local business partners took part, collectively raising an additional $7,561 for the campaign through creative promotions and community‑driven fundraising. 

“Our business and media partners play such an important role in the success of Kickstart Your Heart,” says Robyn Blanchet, key relationships officer, GBGH Foundation. “Their enthusiasm and creativity help turn a fundraising campaign into a community celebration.” 

Now in its sixth year, Kickstart Your Heart continues to demonstrate the power of community giving — ensuring GBGH’s healthcare teams have the tools they need to deliver timely, high‑quality care for patients today and into the future.