News GBGH Foundation NewsMcHappy Day lights up Birthing Unit at GBGH!June 9, 2022On 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.” ... Read more...Foundation AGM: Monday, June 27June 1, 2022The GBGH Foundation will hold their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday, June 27th at 12pm. The meeting will be held virtually, and any one interested in attending can contact Catherine Johnson (johnsonca@gbgh.on.ca or 705-526-1300 ext. 5337) ... Read more...CFRE Designation for two GBGHF Team Members!May 31, 2022CFRE International has named Nicole Kraftscik and Christine Baguley as Certified Fund Raising Executives (CFRE). Nicole Kraftscik, Executive Director and Christine Baguley, Philanthropy Officer for the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation join more than 7,500 professionals around the world who hold the CFRE designation. Individuals granted the CFRE credential have met a series of standards set by CFRE International, which include tenure in the profession, education, and demonstrated fundraising achievement. They have also passed a rigorous written examination testing the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of a fundraising executive, and have agreed to uphold Accountability Standards and the Donor Bill of Rights. “The CFRE credential was created to identify for the public and employers those individuals who possess the knowledge, skills, and commitment to perform fundraising duties in an effective and ethical manner,” states CFRE International President and CEO Eva E. Aldrich, Ph.D., CAE, (CFRE 2001-2016). “As the certification is a voluntary achievement, the CFRE certification demonstrates a high level of commitment on the part of Nicole Kraftscik and Christine Baguley to the fundraising profession and the donors who are served.” CFRE recipients are awarded certification for a three-year period. To maintain certification status, certificants must demonstrate on-going fundraising employment and fundraising results and continue with their professional education. Employers and donors who work with CFREs know they are getting a professional who is committed to the best outcomes for their organization and has the requisite knowledge and skills. “The Foundation is thrilled to celebrate this significant achievement for both Christine and Nicole,” shares Katie Houston, chair, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “This elite designation further demonstrates their proven commitment to achieving excellence in fundraising, donor stewardship and accountability. We are incredibly proud of their success!” Since 1981, CFRE has set standards for fundraising professionals. The CFRE certification program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute and is the only accredited certification for fundraising professionals. ... Read more...GBGH Interim CEO AnnouncedApril 25, 2022A few weeks ago, we shared the news with you that Gail Hunt will be leaving Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to take on the role of President & CEO at RVH in Barrie. While the GBGH Board of Directors works to find a permanent replacement for Gail, it is my pleasure to share with you today that the role of GBGH Interim President & CEO will be filled by Matthew Lawson, effective June 24, 2022. Matthew is currently the Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Financial Officer at GBGH. Since he joined GBGH in May 2021, he has been instrumental in transforming many aspects of the hospital, including budgeting, resource allocation and capital equipment processes. He has also been a driving force in GBGH’s master planning process to secure a future hospital and push forward approvals of our proposed mental health program. “I am honoured to be appointed to this role during such a critical time for GBGH as we continue striving to improve services for this community,” says Matthew. “Our hospital is well aware of where we need to focus our efforts in the present and future as we consistently experience increased demand for services and continue facing the ongoing operational challenges and lasting impacts created by the pandemic.” I have personally had the opportunity to work closely with Matthew over the past year, and it is clear that he is committed to driving the mission and vision of our hospital forward. He understands the vital role that our donors play in the continued strength of our hospital, and values your continued partnership. We look forward to opportunities in the near future to introduce you to Matthew, so that you can hear more about his vision and passion for our hospital’s future. In the meantime, please join us in celebrating Matthew’s leadership appointment at GBGH. With heartfelt thanks and my commitment to a strong future, Nicole Kraftscik Executive Director GBGH Foundation ... Read more...New Director, Finance & OperationsApril 19, 2022I am pleased to announce that Greg MacMillan is the successful candidate for the Director, Finance & Operations role with the GBGH Foundation, starting Tuesday, April 19, 2022. Greg joins the GBGH Foundation after spending the last 11 years with RVH and the RVH Foundation. He has been a valued member of that team since the beginning, where he held the role of Foundation Accountant, then transitioning to support both the Foundation and RVH Finance team as the Senior Accountant. His most recent role as the Finance Manager & Analytics for the Foundation saw him as part of the leadership team overseeing finance, data and financial governance as they work towards their ambitious $100M fundraising campaign. Prior to this, Greg experienced 12 years of leadership as the controller for a distribution company. Greg has continued to enhance his education throughout his career. He holds a Bachelors degree from Wilfred Laurier University, and is a Certified General Accountant, CGA. He also has his Lean Healthcare Yellow Belt. Greg is very excited for the opportunity to be part of GBGH Foundation. “I am looking forward to bringing new ideas and experience to this dynamic and growing organization. There are extensive projects on the horizon that will continue to support the critical needs of the Hospital and I am thrilled to be part of that growth as we move into the future.” Please join me in extending a very warm welcome to Greg. I am certain his experience and relationship-focused approach will greatly assist the Foundation in our mission to empower GBGH to deliver exceptional health care. Nicole Kraftscik Executive Director GBGH Foundation... Read more...Changes at GBGHApril 14, 2022It’s said there is nothing permanent…except change! You have likely already heard that Gail Hunt will be leaving Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) in June to take on the role of President & CEO at Royal Victoria’s Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie. In case you missed it, the news release is available here. We sincerely wish Gail all the best in her new role! During her time at GBGH, Gail has been committed to growing GBGH from the perspective of investing in people, creating a culture of continuous learning, aligning services with community needs, and purposefully and responsibly allocating resources. Gail has also established strategic partnerships with other healthcare organizations, including RVH, to maximize efficiencies and advance patient-centred care. Most recently, Gail and the GBGH Leadership Team, along with the GBGH Board of Directors, have been actively engaged in master planning to ensure our hospital services align with our community’s needs today and in the future. As a result, plans for a comprehensive acute mental health program are with the Ministry of Health for Stage 2 approval. The development of a new hospital is also on the horizon, and a Stage 1 proposal has also been submitted to the Ministry of Health. On behalf of the Foundation Board of Directors, and our staff team, we are excited about these plans to transform health care for our community, and we are thrilled to share this vision with our community. You are an important partner for Georgian Bay General Hospital and the GBGH Foundation, and together, we will continue to empower Georgian Bay General Hospital to deliver exceptional health care. The position of Interim CEO for GBGH will be announced shortly, but in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Nicole Kraftscik, Executive Director (kraftscikn@gbgh.on.ca) if you have any questions or would like to learn more about the future plans for our Georgian Bay General Hospital. Sincerely, Katie Houston Chair, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors... Read more...April Ski DayApril 7, 2022On Sunday, April 10th, 2022 at 1PM, Jeff Heron will boldly ski off the dock at Picnic Island, Honey Harbour to help raise funds and awareness for Georgian Bay General Hospital. “Sun’s out, more open water, temperatures are heating up, and I’ve got a new wetsuit,” shares Jeff. “My goal is to help our community understand how important our hospital is to each and every one of us.” Anyone interested in watching his frigid adventure can gather at the dock at Picnic Island Resort (175 Picnic Island Rd, Honey Harbour) for 1PM. Donations to support his brave venture can be made by filling out the form below. Thank you Jeff Heron, Ryan Grimshaw & their team for taking the icy plunge to help provide funding for the Foundation’s Impact Fund, which helps to provide our teams at GBGH with the equipment and technology they need to care for patients in our community.... Read more...“We See You” Video PremiereMarch 30, 2022Join the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation & local filmmaker Kevin Haire for the premiere of “We See You”, a documentary-style video that takes viewers behind the scenes in the Emergency Department (ED) at GBGH. Kevin masterfully shines a light on the dedication and resilience of the GBGH ED Team, shadowing RNs Joel Dupuis and Kaitlin Beauchamp as they care for patients during a day at work. Video can be viewed on the GBGH Foundation YouTube channel. To learn more about this project, click here.... Read more...Defibrillators & Crash Carts Purchased for GBGH!March 25, 2022In February 2022, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation appealed to the community to help raise $175,000 for defibrillators and crash carts during their Kickstart Your Heart campaign. Thanks to generous community support, the goal was achieved and new crash carts and defibrillators will be in use across the hospital in early April. The appeal was supported by local philanthropists, Conrad & Donna Huber, who pledged $100,000 in matching funds to the campaign. Local radio stations Pure Country 106 and Bounce 104.1 put their voices to the airwaves to build awareness and inspire others to join the Hubers in making a financial gift. “We are absolutely overwhelmed with the fierce generosity that our community demonstrated during Kickstart Your Heart,” shares Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “We want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Conrad & Donna Huber, Pure Country 106 and Bounce 104.1 and everyone who contributed to raising more than $184,000 for this vital hospital equipment.” Eleven new crash carts and eleven defibrillators arrived at GBGH in early March, and will be assembled & calibrated before staff training begins the week of March 28. Crash carts are stocked with basic airway equipment, tools for intravenous (IV) access, medications and defibrillator pads. Each crash cart also has a life-saving defibrillator mounted for immediate access, and enables the care teams to deliver high-quality CPR, provide optimal defibrillation and pacing for patients experiencing a cardiac emergency. “The excellent team at GBGH was able to save my life with a defibrillator, and the smile on their faces when I came to is a testament to the caring professionals working in emerg,” shares Ed Shirley, GBGH grateful patient. “It made me happy as well. Thanks to generous donors, the team was able to bring me back with the necessary equipment. Anything we can do to keep the smiles on their faces, and the faces of their patients and families, is definitely worthwhile.” ... Read more...Team Giving Week Celebrations!March 23, 2022From February 28 – March 4, 2022, the GBGH Foundation celebrated our GBGH Team Giving program! Generously sponsored by Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC, the week’s festivities included free coffee & tea for the team each day, free meals, delicious cookies and prize draws. “Community support shows the hospital staff appreciation for what we (the staff) do, and lets us know that our efforts don’t go unnoticed. This helps to boost staff morale and shows the community cares about us. Thank you!“ ~ Michelle Madaire, GBGH During the week, the Foundation also provided the team with information about the GBGH Team Giving Circle, which is a year-round charitable giving program supported by a community of dedicated Georgian Bay General Hospital team members. Donations made through this program fund critical equipment, technology and education. 18 new team members joined the Giving Circle during the week, while 6 current members increased their annual gift. Together, our GBGH Team Giving Circle provides $28,000 to the Foundation each year. Thank you to Steve Jacklin & the team at Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC for making this week delicious and successful! And, thank you to all the members of the GBGH Team Giving Circle for their dedication to patient care through their daily work, but also through their philanthropic giving. ... Read more...Community Giving Officer for GBGHF!March 21, 2022I am pleased to announce that Victoria Evans is the successful candidate for the Community Giving Officer with GBGH Foundation. Victoria joins the GBGH Foundation after spending the last year as the Operations Coordinator at the Midland Cultural Centre where she was responsible for the operational oversight of the organization. Prior to this role, she spent time in volunteer endeavours at The Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts and North Simcoe Rotaract. In both organizations, Victoria focused on curating opportunities to combine her love for event and project management with community-based fundraising. Growing up along the shores of Georgian Bay, she was always looking to engage with the local community in positive and creative ways. Victoria received her Undergraduate Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in Communication Studies and Business, and is a recent graduate of the post-graduate Arts Administration and Cultural Management program at Humber College. Victoria is extremely thrilled to have the opportunity to combine both her creative interests and passion for her community. “I very much look forward to joining the team at the GBGH Foundation where I can contribute to its engagement, empowerment, and sustainability as we work to support the Hospital’s mission of exceptional healthcare for our community.” Please join me in extending a very warm welcome to Victoria. I am certain her experience and passion for supporting her community will be a wonderful addition to our team. Nicole Kraftscik Executive Director GBGH Foundation... Read more...La Chapelle Education Fund RecipientsFebruary 10, 2022Each 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 $5,000 toward continuing their education and growing their skills. Congratulations to this year’s recipients! Bursary Recipient: Elizabeth Gorecki BScN Education Grant Recipients: Alannah Eberschlag RPN-BScN Bridge Emily Barber RPN-BScN Bridge Erica Easterling RPN-BScN Bridge Izabella Stochmal RPN-BScN Bridge Jane Mendoza Cardiology Nursing Shalana Desroches PeriAnesthesia Nursing Sherri Conohan-Thayer RPN-BScN Bridge Stephanie Caruana CC1; TNCC Valerie Quesnelle BScN Erika Weber RPN-BScN Bridge Jennifer Thorney Masters Nursing & Leadership in Professional Nursing Practice Samantha Noon OB Nursing Sean Tackaberry RPN-BScN Bridge... Read more...Weber Manufacturing gives $25,000 to Kickstart Your HeartFebruary 4, 2022On February 4, 2022, Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc. announced a $25,000 gift to the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation’s Kickstart Your Heart campaign. The gift will fund the purchase of a crash cart, equipped with a life-saving defibrillator for GBGH. Weber Manufacturing has committed a total of $50,000 to the GBGH Foundation in the past year, including a $25,000 gift to the Power of Giving Virtual Gala in August 2021. “From a business perspective, we support the hospital because of the community and the impact it has on our employees and their families,” shares Chris Edwards, president of Weber Manufacturing. “They live, work and play in this community and the senior team wants to support the community, and what better place than our local hospital.” Supporting local health care is also important to Chris personally as he was born and raised in Midland, and GBGH has been there for him and his family when needed. “Since 2007, we’ve been involved with the GBGH Foundation through the smile cookie program, ‘working for my hospital’ and the annual gala,” says Chris. “But in 2013, when I attended the Breakfast of Champions, and learned that the government does not fund the purchase of equipment for the hospital, I knew we had to take the initiative to do more.” In total, Weber Manufacturing has given more than $75,000 to the GBGH Foundation, helping to support the most critical equipment and technology requirements over the years. “Through this gift, Chris has demonstrated how much he cares about our community, and the health and safety of his entire team at Weber,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “This investment in life-saving equipment will have a lasting impact on the care provided at GBGH, and we are deeply grateful for his remarkable generosity.” The Kickstart Your Heart campaign runs from January 31 to February 14, 2022, and all gifts are being matched by Conrad & Donna Huber (up to a total of $100,000). Those wishing to learn more can click here or call the GBGH Foundation at 705-526-GIVE (4483). To watch a message from Chris Edwards, visit: https://youtu.be/SkZgKnta280... Read more...Conrad & Donna Huber match Kickstart Your Heart donations* to GBGH FoundationJanuary 31, 2022For the first two weeks of February, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation is raising funds for defibrillators and crash carts, inspired by a $50,000 match gift from Conrad and Donna Huber. This year’s ‘Kickstart Your Heart’ campaign will aim to raise $175,000 to purchase six crash carts, equipped with life-saving defibrillators. In 2021, the inaugural Kickstart Your Heart campaign raised nearly $75,000 thanks to a $20,000 gift from the Hubers, $25,000 pledge from Balm Beach House of Glass, 60 individual donors and six local businesses who committed a portion of Valentine’s Day sales or items to the campaign. In total, Georgian Bay General Hospital requires 11 new crash carts and defibrillators, to replace aging and outdated equipment and technology. “Searching for an IV, suction catheter, defibrillator pads, airway equipment, or even gauze, really makes an already stressful environment even more stressful,” says Tyler Pilon, critical care nurse, GBGH. “These precious minutes truly make a difference. Through the years, I have seen many life-saving stories and knowing that you can trust the equipment to function the way it was intended, and have everything readily available, truly makes the job easier.” To ensure GBGH is equipped with the appropriate life-saving tools, Bell Media’s Pure Country 106 and Bounce 104.1 are putting their voices to the airwaves in the coming weeks. “Bell Media is supporting the Kickstart Your Heart campaign because we understand how important it is for communities to work at their best potential,” shares Meg Whitton, morning show host on Bounce 104.1. “We want hospital staff to have the very best equipment and we want to show our hospital staff that we are willing to provide that for them.” To see the full interview with Meg Whitton and co-host, Brian Wicks, please click here. The generous match gift of $50,000 is a testament to the Huber’s love for each other and their community. They share a great love story, so a campaign to celebrate love, hearts and community was the ideal way to encourage others to join them in supporting GBGH. “We enjoy being together and doing things together,” share the Hubers. “We have been so fortunate in life and it makes us both happy to be able to give back to our community. It is our gift to each other.” Those interested in having their gift doubled can make a donation by clicking here. Individuals can also get involved by joining the conversation on Facebook and Instagram and sharing posts on social media. *Donations will be matched up to a total of $50,000.... Read more...A Transformational Gift: One Year LaterJanuary 21, 2022On January 19, 2021, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation announced a $5-million gift from The Mancini Foundation, to support the implementation of the CARE4 Electronic Patient Record System, the restoration of patient rooms on 2E & 2N and the re-building of the coffee bar in the hospital lobby. As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of The Mancini Foundation’s transformational gift announcement, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for the impact his generosity is having on our community hospital. Throughout the past year, GBGH, along with three partner hospitals (Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre and Headwaters Health Care Centre), has worked together on one of the largest projects in our collective history: CARE4 and the launch of MEDITECH Expanse. Designed to improve the safety and quality of patient care across all four organizations, the investment in time, human resources and technology has been extensive – and worth every effort as the system transforms care for patients across the region. Thanks to The Mancini Foundation, and other generous donors in the community, the GBGH Foundation was able to invest $2-million toward the software upgrade, and purchase of vital supporting technology; which includes portable workstations, cordless scanners, tablets, label & barcode printers, dictation microphones, and a Single Sign On system that replicates each team member’s digital desktop across any computer with the tap of their badge. “One of the best things about Meditech Expanse is that dictation is lighting fast and accurate,” shares a GBGH physician. “Not having to search for charts anymore is an added bonus.” The renovation of patient rooms on 2E & 2N will also have an incredible impact on the patient experience at GBGH. Research has found that a more attractive hospital environment results in better recovery outcomes and lower anxiety for patients as they feel more comfortable in their surroundings. The investment from The Mancini Foundation supplemented the funds previously donated by 29 individuals, families and organizations for the Foundation’s Adopt a Room project. Over time, these funds are facilitating a complete renovation of 48 patient rooms, giving all patients a more serene environment designed to promote healing and recovery. In December 2021, the hospital issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the room renovations. The contract has been awarded, and Senior Leaders are working with the team on final plans so that construction can begin when visitation restrictions have lifted and the COVID-19 pandemic has finally eased its grip on our healthcare system. “We are excited to move forward with the room renovations in order to give our patients a more calm, modern and well-equipped environment for healing and recovery,” says Gail Hunt, President & CEO, GBGH. “Mr. Mancini truly cares for our patients and their well-being, and we are deeply grateful that he has chosen to make this project possible at GBGH.” Since the hospital opened in 1976, the coffee bar in the main lobby has been a welcoming meeting place. Funds raised through the volunteer-run service have supported ongoing staff education and the purchase of vital equipment through the GBGH Foundation. The Coffee Bar has been out of service since early 2020 due to much-needed repairs, and will be completely rebuilt. The construction of the café in the hospital lobby is going to be possible this year, thanks to The Mancini Foundation. Plans have been approved for the space, and will incorporate Barista-style beverages, coffee & tea, grab-and-go food items and daily soups. The hospital hopes to have this project completed before summer 2022. “Marco Mancini’s investment in the Café is an exceptional gift as it provides a future revenue stream for our hospital,” shares Nicole Kraftscik, Executive Director, GBGH Foundation. “Plus, it brings life and energy back to the centre of the hospital; a place where staff, patients and their families can get refreshments or enjoy a break together. Marco is truly lifting up the entire hospital family with this gift.” Although visitor restrictions, supply shortages and mandatory lockdowns through the COVID-19 pandemic have delayed these renovation projects, The Mancini Foundation’s generosity is already having a great impact. “Marco has made a remarkable commitment to the hospital and to his community, and we are honoured to work with him to complete such impactful projects for GBGH,” says Nicole. “We are so fortunate that Marco is open and willing to share part of his family legacy with our community. I hold him, and all our donors, in such high regard.” ... Read more...We’ve Moved!January 18, 2022The Foundation team has a new home! At the beginning of January 2022, we moved into the building in the GBGH parking lot (where the Assessment Centre used to be). Accessible from the doors that face the hospital, the Foundation team is sharing the building with the GBGH Finance Team and Southern Georgian Bay Physician Recruitment. For many years, the Foundation has been working with Senior Leadership at GBGH to find a more suitable (larger) office area for our growing team, and this building definitely provides ample working space and room to meet with our donors and stakeholders (when gathering & visitation restrictions have lifted). And, don’t worry! Our phone numbers, and mailing address, remain the same. Working to ensure a thriving and sustainable future for Georgian Bay General Hospital for the next generation of patients in our community is one of our strategic pillars, and this new office space meets the following two strategic priorities: Continue to innovate and invest in infrastructure, technology, professional development and processes to optimize effectiveness. The investment in infrastructure is already optimizing our team’s effectiveness, as each team member has their own space (office or cubicle) reducing distractions and allowing the team to dedicate their time more efficiently. Build an exceptional team of talented and dedicated professionals with a diverse mix of expertise, experience and perspectives. There wasn’t any physical space in the old office for any additional team members. The new office has two additional offices which will provide the space we need as we continue to grow our exceptional team. A special thank you to all those individuals who were great champions for this extra space over the past few years. And, to the Maintenance & IT Teams at GBGH for their help in getting us all set up!... Read more...Local service clubs give back!October 25, 2021The past 2 years have looked very different for our local service clubs. Traditionally, these dedicated volunteers raise funds through in-person events & initiatives designed to bring people together as they support local charities. With a global pandemic, stay-at-home orders, and mandated physical distancing, their ability to generate funds has been significantly hampered. Through true resilience and determination, however, the changing landscape hasn’t stopped the Midland District Shrine Club, the Knights of Columbus Laurier Council (Midland), the Knights of Columbus Huronia Council (Penetanguishene) and the Midland Civitan Club from giving back to the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation. Collectively, these four service-focused organizations have given more than $140,000 to the Foundation, and their latest gifts continue to inspire “We’re scraping the bottom of the coffers,” shares Peter McBryan from the Knights of Columbus, Laurier Council in Midland. “But we want to make sure our funds are having a positive impact on the community, and health care is absolutely top of mind.” The Knights of Columbus, Laurier Council visited GBGH on October 13 to present a cheque for $500 to the Foundation’s Impact Fund. Earlier this month, on October 6, the Midland District Shrine Club visited the Hospital to deliver a generous gift of $1,000, which will also support the GBGH Foundation’s most urgent priorities (picture shown above). The camera-shy Penetanguishene Knights of Columbus generously donated $1,000 on October 14, also providing much needed funding for the Foundation’s Impact Fund. The Midland Civitan Club also made two generous $500 donations in October to honour the memory of two long-standing members, Huguette Fahrentholz and Dawn Locke. “Our community’s service clubs have been such generous supporters of the GBGH Foundation for many years,” shares Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “It is inspiring to see their commitment and dedication, and we are honoured that they have chosen to invest in their community through the Foundation this year.” Thank you to the Knights of Columbus Midland & Penetanguishene, the Midland District Shrine Club and the Midland Civitan Club for their amazing support!... Read more...Tee-rrific time at the SEGBAY Golf TournamentOctober 18, 2021The Southeast Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce (SEGBAY), in partnership with Bell Media’s Pure Country 106 and Bounce 104.1, hosted its 8th Annual Golf Tournament on September 14, 2021. The tournament raised a total of $31,500 – with $21,000 being dedicated to the GBGH Foundation’s Kickstart Your Heart Campaign which raises funds to help purchase defibrillators and crash carts for Georgian Bay General Hospital, and $10,500 dedicated to the Wendat Lorna Tomlinson Residence for Seniors in Penetanguishene. The 116 golfers in attendance at Oak Bay Golf Club in Port Severn were treated to the course’s beautiful views of Georgian Bay, with rain holding off until the day was done. Along with the un-FORE-gettable course, everyone got the chance to take part in a variety of contests such as Beat the Pro golfer and Hole-in-One contests. This was followed by a spectacular dinner prepared by Chef Luigi. Fred Wareing, Chair of the Golf Tournament Committee, stated: “This was another fantastic tournament for the books. We are so pleased the weather held off so all the golfers could enjoy the challenges of this tough course – which was in great shape thanks to the hard work of the staff at Oak Bay Golf Club. Topped off by the delicious meal by Chef Luigi, it was an unforgettable day in all. We have heard nothing but positive feedback from everyone, and the golfers can’t wait to come back again next year!” Wareing went on to say: “We sincerely thank each and every person who participated this year. In these unconventional times, we are proud you put your trust in us to keep you safe and healthy. To our many sponsors, staff at Oak Bay Golf Club, and the hardworking volunteers, we extend a humble thank you. In the 8 years of running this tournament we have raised a total of $260,000. The success of this tournament relies on your contributions and we’re so grateful for your support each year.” ... Read more...GBGH staff members recognized for outstanding achievementsOctober 15, 2021On October 4, 2021, the GBGH Foundation’s Hartog-Robillard Advisory Committee presented the annual Robbert Hartog Health Innovation Award to two deserving individuals from Georgian Bay General Hospital. Alysya (Aly) Wang and Lynne-Marie Culliton were recognized for their outstanding achievements which demonstrate the values of Robbert Hartog, who worked tirelessly on behalf of Georgian Bay General Hospital and the Foundation. Established by the GBGH Foundation in 2009, the $5,000 award is shared between the winners toward furthering their professional learning and development. “There are so many exceptional people at Georgian Bay General Hospital who are deserving of recognition, and this year’s recipients are outstanding,” says Lyn Wolfhard, chair, Hartog-Robillard Advisory Committee. “These are women who add value to the organization by increasing efficiency, effectiveness, and improving the patient experience at GBGH. I am honoured to present the award this year to Alysya and Lynne-Marie.” Alysya Wang, project manager at GBGH, is recognized this year for her skills, knowledge, willingness to help others, and dedication to the hospital and community through the COVID-19 pandemic and the CARE4 (health information system) Project. “Aly has been instrumental in the launch, relocation and operation of the Midland COVID Assessment Centre through the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Julia Sek, director of patient care, GBGH. “Her quick and creative thinking has led to a number of innovative developments including auditing tools, streamlining document management systems and creating interactive tools to improve information flow for decision-making.” Lynne-Marie Culliton, lead midwife at GBGH, is recognized for her commitment, drive and dedication to maternal, fetal and newborn well-being, as well as continuously being an advocate for patient needs with an inclusive and holistic approach. “Lynne-Marie has continually worked to grow the Midland Midwives Program and the GBGH Birthing Program since she joined the team here in 2013,” shares Marnie Lightfoot, director of patient care, GBGH. “Under her leadership, the midwifery scope of practice at GBGH has expanded to include epidural management and our statistics for exclusive breastfeeding among patients at discharge has nearly doubled. Lynne-Marie works tirelessly at finding avenues to partner with our community and to bring forth much needed programing, funding and services to our community to best support their needs.” The GBGH Foundation Board of Directors, staff and members of the Hartog-Robillard Advisory committee extend their sincere congratulations and heartfelt thanks to this year’s recipients. ... Read more...McHappy Day brings back thousands of SMILES!September 27, 2021On September 22, 2021, McDonald’s restaurants in Elmvale and Midland partnered with the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation for McHappy Day®. The one-day event raised $20,000 – $10,000 of which will be donated to the GBGH Foundation’s Impact Fund, addressing the highest priority capital needs at GBGH. The other half of funds raised support Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto. “We are so proud of our teams for their incredible efforts this year,” says Mark Cruden, owner of the McDonald’s restaurants in Midland & Elmvale. “With so many challenges facing everyone this year – staffing shortages, public health requirements and very wet weather – everyone really pulled together to make a difference for our charity partners.” 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 newly redeveloped ED at GBGH, and will help to purchase items for the hospital’s Birthing Unit. “We are so fortunate to have the continued support of such passionate community supporters like Mark & Carol Cruden,” shares Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “They work so hard, and truly bring the community together to maximize the collective impact for our hospital and RMHC. Plus, they are kind, generous and humble people, so it is a delight to work with them.” ... Read more...Meet our new Business Cares AmbassadorsSeptember 24, 2021Our Business Cares program is empowering community-minded organizations to support the GBGH Foundation in whatever ways work best for their unique business. We have been fortunate to have many local businesses join us, collectively raising more than $50,000 last year. This year, three of our Business Cares partners have stepped up to help others find unique ways to grow their business by supporting the GBGH Foundation. Get to know them (and their Business Cares strategy) below, and if you’d like to connect with one of them, please contact Christine Baguley, Philanthropy Officer (baguleyc@gbgh.on.ca or 705-526-1300 ext.5338). To learn more about Business Cares, click here. Jenna Lorette, from The Mortgage Centre, makes a donation to the GBGH Foundation on the close of each mortgage in honour of the mortgage client (amount varies by mortgage amount). “As Business Cares partners, we are investing in healthcare for our whole community.” ~ Jenna Lorette Roberta Courtemanche is self-employed, and has chosen to donate a portion of her commission from the sale of Group Benefit Plans to the GBGH Foundation. “I love the Business Cares program because it allows me to customize my donations to the scale of my business. By tying my giving to my new group benefits plans as well as my group benefits plan renewals, I am able to give when I receive income at various times during the calendar year. This way it is affordable to me, my family and my business.” ~ Roberta Courtemanche Janice Stone is passionate about helping women, and she has chosen to donate 10% of her Ignite Your Confidence Digital Academy registration fee to the GBGH Foundation. “As a wife, mom, stepmom, and now grandma, I am so grateful for our local hospital and the care it gives not only my family but also my community. The opportunity to combine the gift of what my business provides for me to support a hospital that cares so well for the people I love is a privilege.” ~ Janice Stone ... Read more...10 Days of Gratitude for the GBGH TeamSeptember 24, 2021From September 8 to 17, 2021, Georgian Bay General Hospital celebrated 10 Days of Gratitude to recognize the hard work, dedication and perseverance of the entire GBGH Team. The celebration included daily prize draws, free meals and two visits from a full-service ice cream truck. This week was made possible thanks to the generosity of two Business Cares partners. Team Hawke Realty Brokerage and Jenna Lorette from The Mortgage Centre, sponsored the 10 Days of Gratitude to show their appreciation for the hard-working GBGH Team. “At Team Hawke Realty, we believe in supporting our local community,” shares Jim Hawke. “On behalf of our entire team, we wish to express our sincere gratitude to the amazing staff at GBGH for their continuous hard work and dedication!“ “As a community we rely on the hospital and staff to be there for us everyday,” shares Jenna Lorette. “We cannot say thank you enough for the strength and persistence they continue to show throughout this pandemic. We hope the 10 days of gratitude gave you a boost to continue with the incredible work you do.”... Read more...Olivia & Beckett’s Bake SaleSeptember 22, 2021Following in the footsteps of their older cousins, Beckett & Olivia organized a bake sale on September 1, 2021 in support of the Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation. They recognize the hard work of the health care teams at GBGH, and want to thank them for their ongoing efforts. Beckett & Olivia sold baked goods and vegetables from their garden, raising an incredible $1,300! Taylor & Cameron, the older cousins, were well known for their annual lemonade sale to support charitable organizations in the community.... Read more...Oak Bay neighbours roast corn for GBGH!September 21, 2021When Oak Bay residents Liz & Larry Marshall were planning a corn roast for their neighbours, they learned that the SEGBAY Chamber of Commerce was hosting it’s annual golf tournament at their community golf club on the same day. Deciding to use their event to also benefit the community, Larry & Liz collected funds from their guests to support the Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation (GBGHF), which was the primary beneficiary of the golf tournament. In total, $700 was raised! Thank you Larry & Liz, and all your neighbours for your generous gift to your local hospital. ... Read more...Community comes together with fierce generosity at Virtual GalaAugust 26, 2021On Saturday, August 21, 2021, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation hosted its second Power of Giving Virtual Gala, presented by Faris Team Real Estate Brokerage. The goal was to raise $450,000 for the Foundation’s Impact Fund, which helps the hospital address the highest priority needs each year. Thanks to generous business sponsorship, the online auction, sales of the Georgian Bay Bag, and some incredible donations, the record-breaking total was more than $624,000! The generosity began with four families – Peter & Lynda Wolfhard, the Morneau Family, Ralph & Kathy Befort and the Wolfe Family – who came together to match donations up to a collective $100,000. This inspired another four donors – Alan & Alison Fryer, Conrad & Donna Huber, Chris Edwards (President & CEO, Weber Manufacturing), and one donor who chose to remain anonymous – to put $100,000 together, which tripled the impact of every donation made to the event. Inspired by the volume of donations and seeing the community come together, philanthropist Marco Mancini added $150,000 to the total, furthering the impact for Georgian Bay General Hospital. “It was incredible to witness the community come together on Saturday night,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “We have some major capital projects that must be completed this year – like the Central Monitoring System, and the implementation of our digital patient record system. These outstanding fundraising results will help ensure we can proceed as planned, putting the best equipment in the hands of the GBGH team to provide safe, high quality care to patients.” “We are so fortunate to have such a generous community,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “The collective impact of all the individual gifts – ranging from $5 to $10,000 – was what made the event a huge success. Every gift is so important. We want to say a heartfelt thank you to our match donors, to Marco, to our sponsors, and to everyone who made a donation, bought an auction item or a Georgian Bay Bag. Together, we are ensuring exceptional healthcare for our community!” You can still watch the Power of Giving Virtual Gala on the GBGH Foundation YouTube channel.... Read more...Ice Cream Fundraiser brings in $650!August 26, 2021On Friday, July 16, the team at the World Famous Dock Lunch restaurant in Penetanguishene sold ice cream cones for $3, with the proceeds supporting the Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation’s Impact Fund. The fun, sunny day raised $650! This great Business Cares initiative brought smiles all around. To learn more about our Business Cares program, click here.... Read more...Power of Giving Virtual Gala returns with Layne, the AuctionistaAugust 17, 2021On Saturday, August 21, 2021, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation will host its second Power of Giving Virtual Gala, with a goal to raise $450,000 for the Foundation’s Impact Fund. This year’s show, presented by Faris Team Real Estate Brokerage, will feature musical entertainment from Luke Lalonde of Born Ruffians, a mixology segment with Canadian comedian Michelle Shaughnessy, and a live (virtual) after party with Kitty & The Boyz. Layne, The Auctionista returns to host, bringing an incredible, contagious energy that will permeate the screens and bring guests together from across North Simcoe. The event will also feature heart-warming stories, an online auction and exciting Fund-a-Need segments, raising critical funds for the GBGH Foundation’s Impact Fund. “This year has been so tough on the teams at GBGH,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “We want to encourage the staff and credentialed staff by bringing the community together for the Power of Giving Virtual Gala in support of our hospital, and raise significant funds that will have a meaningful impact on the care that they provide each day.” Collaborating with local businesses is also a key focus for the event. Many local businesses have stepped up generously to sponsor the Power of Giving Virtual Gala, providing funds in exchange for recognition during the event. Selling a specially curated Georgian Bay Bag for the Gala engaged the local business community, with each bag including 20 items perfect for a day on Georgian Bay. The Power of Giving Virtual Gala will be streamed on the GBGH Foundation You Tube Channel, starting at 7:00PM on Saturday, August 21st. For more information & to register for FREE, visit www.Give2GBGH.ca or contact the Foundation office (foundation@gbgh.on.ca or 705-526-4483).... Read more...Maple Leaf Marinas pumps $25,000 for GBGH!August 5, 2021The boating community came together on the August long weekend for Georgian Bay General Hospital! Maple Leaf Marinas (BayPort Yachting Centre, Beacon Bay, Wye Heritage, South Bay Cove and Bluewater Lodge) donated 10 cents from every litre of fuel sold over the August long weekend to the Foundation’s Kick Start Your Heart campaign (proudly sponsored by Pure Country 106 and BOUNCE 104.1)! Their goal was $15,000 but an anonymous boater donated $10,000 and another donated $2,000…for a grand total of $25,000! Hear a bit more about this incredible fundraiser: https://omny.fm/shows/bounce-1041/maple-leaf-marinas-raise-25-000-for-georgian-bay-g ... Read more...Captain’s Invitational DOUBLES impact for GBGH!August 4, 2021On Friday, July 16, 2021, a small group of 44 golfers gathered at the Midland Golf & Country Club for the second annual Captain’s Invitational Golf Tournament, raising more than $609,000 in support of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). Presented by Toronto-based Urbacon, and hosted by Glenn Howard, this incredible fundraising achievement is nearly double what the first tournament raised in 2020. Urbacon Chairman, and tournament visionary, Marco Mancini, made a transformational $5-million gift to GBGH earlier this year, and his generosity inspired golfers and guests to make further impactful contributions through this tournament. “It is my privilege to assist the Foundation to help make a difference in people’s lives. Over the 20 years my family has been in Georgian Bay, we have made several trips to GBGH. We are lucky to have this outstanding facility in our region,” said Mancini. “I am thrilled with the results of the Captain’s Invitational. Urbacon is in the business of building, but we are also committed to building better, stronger and healthier communities.” The unique tournament brought together local supporters of Georgian Bay General Hospital, along with friends and business contacts of Mr. Mancini. The results are nothing short of inspiring, with individual donations ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. “Marco’s generosity is simply incredible,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “He has been a strong supporter of this community for many years through the Celebrity Invitational Golf Tournament, the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Classic, and of course, through his remarkable $5-million gift which will transform the patient experience at GBGH. Marco’s unique ability to inspire those around him to give from the heart is what makes him such a powerful partner for the Foundation, and we are so grateful for his passionate support of GBGH.” The funds raised will support the Foundation’s Impact Fund, which enables the hospital to address the highest priority equipment and technology needs, even if those needs change unexpectedly during the year. This year, the hospital must replace the entire Central Monitoring System for the ICU at a cost of $1.3-million; buy new defibrillators and crash carts ($300,000) to ensure the best response in emergency situations across the hospital; and continue to invest in bringing a completely digital patient record to GBGH. “The mounting list of capital priorities for our aging hospital can be overwhelming,” says Gail Hunt, president & CEO, GBGH. “When you have an amazing community partner, like Marco – who continue giving so much back to our hospital – it gives us hope we can start addressing some of the larger projects like the Central Monitoring System. The generosity of everyone involved with the Captain’s Invitational Tournament will have a huge impact and we are truly thankful for their commitment to GBGH through this exceptional gift.”... Read more...Tiny Township continues vital support for GBGHJuly 26, 2021On Tuesday, July 21, 2021, the Township of Tiny Mayor, George Cornell, presented the GBGH Foundation with a cheque for $20,000! These vital funds will go to the Foundation’s Impact Fund, which provides support for the hospital’s most urgent priority needs in 2021-2022. Gail Hunt, President & CEO, GBGH along with Nicole Kraftscik, Executive Director, GBGH Foundation, joined the Township Council meeting to ‘virtually’ receive the cheque and thank Council for the incredible lifetime support of more than $280,000…including an $80,000 commitment from council during this most recent term. Thank you to the Township of Tiny for your generous, ongoing support for our Georgian Bay General Hospital!... Read more...Bourgeois Auto Group makes $100,000 pledge to GBGH!June 29, 2021In May 2021, Bourgeois Auto Group, owned by Adam & Beth Bourgeois, committed $100,000 to Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to help address the highest capital priorities over the next ten years. Adam & Beth have been long-time, loyal supporters of GBGH, and this gift is a testament to the ongoing partnership between Bourgeois Auto Group and the GBGH Foundation. “Beth and I were both born and raised in the Midland area, and we feel a strong obligation to give back,” shares Adam. “The community has been great to us, they have supported all of our businesses, and so the hospital was the logical choice to impact as many people as we could with one donation.” The Bourgeois family has been giving back to GBGH for more than two decades, with support for annual equipment appeals, the Our Best Care campaign, Buy a Bed program and many golf tournaments. “Bourgeois Auto Group, and the Bourgeois family, are such great supporters of our community and of the hospital,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “Their philanthropic leadership has inspired support over the years, and I am confident this elevated partnership with GBGH will continue to bring people together for local healthcare for years to come.” With this year’s gift, Bourgeois Auto Group is encouraging the community to support GBGH through monthly giving, by matching all new monthly donations to the GBGH Foundation. Those wishing to make a monthly gift to support the hospital, and have their gift matched by Bourgeois Auto Group, can visit: https://gbghf.ca/monthly-giving Bourgeois Auto Group is also a proud sponsor of this year’s Power of Giving Virtual Gala, taking place on Saturday, August 21, 2021. ... Read more...Midland Legion Supports GBGH ICUJune 18, 2021From left – Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation; Cindy Lockhart, president, Ladies Auxiliary, Ron Adair, president, and Tim Sweeting, Midland Legion Branch 80; Gail Hunt, president & CEO, GBGH; Lisa Wanamaker, donor relations & stewardship officer, GBGH Foundation. On May 20th, members of the Midland Royal Canadian Legion Branch 80 visited Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to present a cheque for $5,200. Their generous donation has been invested in Telemetry Packs for GBGH’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), providing portable cardiac and vital signs monitoring for patients recovering from a stroke, cardiac episode or trauma. The Midland Legion has supported GBGH with more than $64,000 over the last 21 years. ... Read more...Life-saving story inspires $25,000 match giftApril 12, 2021On April 12, 2021, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation kicked off their spring appeal, with a goal to raise $65,000 for the GBGH Impact Fund. Dollars raised will help to address the most critical equipment and technology needs at the hospital in 2021. To help achieve the goal, the team at Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC has offered to match donations, up to a total of $25,000. The appeal features the heartwarming story of Nancy Moreau, a local resident who credits the ICU team at GBGH for saving her life. Nancy’s story, including a video produced by Kevin Haire, can be found here. “I don’t like to think about it,” says Nancy. “Everything is a bit of a blur, but I know they gave me antibiotics to fight the infection and then later that night I was nodding off and I started to choke, and I couldn’t breathe at all. I saw a white tunnel of light and all of the doctors and nurses were over me and then I finally was able to get air. I later found out that I stopped breathing three times that night and Dr. Tahir and the team in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) fought all night long to save my life multiple times.” It was Nancy’s story that inspired Steve Jacklin, owner of Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC, to offer the match gift with the hope that it would inspire other individuals and businesses in the community to support the hospital. “The biggest thing that inspires me to give to the hospital, is that I think we all can relate that we have a Nancy in our lives; whether it’s our aunt, wife, or next-door neighbour,” says Steve Jacklin, owner of Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC. “If we can help any community member through an experience like Nancy’s, by our donation, that’s the best way that we can give back to the most amount of people in our community.” The appeal is especially critical this year, as the hospital recovers from a year of pandemic response and refocuses on replacing and upgrading the equipment and technology that is so desperately needed across the organization. The newly created Impact Fund offers donors the opportunity to invest in the items which are of the highest priority each year. “The Impact Fund is where we see the incredible impact our community has on patient care when we all work together,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “From defibrillators and crash carts, to the implementation of a transformative electronic patient record system, the items purchased from collective giving through the Impact Fund provide an immediate enhancement to care delivery at GBGH.” Those wishing to make a donation to support the hospital, and have their gift matched by the team at Tom Smith Chevrolet Buick GMC, can click here.... Read more...Kim Mitchell & Raytheon ELCAN salute the team at GBGH!February 12, 2021On February 12, 2021, the employees at Raytheon ELCAN Optical Technologies are sending 600 carnations to the entire team at Georgian Bay General Hospital. They want the staff, credentialed staff and volunteers at GBGH to know that their dedication to patients and our community does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated! PLUS, they have a special video message to share with the team:... Read more...A generous gift of $5,000 from the Township of Georgian BayFebruary 12, 2021The GBGH Foundation has received a $5,000 donation from the Township of Georgian Bay to support the hospital’s IMPACT FUND. These funds will be used for the highest priority capital purchases at GBGH in the coming year. Georgian Bay General Hospital serves residents from Port Severn and Honey Harbour, and this generous gift from the Township is a testament to the ongoing partnership between the hospital and municipality. Thank you to the Township of Georgian Bay for helping us to provide exceptional care!... Read more...Kickstart Your Heart with $20,000 Match Gift!February 1, 2021February 1, 2021 – For the first two weeks of February, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation is raising funds for defibrillators and crash carts, inspired by a $20,000 match gift from Conrad and Donna Huber. The ‘Kickstart Your Heart’ campaign has a goal to raise a total of $50,000 to purchase two crash carts equipped with defibrillators for GBGH. Crash carts allow the care teams to deliver critical medication and transport life-saving equipment to the site of a medical emergency quickly and efficiently within the hospital. After many years of use and replacements, the crash carts across the organization are no longer standardized, which is important when care team members from across the organization could be called to an emergency. By having the same carts throughout the hospital, it ensures all team members are trained on the same equipment which improves quality and safety. The defibrillators, which accompany the carts, are also at the end of life and must be replaced. The goal of Kickstart Your Heart is to purchase two new carts with defibrillators, but 11 new carts and defibrillators are needed, at a cost of $25,000 each. “Searching for an IV, suction catheter, defibrillator pads, airway equipment, or even gauze, really makes an already stressful environment even more stressful,” says Tyler Pilon, manager, ICU and Surgical Services, GBGH. “These precious minutes truly make a difference. Through the years, I have seen many life-saving stories and knowing that you can trust the equipment to function the way it was intended, and have everything readily available, truly makes the job easier.” The campaign was inspired by a generous match gift of $20,000 from Port Severn couple, Conrad and Donna Huber. They share a great love story, so a campaign to celebrate love, hearts and community was the ideal way to encourage others to join them in supporting GBGH. “We enjoy being together and doing things together,” share the Hubers. “We have been so fortunate in life and it makes us both happy to be able to give back to our community. It is our gift to each other.” Nine local businesses are also digging in to help raise funds for the campaign. Arbour’s Flower Shoppe, Splash Floral & Event Design, Pier 21 Restaurant, World Famous Dock Lunch, Phil’s Casual Dining, Phil’s Pub & Eatery, Georgian Bakery, Saturday Afternoons and Café Kittyhawk have committed a portion of Valentine’s Day sales, or a portion of sales from a particular Valentine’s item, to support GBGH. “This campaign is all about keeping hearts beating – in the hospital, with the purchase of critically important defibrillators, but also throughout the community,” shares Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation. “We are proud to recognize and elevate the businesses who continue to give back in the midst of their toughest times, and are excited to see the community come together to support them with love for Valentine’s Day.” Those interested can get involved by joining the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, supporting our local business partners, sharing posts on social media, and making a donation here. *Donations will be matched up to a total of $20,000.... Read more...An update from GBGH – January 2021January 30, 2021To say 2020 was an exceptionally challenging year for our hospital would be an understatement. The COVID-19 pandemic, and recent COVID outbreak at GBGH, has put incredible strain on our team of staff & credentialed staff, as well as our limited capital budget. A great deal of our time and resources in 2020 were dedicated to pandemic preparedness, response and recovery. The many challenges we faced served to make us a stronger team at GBGH and despite all the difficult times, there were some incredible things accomplished in our hospital over the past few months. The Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre continues to be a great partnership between GBGH, Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care, CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre and the North Simcoe Family Health Team. More than 17,000 people have been swabbed since March 25, and in November, we began offering online appointment booking via the GBGH website in addition to telephone bookings. One of the most meaningful and historic highlights in the past few months was the immunization of our hospital team. In January 2021, the majority of our staff and credentialed staff received the COVID-19 vaccine. Our goal at GBGH is to always provide safe, exceptional care, so having the vaccine available to us this quickly brings hope and a much-needed morale boost to our team. In October, our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was designated as a Level 3 Basic facility, which is the second highest designation an ICU can receive in Ontario with the exception of specialty units (i.e. Coronary Care). For a community hospital like GBGH to have this designation is a testament to our commitment of providing exceptional critical care. We are very proud of this accomplishment and what it means for our patients who can receive comprehensive critical care services in our community. We also entered into a partnership with Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) to offer echocardiograms at GBGH, and we anticipate, in the first year of the partnership, nearly 1,100 patients will be able to receive this service close to home. The service is now available to GBGH inpatients and patients from the community referred by a physician. Through it all, on behalf of the entire GBGH team of staff and credentialed staff, we appreciate all the messages of support we have received from the community. Your kind words and positive thoughts inspire us every day. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to a brighter year ahead. To send a message of support to the GBGH team, please click here.... Read more...Transformational Gift for GBGHJanuary 19, 2021Georgian Bay General Hospital receives single largest gift in North Simcoe from Marco Mancini and The Mancini Foundation to transform the care experience. Watch the full video announcement, including comments from Marco Mancini, local community members, and hospital leadership on the impact of this visionary partnership. A $5-million gift will provide critical funding to transform the care experience for thousands of patients at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) in Midland, ON. The Mancini Foundation is making this historic gift to address some of the highest priority projects for the hospital in the coming year. “I would like to thank Marco Mancini for this incredible investment in our vision of exceptional care, for every person, every time”, says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “The Mancini Foundation is lifting up our whole community with this extraordinary donation, providing our residents, patients and staff with hope and excitement for the future at GBGH.” A seasonal resident in Tiny for more than 20 years, Marco Mancini, has supported GBGH as the principal benefactor for local golf tournaments, contributing close to $1 million for critical equipment and enhancements to the surgical services at the hospital. His generosity over the years has inspired many local businesses and individuals to join him in investing in local healthcare, and his latest gift is no exception. “Our hospital is the heart of this community, and we all have a role to play in its future,” shares Mancini. “GBGH has cared for my family many times over the years, and I want to make sure they will be there for years to come. It was deeply important to me that amidst a global pandemic the ongoing needs outside of a COVID-19 response were still a top priority”. The investment will be made over the next few years, starting with the renovation of inpatient rooms; building a new café in the hospital’s main lobby; and helping with the electronic medical record project. GBGH and The Mancini Foundation will continue to work together to identify other priority projects that will positively impact patient care. Inpatient Room Renovations Includes 32 single patient rooms, 8 ward rooms and a 5 bed patient area. Café in the Lobby Providing staff and visitors with an inviting place for coffee & snacks, that also raises funds for equipment & education. Electronic Medical Record A multi-million dollar investment to transform the flow of information, reduce errors and improve efficiency. “Transformational change happens when visionary community members step up to make it possible”, says David Turner, chair, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “We are deeply grateful to The Mancini Foundation for their incredible leadership. Marco’s generosity continues to improve healthcare for all the residents of North Simcoe, and for every patient who will benefit from exceptional care at Georgian Bay General Hospital.” “As we look to the future of GBGH we know that this remarkable gift will have a profound impact on the hospital, the healthcare teams and the patients,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “We are so grateful to have Marco Mancini and The Mancini Foundation invest in these significant projects, and his hope, our hope, is that it will further inspire our community and seasonal community to stand with us and help accelerate our impact.” To join Marco in supporting your Georgian Bay General Hospital, you can make a donation using the form below, by using our Gift of Shares form, or by calling 705-526-GIVE (4483). ... Read more...$7,500 raised in memory of Baby CeliaDecember 9, 2020On Thursday, December 3rd, Mike & Melissa Robinson presented a donation of $7,500 to a very special care team at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), to honour the memory of their baby girl, Celia Marie. Celia passed away at GBGH on Christmas Day 2019 from an undiagnosed genetic immunodeficiency but her family is incredibly grateful for the exceptional care they received from their doctors, nurses and respiratory therapists. “December 3rd would have been Celia’s first birthday”, shares Melissa. “We wanted to do something special to celebrate her, and also wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to the amazing team at GBGH who tried so hard to save our baby girl.” On October 18, Melissa shared the idea of a baking fundraiser, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to GBGH, on her personal Facebook page. The virtual bake sale gained traction quickly, with hundreds of individual orders placed in less than 4 weeks. Shortly after, her sister Laura joined the efforts, selling hand-made wooden ornaments through her own Facebook page, with 100% of the proceeds also being donated to the hospital. From October 21st to December 1st, Melissa, and a few close family members, made more than 6,100 muffins, cookies, tea biscuits, banana breads and chocolate peanut butter balls. “I had no idea that it would get this big,” says Melissa. “I’ve been baking 6 days a week since October to get all the orders filled. We are so blown away by the support for our fundraiser, and so thankful that we can honour Celia in such an impactful way.” The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to the care team at GBGH, including Dr. David Bayfield, RT Kayla LeClair, Dr. Amanda Murdoch, Dr. Rustam Rafikov, and Nurses Kim Eichenblat, Maggie Johnson, Allan Graham, Alicia Adams, Jess Elliott and Erica Lemieux.... Read more...#C02Monitors4GBGH raises $36,960 on GivingTuesdayDecember 7, 2020From left: Jennifer Lalonde, Lindsay MacDonald, Becky Rawn and Theresa Hartley, Ambulatory Care Team, Georgian Bay General Hospital. On Tuesday, December 1st, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation launched a GivingTuesday campaign to purchase 2 End Tidal C02 Monitors ($16,000 each). Used during routine procedures – such as a colonoscopy – the monitors ensure patients are breathing properly during an anesthetic. Thanks to more than 110 individual donors, and a matching gift of $10,000 from Nick & Marina Boudouris (owners of OPA Catering, the World Famous Dock Lunch, Pier 21 and operators of Restaurant Sainte-Marie), a total of $36,960 was raised in just 24 hours. “We are humbled by the continued generosity of our community,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “These monitors are so important for the peace of mind for our staff and patients, and we are grateful that so many people chose to positively impact local healthcare through this campaign.” The current vital signs monitors at GBGH are great for most situations in the hospital, but the specialty End Tidal C02 Monitors provide an increased level of safety. They alert the care team to any breathing complications so that they can intervene quickly. “As a recent surgical patient, it struck me how important this would be for patient and family assurance while you or your loved one is ‘under’,” shares donor Elyse Rousseau. “I would want this level of assurance for myself, my family and anyone else who has to undergo a surgical procedure, so that is what inspired me to donate.” While GivingTuesday is now over, those interested in supporting other critical needs at GBGH can make a gift to the GBGH Foundation holiday campaign. More information can be found here: https://gbghf.ca/holiday/ ... Read more...Honour a loved one on the GBGH holiday tree!November 23, 2020On November 16, 2020, the GBGH Foundation kicked off their annual holiday campaign, giving local businesses, individuals and organizations the opportunity to honour loved ones on a festive tree in the hospital’s main lobby. Tributes, accompanied by a donation of any amount, will be recognized on heart ornaments on the tree, and shared with the community through weekly social media posts. This year’s campaign also features the heartwarming story of Michael Thor, a local resident who received life-saving surgery at GBGH. Michael’s story, including a video produced by Larche, can be found here. “Our hospital cares about us and in return, we really need to care about our hospital,” shares Michael Thor. “I was lucky to have the care and surgery I needed within my community. I encourage everyone to get involved – in any way they can – to help our hospital. You never know when you or a loved one will need it.” “GBGH is the heart of our community, especially this year,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “We have spoken to many individuals and businesses who just want to give back this year. The holiday tree is a meaningful way to support the community, and pay tribute to loved ones, both in our lives and in our hearts.” The campaign is especially critical this year as COVID-19 pandemic preparedness has already cost the hospital more than half a million dollars in equipment alone. This has put tremendous strain on the hospital’s capital budget, as the list of desperately needed upgrades continues to grow. Funds raised from the holiday campaign will fund equipment and technology that our frontline caregivers need, such as defibrillators, BiPap ventilators and the implementation of an electronic patient medical record. Those wishing to honour a loved one, or make a donation to support the hospital, can click here.... Read more...Victoria Harbour Lions support GBGHNovember 20, 2020On November 18, members from the Victoria Harbour Lions Club visited Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to present a cheque for $500. Despite lower fundraising revenues this year, the club continues to provide support for those in need, and have decided to also support a few charities with substantial community impact. Funds raised will be used for the most critical needs at the hospital, such as defibrillators, BiPap ventilators and the implementation of an electronic patient medical record.... Read more...Faris Team announces $60K pledge to GBGHNovember 9, 2020From left – Gail Hunt, president & CEO, GBGH; David Turner, chair, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors; Mark & Joanna Faris, co-founders, Faris Team Real Estate Brokerage. On November 2, 2020, Faris Team Real Estate Brokerage celebrated the Grand Opening of their Midland office at 531 King St. As part of the celebration, Faris Team presented the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation with a cheque for $20,000. Earlier this year, Faris Team made a generous 3-year commitment to be the presenting sponsor for the GBGH Foundation annual gala. This was the first year of the partnership, with Faris Team presenting the Foundation’s Power of Giving Virtual Gala in August.... Read more...Midland Legion funds tonopen for GBGHNovember 9, 2020From left: Dr. Dan Lee, chief of Emergency Medicine, GBGH; Ron Adair, president, Midland Legion Branch 80; Ray Moreau, Midland Legion Branch 80; Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation; Dan Travers, Midland Legion Branch 80; Leslie Rapos, ED manager, GBGH; Tim Sweeting & Deidre Adair, Midland Legion Branch 80. On October 30, 2020, members of the Midland Legion Branch #80 visited Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to present a cheque for $6,600. The funds are being allocated to purchase a Tonopen for the hospital’s Emergency department (ED). This vital tool allows clinicians to check quickly for increased pressure inside of a patient’s eyes, which can indicate glaucoma and other types of vision loss. “It’s so important that we have the tools to quickly assess and diagnose patients in the Emergency department,” says Dr. Dan Lee, chief of Emergency Medicine, GBGH. “The tonopen is absolutely essential when we are examining patients who have concerns about their vision, so we can determine the best course of action before anything worsens.” “The Tonopen is so valuable to us, and we are in awe of the generosity of the local Legion,” adds Leslie Rapos, manager, ED, GBGH. “We want to thank them for their dedication, their sacrifices and for their continued support of our veterans and our community.” The Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #80 (Midland) supports veterans and their families in the Midland area in many ways, including investing in the local hospital that cares for them. Branch #80 has been providing funding to support veteran care at GBGH for more than 20 years, with donations totaling nearly $65,000. Recently, they have helped to fund an IV Infusion Pump, vital signs monitor & stand, and have partnered with Raytheon ELCAN to renovate a patient room in honour of our local heroes. “On behalf of our Poppy campaign, and our membership, we always do our best to ensure our Georgian Bay General Hospital gets some funding each year,” says Ron Adair, president, Midland Legion Branch 80. “Vision loss is a common ailment for our veterans, along with many others in our community, and we are honoured to help purchase this tonopen to give our hospital the right tool to help with diagnosis.”... Read more...The Beer Store Community Donation Drive raises $3,275 for GBGH!October 26, 2020From left – Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation; Lisa Ladouceur, GBGH; Alicia Maguire & Paul Stack, The Beer Store Penetanguishene; Janine Duquette, GBGH. For the past seven months, The Beer Store locations across Ontario have been offering their customers the option to donate the proceeds from the return of empty bottles and cans to local food banks and hospitals. In Penetanguishene & Midland, thanks to the generosity of those in our community, $3,275 was raised for Georgian Bay General Hospital. These funds will be used to support the hospital’s COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts, including more than $500,000 invested in equipment and renovation. ... Read more...Local businesses CARE for GBGH!October 21, 2020Lindsay Schultz, owner, Lindsay Shultz Kitchens & Cabinetry presents a cheque to Natalie Parnell, director, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. As part of the Foundation’s Business Cares program, Schultz pledged to donate $350 for each kitchen sold through March & April. Earlier this year, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation launched the Business Cares program, offering local organizations the opportunity to support their hospital in whatever way works best for each unique business. Since March, 18 Business Cares partners have cumulatively donated more than $37,000 in cash, and more than $30,000 in kind, to the Foundation in support of the most critical equipment and technology needs at GBGH. Local businesses have jumped on board, running one-day or single-product sales promotions, making donations based on referrals or product sales, facilitating employee giving and even running social media challenges. The program offers partners the flexibility to build their brand, while having a great impact on patient care at Georgian Bay General Hospital. “I am a self-employed, local businesswoman who wants to help the community in any way that I can,” shares Roberta Courtemanche, financial advisor. “I love the Business Cares program because it allows me to customize my donations to the scale of my business. By tying my giving to my new group benefits plans as well as my group benefits plan renewals, I am able to give when I receive income at various times during the calendar year. This way it is affordable to me, my family and my business.” The Foundation recognizes the support of Business Cares partners through all of its digital platforms (social media & web), news releases and donor newsletters. “It has been exciting to see so many local businesses finding unique ways to give back to our Hospital,” says Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation. “Especially during this season of uncertainty, we are incredibly grateful that our partners are asking ‘how can I help’, and then rallying the community to join them in supporting local healthcare.” Anyone wishing to learn more, or become a Business Cares partner can contact Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer at baguleyc@gbgh.on.ca or 705-526-1300 ext.5338. A special thank you to these Business Cares partners for their recent support: Lindsay Shultz Kitchens & Cabinetry pledged a $350 donation for each kitchen sold from March to May. The Buttertart Festival donated proceeds from t-shirt sales, which was matched by Corsica Homes. Maple Leaf Marinas donated 10 cents / litre of gas sold at their five Georgian Bay marinas on the August long weekend. Balm Beach House of Glass wrapped up their 20th anniversary promotion, where they donated 10% of orders greater than $5,000 to GBGH. Harvey’s Midland donated 10% of their net sales on July 7. The World Famous Dock Lunch (OPA Catering) donated the proceeds from two meals deals sold on April 24, and donated $1 for every mask-wearing photo shared on their social media channels in July. Heather Forget, of Purely Spoiled, collected donations from her customers and Facebook followers, in exchange for a chance to win prizes. The Happy Pineapple Boutique donated proceeds from their merchandise sales in April, and all the proceeds from the sale of fabric masks in August & September. Linda Chaplin & Jenna Lorette, from The Mortgage Centre, continue to make a donation for every closed mortgage. Saturday Afternoons donated five dollars from the sale of each “Stay Home Stay Safe” Candle Sand Kit. Central Spa, Franke Kindred and Industrial Filter Manufacturing facilitate employee giving to GBGH through their payroll systems. Roberta Courtemanche, from Sunlife Financial, pledged a donation from every new group benefits plan sold or renewed. Faris Team Real Estate Brokerage donated the funds typically spent on their customer appreciation event when it had to be cancelled. Brandy’s Cove Yachting Centre donated the funds typically spent on their year-end boater celebration. WellSwept Chimneys pledged 10% of their gross sales from June-August to the Foundation. RONA in Midland participated in the Lowes’ Heroes program, collecting donations for GBGH, which were matched at 50% by Lowes Canada Dozens of businesses who supported the hospital with in kind donations of meals, snacks and PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic... Read more...A summer of support for GBGHOctober 20, 2020After a busy summer, the Wells Family – from WellSwept Chimneys – presented the GBGH Foundation with a cheque for $4,225 as part of the Business Cares program. From June to August, 2020, WellSwept Chimneys pledged 10% of their gross revenues to the hospital, plus a portion of referral sales as well, as their way of giving back to the community. “Our commitment as a company is to give back 10% of our gross earnings annually to not-for-profit organizations and charities that make a huge local impact. We are partnering with the Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation to help support exceptional care in our community. We truly appreciate the team at GBGH and have for years; they are our go to when the kids need a stitch, staple, or glue.” ~ Cassandra Wells, WellSwept Chimneys To learn more about WellSwept Chimneys, please visit https://wellsweptchimneys.com/... Read more...Brandy’s Cove Yachting Centre makes $5,000 donation to GBGHOctober 20, 2020From left – Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation; Shayne Ronald, Brandy’s Cove Yachting Centre; Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation. On October 16, Brandy’s Cove Yachting Centre in Honey Harbour made a generous $5,000 donation to Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) on behalf of their boaters. When the annual year-end celebration couldn’t take place due to gathering restrictions, the marina chose make a contribution to their local hospital instead. The funds will support the most critical equipment & technology priorities at GBGH. ... Read more...GBGH staff members recognized for outstanding achievementsOctober 16, 2020On October 6, 2020, the GBGH Foundation’s Hartog-Robillard Advisory Committee presented the annual Robbert Hartog Health Innovation Award to three deserving individuals from Georgian Bay General Hospital. Stephanie Patenaude, Lisa Ladouceur and Dr. Paige Churchill were recognized for their outstanding achievements which demonstrate the values of Robbert Hartog, who worked tirelessly on behalf of Georgian Bay General Hospital and the Foundation. Established by the GBGH Foundation in 2009, the $5,000 award is shared between the winners toward furthering their professional learning and development. “There are so many exceptional people at Georgian Bay General Hospital who are deserving of recognition, and this year’s recipients are outstanding,” says Lyn Wolfhard, chair, Hartog-Robillard Advisory Committee. “These are folks who add value to the organization by increasing efficiency, effectiveness, and improve the patient experience at GBGH. I am honoured to present the award this year to Stephanie, Lisa and Dr. Churchill.” Stephanie Patenaude, manager of Environmental Services at GBGH, is recognized this year for playing a vital role in the hospital’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Stephanie has worked tirelessly to address numerous challenges and keep GBGH’s patients, staff and community partners safe during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Bill Whittaker, vice president, Human Resources, GBGH. “Stephanie oversaw rigorous cleaning protocols, both in the hospital and for the Midland Assessment Centre, and also volunteered to assist one of our community partners by providing her vast expertise to ensure residents and staff had the tools and knowledge they needed to manage the pandemic in their facility.” Lisa Ladouceur, nurse practitioner, is also recognized for her dedication to the community through the COVID-19 pandemic, as she stepped forward to serve as the Manager for the Midland Assessment Centre. “Lisa’s innovation and continuous improvement of the Midland COVID-19 Assessment Centre have been evident in her willingness to integrate new systems, develop creative staffing models, adapt to changing information and direction, and implement medical directives to ensure the safe and timely care for our community,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Even while on vacation and putting in many hours outside her role as a nurse practitioner, Lisa continues to be dedicated to our community with this cause. She works tirelessly offering her services and expertise.” Prior to the pandemic, innovation and expansion were taking place in the hospital’s surgical department, thanks to the decisive and confident leadership of Dr. Paige Churchill. “Dr. Churchill has been the chief of the Department of Surgery since 2018, and has been instrumental in leading the expansion of surgical services at GBGH during her time here,” says Dr. Vikram Ralhan, chief of staff, GBGH. “Dr. Churchill has brought new procedures to the hospital, including laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. She also brought her expertise with laparoscopic colon surgery, further enhancing the existing surgical program. Most recently and under short timelines, Dr. Churchill has helped usher in a new shoulder surgery program. She is always working toward the best outcomes for the surgical program, patients and our community.” The GBGH Foundation Board of Directors, staff and members of the Hartog-Robillard Advisory committee extend their sincere congratulations and heartfelt thanks to this year’s recipients.... Read more...A record breaking number of SMILES!October 16, 2020From left: Dr. Vikram Ralhan, chief of staff, GBGH; Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation; Joanne Smith, Sid Beelen, Marisa Collee and Kim Trude, Tim Hortons; Tyler Pilon, manager of Intensive Care, Surgical Services & Respiratory Therapy, GBGH; Janet Trude, Tim Hortons; Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation; Catherine Johnson, development coordinator, GBGH Foundation. For one week – from September 13-20 – our local Tim Hortons restaurants in Midland, Penetanguishene, Waubaushene and Port Severn sold Smile Cookies with 100% of the funds collected being donated to Georgian Bay General Hospital. Thanks to the passion and dedication that our local restaurant owners – Kim Trude & Joanne Smith – and their team members showed surrounding the campaign, plus incredible community support, the results this year surpassed any in recent history. $45,488 was presented to the GBGH Foundation on October 15, designated to help the hospital purchase three new Telemetry Packs for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “Telemetry packs are portable heart monitors, used in the ICU to continually monitor and record a patient’s heart rate and rhythm,” says Tyler Pilon, manager of Intensive Care and Respiratory Therapy, GBGH. “For patients recovering from heart attack, stroke or other trauma, consistent monitoring of heart function enables the medical team to provide the best possible care.” The local Tim Hortons restaurants have generously supported Georgian Bay General Hospital during previous Smile Cookie campaigns, with total giving of more than $307,000! “We are so grateful to Joanne & Kim, and all of their team members, for the incredible impact they are having on patient care at GBGH,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “The whole community rallies around the hospital during Smile Cookie week, and the results are tremendous; 45,488 Smile Cookies means 3 new Telemetry packs for GBGH this year!” “We were absolutely blown away by the generosity of Canadians for our annual Smile Cookie campaign,” says Tim Hortons Chief Marketing Officer Hope Bagozzi.... Read more...SEGBAY Golf Tournament a Great Success!October 1, 2020The Southeast Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce (SEGBAY), in partnership with Bell Media’s Pure Country 106 and 104.1 The Dock, hosted its 7th Annual Golf Tournament on September 15, 2020. The tournament raised a total of $26,270 – with $17,570 being dedicated to help fund the critical equipment purchased to help Georgian Bay General Hospital respond to COVID-19, and $8,700 dedicated to the Wendat Seniors’ Residence in Penetanguishene. In the past 7 years, we are proud to have raised over $229,000 for these important community establishments. With a chilly start to the morning, the day began with 108 golfers teeing off at assigned tee times at Oak Bay Golf Club in Port Severn. While maintaining proper social distancing and COVID-19 protocols, the day went off without a hitch and the golfers enjoyed the spectacular views of Georgian Bay and the challenges of the course. Fred Wareing, Chair of the Golf Tournament Committee, stated: “We are so pleased to have been able to hold this tournament during these uncertain times. The committee is so thankful to Oak Bay Golf Club for seeing that every safety measure was in place to keep our players, volunteers and staff safe throughout the day. It is truly remarkable to see the generosity of the Sponsors and Golfers who support our tournament each year. From the beautiful golf course at Oak Bay, the incredible dinner by Chef Luigi, and the online auction and raffle, I feel that the golfers really got great value for their sponsorship dollar. Thank you to all for continuing to support the important work at Georgian Bay General Hospital and Wendat.” Photos from the day, prize winners, as well as a list of our many sponsors and volunteers is listed at www.segbay.ca, as well as the SEGBAY Facebook page.... Read more...Midland District Shrine Club gives $1,000September 17, 2020During a time when service clubs are especially challenged with restrictions to gathering and in-person fundraising, the Midland District Shrine Club continues to support healthcare at Georgian Bay General Hospital. A few members met at the hospital on September 16, 2020 to present a cheque for $1,000 to Christine Baguley, Philanthropy Officer with the GBGH Foundation. These funds will support the most critical needs at GBGH this year. Projects include COVID-19 preparedness and response, the purchase of BiPap ventilators, defibrillators and crash carts, and an electronic medical record to ensure the best communication with care teams at our partner hospitals. Thank you MIDLAND DISTRICT SHRINE CLUB!... Read more...Tay Township continues support of GBGHSeptember 14, 2020At the September 2020 Tay Township Committee of All Council Meeting, Gail Hunt, president & CEO of Georgian Bay General Hospital thanked the municipality for the Township’s annual donation of $25,000 to the most critical needs of the hospital. Mayor Walker expressed Council’s thanks, on behalf of Council and Tay residents, for everything that the Hospital does for our community. THANK YOU TAY TOWNSHIP FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT!... Read more...Smile Cookies are back supporting local healthcare at GBGHSeptember 11, 2020What’s better than a cookie that tastes good? A cookie that does good! Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign is back supporting charities in communities across the country, including Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) – one of 550 Canadian charities, hospitals and community programs supported through the annual campaign. For one week, from September 14 – 20, the Tim Hortons restaurant owners in Midland, Penetanguishene, Waubaushene and Port Severn will donate the full $1 from every freshly baked chocolate chunk Smile Cookie purchased to help buy Telemetry Packs for the ICU at GBGH. “The Smile Cookie campaign has provided more than $270,000 to our hospital since 2012, and we are incredibly grateful for the support of our local Tim Hortons restaurants,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “Because of this program, we have been able to purchase 24 stretchers for the Emergency Department, renovate patient rooms, purchase 10 IV Infusion Pumps, and so much more.” This year’s campaign will look a little different, in light of COVID-19 distancing guidelines and face covering requirements, but staff and volunteers from GBGH and the GBGH Foundation will be smiling behind their face coverings as they give their time to help support the campaign. “There is so much excitement in the community around Smile Cookie week,” says Gail Hunt, president & CEO, Georgian Bay General Hospital. “Our staff help sell cookies in the restaurant drive-thrus, our volunteers deliver pre-ordered cookies and thousands of local residents support the campaign by buying smile cookies every day.” The GBGH Foundation is taking pre-orders for cookies, which will be delivered by volunteers throughout the week. Anyone interested in ordering cookies should contact Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer at the Foundation (baguleyc@gbgh.on.ca or 705-526-1300 ext.5338). The pre-order form can be found here. “The real magic behind the Smile Cookie campaign is the local impact and we’re excited to be able to support local charities, hospitals and community programs again this year. Our guests, restaurant owners and their team members can feel incredibly proud knowing that the money raised during the campaign directly supports local Tim Hortons communities.” – Mike Hancock, Chief Operating Officer, Tim Hortons... Read more...Captain’s Invitational golf tournament raises more than $350,000September 9, 2020On Friday, August 28, 2020, a small group of 56 golfers gathered at the Midland Golf & Country Club for the first-ever Captain’s Invitational Golf Tournament, raising more than $354,000 in support of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). Presented by Toronto-based Urbacon, and hosted by Glenn Howard, the tournament commanded $8,000 per foursome, with a goal to raise $110,000 for GBGH. Urbacon Chairman, Marco Mancini, has a 10-year, $500,000 pledge to GBGH through the annual Glenn Howard Charity Golf Classic, which, like many other events, had to be cancelled this year. Determined to rally others to join him in supporting the hospital, Mancini proposed the smaller, executive tournament with a dinner and celebration at his private residence in Tiny Township. “It is my privilege to assist the Foundation to help make a difference in people’s lives. Over the 20 years my family has been in Georgian Bay, we have made several trips to GBGH. We are lucky to have this outstanding facility in our region,” said Mancini. “I am thrilled with the results of the Captain’s Invitational. Urbacon is in the business of building, but we are also committed to building better, stronger and healthier communities.” This unique tournament brought together loyal Glenn Howard Charity Golf supporters and a handful of teams associated with Urbacon. The results were nothing short of inspiring. Mancini challenged everyone involved to step up for GBGH, and committed to matching every donation made at the event. “Marco’s challenge had an immediate and contagious effect,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “Ten individuals pledged gifts ranging from $1,000 to $30,000, with a grand total of $104,000 committed in less than one hour. I am overwhelmed by the amazing generosity and incredibly grateful to everyone who is helping ensure that critical health care is available close to home. Most of us don’t expect to be admitted to hospital – until we are. Nothing is more important than the health of our community.” The funds raised will complete the surgical expansion project, which began with the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Classic in 2018. The $300,000 project expanded the surgical services at GBGH to include laparoscopic hernias, three specialized urology procedures, two specialized ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgeries, and orthopedic shoulder surgeries. Additional funds will help address the hospital’s significant investment in COVID-19 pandemic preparedness, which totals more than $500,000. Add this to the hospital’s unmet capital equipment requirements of more than $7-million, and it is clear that supporting the hospital has never been of greater urgency. “I am thrilled to see the fundraising for the hospital’s surgical expansion project completed,” says Glenn Howard, world champion curler and host of the Captain’s Invitational Golf Tournament. “Kudos to Marco and Urbacon for ensuring we could get this wrapped up for GBGH this year and support the most ongoing critical needs. A donation to our hospital is really a donation to everyone within the community. I want to share my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who pitched in.”... Read more...Virtual Gala raises more than $308,000 for GBGHSeptember 3, 2020On Saturday, August 22, 2020, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation held its first virtual event – the Power of Giving Virtual Gala – presented by Faris Team Real Estate Brokerage. The record-breaking event raised more than $308,000 for the hospital, and donations are still coming in. Streamed live on YouTube, the event featured headline entertainment from Chantal Kreviazuk, heart-warming patient stories and was hosted by dynamic, philanthro-tainer, Layne – The Auctionista. The event was a combination of the GBGH Foundation’s annual Georgian Bay Pops and Gala events, and had a goal to raise $250,000 for Georgian Bay General Hospital. Funds for the most critical needs at GBGH were raised thanks to a generous $50,000 match gift from Alan & Alison Fryer, coupled with donations from 120 individuals, vibrant online auction and strong community sponsorship. “It is incredible to see our community come together in such a unique way for our hospital,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Because of this generous support, we will be able to provide our healthcare teams with the equipment and technology they desperately need.” Despite the different format, more than 400 guests registered for the event, and the live stream YouTube video (link below) has more than 900 views. Many guests gathered with close friends and family in their homes, ordering meals from local restaurants & caterers who supported the event by donating dinner packages for the auction, or designing special menus from which guests could order. “For the Foundation, a virtual event was uncharted territory and we did not know what to expect,” shares Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “But, our community rallied together in such a big way to support our hospital. We know that life-saving stories will continue to be made possible thanks to this wonderful generosity.” Anyone interested in still making a donation to the event is encouraged to visit: https://gbghf.ca and click on Donate Today. The virtual gala can still be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYQwp5eLj7o... Read more...Maple Leaf Marinas pumps $10,000 for GBGHAugust 13, 2020To celebrate the Civic Holiday weekend in August, five local marinas – Bay Port Yachting Centre, Beacon Bay, Paragon, South Bay Cove and Wye Heritage – donated ten cents for every litre of fuel sold to the Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation. By the end of the weekend, the five had almost achieved 100,000 litres and would have if Mother Nature hadn’t rained on the parade. The event was still an amazing success, thanks to 85,593 litres of fuel sold for a total of $8,593, plus a donation of $600 from an anonymous boater and an additional $1,407 donation from Dave Rozycki, president of Maple Leaf Marinas. From left – Derek Lubert, vice-president, Maple Leaf Marinas; Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation; Dave Rozycki, president, Maple Leaf Marinas.... Read more...GBGH Virtual Gala to feature headliner Chantal KreviazukJuly 20, 2020On Saturday, August 22, 2020, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation will bring together their signature Georgian Bay Pops & Annual Gala into a virtual event experience. The Power of Giving Virtual Gala will aim to raise $250,000 for the hospital. The event will feature headline entertainment from JUNO Award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter, Chantal Kreviazuk, performing from her home studio, along with online auction, live fundraising, and heart-warming stories from grateful patients. “Our virtual gala will engage and entertain our community, while also raising critical funds for our hospital,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “We have partnered with Layne, The Auctionista – a dynamic, philanthro-tainer, who will lead us through the event as our host. Layne will engage supporters from their homes during an exciting Fund-a-Need segment, outlining how important donations are to ensure exceptional care for patients at GBGH.” The past six months have put significant strain on the hospital’s capital budget, but the need for equipment and technology continues to grow. The funds from the event will help to purchase telemetry packs for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU); the implementation of an electronic medical record; and address the investments made to prepare the hospital for a potential surge of COVID-19 patients. Local businesses have stepped up generously to sponsor the Power of Giving Virtual Gala. Community supporters, Faris Team Real Estate Brokerage, have partnered with the GBGH Foundation as the event’s presenting sponsor. This commences a three-year, $60,000 title sponsor commitment for the Gala. “We’re so honoured to be part of the Power of Giving Virtual Gala. As a family and as a local business, we feel so connected to this cause,” says Mark Faris, CEO & Broker, Faris Team Real Estate Brokerage. “GBGH has always been a local hero. We partner with GBGH because investing in local healthcare means investing in the safety, and mental and physical health of our clients and their families.” The Power of Giving Virtual Gala will stream on the GBGH Foundation You Tube Channel, starting at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 22. For more information and to register for FREE, visit www.Give2GBGH.ca or contact the Foundation office (foundation@gbgh.on.ca or 705-526-4483).... Read more...Drive-In Drag a great success!July 17, 2020On Friday, July 10, Splash Events and Dragging Across Canada presented the first “Drive In Drag Show Canada” variety show at the Midland Drive In. The stars of the show were Miss Conception, one of Canada’s busiest drag performers with special guests Sofonda and Lady Face. “This was a first-of-its-kind show in Canada,” says Jamie Crouch, owner of Splash Events. “It’s a great way for us all to get out, enjoy a fantastic, entertaining show, and still remain safe.” Plus, $20 from each ticket sold was donated to Georgian Bay General Hospital, as a way to give back to the community, raising a total of $1,420! Pictures from the event can be found here.... Read more...Balm Beach House of Glass celebrates 20 Years with $20,000 donation to GBGHJuly 10, 2020In 2019, Balm Beach House of Glass celebrated their 20th anniversary of business in the Midland community. As part of the celebration, they pledged $20,000 to Georgian Bay General Hospital with the help of their loyal customers. For every order of $5,000 or more, 10% of the total was donated to the GBGH Foundation, and the customer received the tax receipt! The $20,000 gift was used to help the hospital purchase new equipment, such as IV Infusion Pumps and 2 new Ultrasound machines. From left – Jen Russell, development & communications officer, GBGH Foundation; Aaron Kontkanen, president, Balm Beach House of Glass; Nicole Faulkner, Balm Beach House of Glass.... Read more...HARVEY’S in Midland hosts fundraising day for GBGHJuly 7, 2020The team at Harvey’s Midland is ready to welcome customers on Wednesday, July 8th, (11AM – 9PM) when 10% of all net sales will be donated to support the most critical needs at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). Harvey’s in Midland will be donating 10% of all net sales on Wednesday July 8, 2020 to the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation. “It is so important to support the needs of our hospital,” says Ken King, owner of Harvey’s Swiss Chalet in Midland. “We are hosting this fundraising day to help ensure that our hospital is equipped with the tools and technology they need to care for our community.” Funds raised on July 8th will support the emerging capital equipment needs at GBGH, including the important investment made to prepare the hospital for a potential surge in COVID-19 patients. In planning for the hospital’s pandemic preparations, GBGH carefully reviewed provincial and regional case projections to determine what was required to continue providing safe, exceptional care in a surge situation. “Our preparedness strategy has included designating “cold” and “hot” zones for the care of non-COVID, and presumptive or confirmed COVID patients,” says Gail Hunt, president & CEO, GBGH. “This means physically dividing some areas of the hospital, including the Emergency department, an inpatient unit and the ICU; and also purchasing some new equipment.” This critically needed equipment and other initiatives have cost well over $500,000. Meanwhile, the capital requirements at GBGH continue to increase. As equipment ages, technology advances, and healthcare standards evolve, the hospital must continue to invest in the tools required to care for our community. The list of unmet capital equipment and technology at GBGH totals more than $5-million, and is expected to reach $20-million in the next few years. Community members can help Harvey’s Midland support GBGH by vising the restaurant for lunch or dinner on July 8th from 11:00am to 9:00pm. The restaurant is located at 9340 HWY 93 in Midland, across from Georgian Bay General Hospital.... Read more...GBGH receives $10,000 grant from Town of MidlandJuly 4, 2020From left – Mayor Stewart Strathearn, Town of Midland; Councillor Jonathan Main, Town of Midland; Councillor Bill Gordon, Town of Midland; Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation; Councillor Cher Cunningham, Town of Midland; Gail Hunt, president & CEO, GBGH; David Turner, chair, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. In May 2020, the Town of Midland Community Grant Committee approved $10,000 to support capital equipment and technology at Georgian Bay General Hospital. Funds from this grant will support the most critical needs at the hospital, including 10 new Telemetry Packs, the electronic medical record project and more. This gift brings total giving from the Town to more than $489,000. ... Read more...Local restauranteur donates more than $28,000 in meals for hospital staffMay 25, 2020Staff from the Rehab & Physiotherapy team at GBGH give a wave of thanks for one of six meals provided to Georgian Bay General Hospital by Phil Karpathios & his staff from Phil’s Casual Dining and Phil’s Pub & Eatery. On Friday, May 15, the staff working the evening shift at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) were treated to a dinner of lobster tails, prime rib sliders and garlic mashed potatoes thanks to the incredible generosity of Phil Karpathios, owner of Phil’s Casual Dining in Penetanguishene and Phil’s Pub & Eatery in Midland. This was one of six meals Phil and his staff have prepared and delivered to the hospital since April 15, 2020. In addition to the fine dining dinner menu, the restaurants have provided eggs benedict with bacon & sausage for breakfast, a selection of wraps and salads for lunches, and chicken souvlaki, schnitzel, fish & chips and a variety of pastas for dinner. In total, the meals donated have a retail value of $28,200. “The front line staff put themselves at risk while keeping us safe and there are not enough words to express my gratitude and appreciation,” says Karpathios. “We are happy to be able to provide a weekly meal to the staff of GBGH while we are in this situation.” Staff at the hospital expressed their gratitude, thanking Phil for his kindness and praising the delicious food. “We have been very moved by the generosity and support of the community during this time and specifically and have been amazed by the meals we have received from Phil’s,” says Crystal Handy, recreation therapist at GBGH. “Knowing there have been delicious lunches awaiting us, inspires and gives us a much needed boost each week. It is extremely heartwarming to see how the community is truly standing beside us through this pandemic.” Phil’s restaurants remain open for take-out and delivery. Phil’s Casual Dining in Penetanguishene is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. Phil’s Pub & Eatery in Midland is open 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. from Monday to Saturday.... Read more...GBGH COVID-19 ResponseMay 16, 2020GBGH has already taken many steps to prepare for the growing pandemic, including establishing the COVID-19 Midland Assessment Centre in partnership with Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and Chigamik Community Health Centre. We have also cancelled non-urgent procedures, implemented visitor restrictions, and are finalizing thorough plans to re-deploy staff and other resources to critical areas as needed. In planning for our hospital’s pandemic preparations, we carefully review provincial and regional case projections to determine what we need to continue providing safe, exceptional care in a surge situation. GBGH’s current capacity includes 6 ICU beds and 4 ventilators. We are in the process of increasing our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity. We will care for potential COVID patients in our existing ICU and create a separate ICU surge space for non-COVID patients. This means equipping this area with: 5 additional beds 20 additional IV pumps 5 additional patient monitors 2 Pyxis machines (locked medication dispensing carts) 1 mobile medication cart A call bell system (system that links patients to the nursing station) We are also purchasing an additional mobile medication cart, 30 vital sign monitors to be used in the areas where they are needed most, more personal protective equipment (PPE), and taking measures to support staff wellness. This critically needed equipment and other initiatives will cost well over one million dollars. To help support your hospital’s investments to prepare for COVID-19, please click here.... Read more...$79,497 raised for ICU Beds on GivingTuesdayNowMay 7, 2020On Tuesday, May 5, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation participated in #GivingTuesdayNow – a new global day of giving and unity as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Thanks to the generosity of more than 85 donors, and an incredible $30,000 match gift from Donna & Conrad Huber, a total of $79,497 was raised to purchase new ICU beds at GBGH. “We are excited to be part of a one-day giving event like this,” say Conrad & Donna. “It’s energizing to see the community come together to support GBGH. We are glad to help ensure our hospital is equipped to provide every patient with the best care.” Over the past month, GBGH has increased its ICU capacity. The hospital will care for potential COVID-19 patients in the existing ICU and has created a separate five-bed ICU surge space for non-COVID patients. The beds have been strategically purchased now, as there is a critical need for them across the organization, and will be used to replace old or broken units once the pandemic situation has settled. “Our Giving Tuesday Now campaign is a great partnership,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “Our generous donors have shown how committed they are to investing in our hospital, knowing that the hospital is being strategic and the funds we are raising today will continue to have a lasting impact on patient care at GBGH for years to come.” For more information about GivingTuesdayNow, visit https://gbghf.ca/GTNow/ ... Read more...Heartfelt Thanks from the GBGH FoundationMay 6, 2020proud adj 1 feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of achievements, qualities, or possessions of someone with whom one is closely associated. With each passing day of this pandemic, I find myself feeling more proud to be part of the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) family and more connected to our generous community. Each and every member of the GBGH team is working tirelessly on the frontlines of this pandemic, showing up with a smile and going above and beyond to ensure that our hospital is safe, clean and prepared for whatever this pandemic throws our way. I am proud of the teamwork, quick action and selflessness that our staff are demonstrating. Our essential services workers across all industries are working diligently to protect & maintain the health and safety of our community, which helps ensure our hospital is available for those who need it most. I am honoured to be in this together with all of you and even though it’s difficult, I see our community striving to keep each other safe by staying home, physically distancing and finding unique ways to stay connected. At a time when our local businesses are under significant strain and facing a whole new reality, they are changing their business models and finding new ways to support the hospital. Through donations of personal protective equipment (PPE), beverages, meals and snacks, our local businesses are showing how much they care about our community. It fills me with pride to know that not even a global pandemic is standing in the way of their generosity. We have seen local photographers come together to bring The Front Steps Project to our region, working collaboratively to provide families with incredible portraits and raise more than $5,000 for our hospital’s fight to tackle COVID-19. This has fostered an amazing tapestry of photos across social media, and it brings me such joy to see smiling faces despite difficult circumstances. Our Foundation is faced with some very difficult decisions as we move forward. We are unsure about the possibility of hosting events this year, and are keenly aware of the drastic changes some of you have experienced these past months. We took a leap of faith and mailed our recent appeal letter, and I am overwhelmed with the amazing response we have received. I am proud to share that our hospital has been strategic and intentional during the preparedness planning for COVID-19. With more than half a million invested in equipment and technology over the past month, we can rest assured that these are vital pieces of equipment for the hospital and will be used to replace their aging counterparts once the pandemic stabilizes. For everyone who joined in for Giving Tuesday Now on May 5, thank you for your kindness. Thanks to the incredible generosity shown by more than 85 businesses & individuals, and The Hubers for their matched gift of $30,000, our #GivingTuesdayNow campaign raised $79,397 to buy new beds for GBGH. I have witnessed an incredible uprising of support, encouragement and gratitude in our community, as everyone steps up to give what they can to help our hospital and community in the fight against COVID-19. At a time when it can be hard to give, you are digging deep and giving back, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude and awe at your generosity. Thank you for giving us all so much to be proud of, Nicole Kraftscik Executive Director GBGH Foundation... Read more...World Famous Dock Lunch Restaurant shows GBGH their Business Cares!April 27, 2020From left: Cindy Robitaille, Danielle Mestre, Johnny, Meaghan Sykes and Nick Boudouris from The World Famous Dock Lunch Restaurant. On Friday, April 24th, the World Famous Dock Lunch restaurant in Penetanguishene hosted Front-Line Friday to honour healthcare workers and raise funds for Georgian Bay General Hospital. Through the sale of special meal deals, restaurant owners Nick & Marina Boudouris donated $1,000 to the GBGH Foundation. “We are happy to be able to give back in some way during these uncertain times,” says Nick. “Our hospital is a vital part of the community, especially during a global pandemic, and we want to do our part to make sure they have what they need to care for everyone who comes through their doors. There are so many local businesses stepping up to help the hospital, and it really makes us feel like we are all in this together.” This is not the first time GBGH has benefitted from the Boudouris Family’s generosity. In December, the GBGH Foundation’s Giving Tuesday campaign raised $26,500 to purchase patient slings, in part thanks to a $10,000 matching gift from Nick & Marina Boudouris. “Nick & Marina are an amazing example of a Business Cares Partner for the Foundation,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “They are always looking for ways to give back, and support our hospital in whatever way they can. Even though their business has changed with all the physical distancing requirements, they are still finding ways to honour our hospital.” Fifty new patient slings, purchased through the Giving Tuesday campaign, arrived at GBGH on April 9th. Various types and sizes of slings will provide patients throughout the hospital with the ability to get out of bed to take a bath or shower, move into a wheelchair so they can become mobile again, or help a stroke patient begin to take the first steps toward recovery. To learn more about the Business Cares program with the GBGH Foundation, click here.... Read more...A Letter to Our Community – April 11, 2020April 8, 2020A Letter to Our Community – April 11, 2020 We recognize with the constantly evolving COVID-19 situation this is a very difficult and uncertain time for millions of people throughout the world. We want to reassure you the dedicated team at Georgian Bay Georgian Hospital (GBGH) is working around the clock, with all hands on deck, to ensure the safety of our patients, physicians, nurses, healthcare team and everyone in our community. Please know that we are doing everything we can to address the evolving situation and that we are committed to keeping you informed of the latest updates as they become available. To date, GBGH has had one COVID-19 positive case in an inpatient. The result was confirmed April 5, 2020. The patient has been discharged home. GBGH also had one COVID-19 positive outpatient case. The patient was screened and swabbed in the Emergency department. The result was confirmed April 3, 2020. All necessary infection and safety protocols were taken to prevent the spread of the virus. The Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit currently has well over 100 confirmed cases in our region. They are advising that we are seeing cases caused by community transmission, which means the virus is spreading in the community from person to person and is not linked to travel. This means that we can expect to see a growing number of cases in the next days and weeks in our region. GBGH has already taken many steps to prepare for the growing pandemic, including establishing the COVID-19 Midland Assessment Centre in partnership with Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care and Chigamik Community Health Centre. We have also cancelled non-urgent procedures, implemented visitor restrictions, and are finalizing thorough plans to re-deploy staff and other resources to critical areas as needed. In planning for our hospital’s pandemic preparations, we carefully review provincial and regional case projections to determine what we need to continue providing safe, exceptional care in a surge situation. We are currently in the process of increasing our Intensive Care Unit (ICU) capacity; we will care for potential COVID-19 patients in our existing ICU and create a separate ICU surge space for non-COVID patients. This means equipping this area with five additional beds, 20 additional IV pumps, five additional patient monitors, two Pyxis machines (locked medication dispensing carts), a mobile medication cart and a call bell system. We are also purchasing an additional mobile medication cart and 30 vital sign monitors to be used wherever needed most throughout the hospital. In total, this critically needed equipment will cost well over half a million dollars. Which is why, if you are able, we’d ask you to please consider making a special gift, of any amount, to our Foundation to help in the fight against COVID-19 today. Though these are very trying times, it makes us incredibly proud to see how our community has been coming together to care for one another and help each other. Please know that we see you and we appreciate you. Our Foundation is doing an incredible job of supporting the hospital and our donors are stepping up in every way possible, even though this pandemic is affecting all of us, in so many ways. We are so grateful for the food that has been so generously donated by local businesses to keep our tired staff going through long shifts. We appreciate every individual and business who gave Personal Protective Equipment and we are thankful for the many generous donations and words of encouragement being sent in online or on our social media channels through #TheFrontStepsProjectMidland, #AllHandsOnDeck and #HeartfeltThanksforGBGH. To help our team meet the challenges ahead we ask you to please keep the kinds words, inspiring thank you messages and much-needed donations coming. Thank you for standing by our side and helping your hospital and your community. We are stronger together. Please be safe and stay healthy, Gail Hunt Dr. Vikram Ralhan President and CEO, GBGH Chief of Staff, GBGH ... Read more...Local photographers collaborate on #FrontStepsProject for GBGHMarch 31, 2020With families across North Simcoe staying home amid the COVID-19 pandemic, local photographers are joining together to bring the #TheFrontStepsProject to our community. Started by Boston photographer Cara Soulia, the purpose of the initiative is to bring our communities together during these uncertain times and let friends, neighbours and loved ones know how you’re doing. Local photographers Darryl & Rebekah Tremblay, from Overstreet Media Productions, brought the idea to The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation as a way to support the hospital and help tackle COVID-19. “We are excited to share The Front Steps Project with our community and support our amazing local hospital,” says Rebekah. “Photos are taken from a safe distance of at least 10 feet away with an appropriate lens, and take about 5 minutes. The photo files are shared digitally, so there’s no physical interaction or exchange, keeping us all safe!” Photographers receive no compensation through this initiative, but offer their services asking that families make a donation to the GBGH Foundation in return. Funds donated through the project will help support Georgian Bay General Hospital during this critical time, and ensure the hospital is equipped to respond to the current situation. “The community has been so supportive in so many ways during these difficult times,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “The Front Steps Project is a unique way to encourage much-needed financial support for our hospital, while offering families a chance to get outside, smile and capture these special moments of being together.” For more information, and to see the list of participating photographers, click here.... Read more...Support During COVID-19March 25, 2020Help GBGH tackle COVID-19 with support for our most urgent critical needs. You will give the hospital the ability to address the changing circumstances and priorities during these challenging times. There are a number of ways you can help GBGH tackle COVID-19. Donations of UNOPENED: N95 masks (specifically: 9210+ – most common for our staff, 1805, ,1805s, 1860, 1860s, 8110s, 1804s) Nitrile gloves (small, medium, large & XL) Surgical facemask with procedure visor Child-size face masks with ear loops Donations of food and hot beverages for the hard working staff. *Please note, we cannot accept handmade supplies or homemade food donations. The hospital is asking that you coordinate all donations through the GBGH Foundation to ensure safety and appropriate distribution. Please contact Christine Baguley, GBGH Foundation – 705-526-1300 x5338 or at baguleyc@gbgh.on.ca If you would like to support your community hospital with a donation, please click here. Or, you can make a donation of Heartfelt Thanks to honour a staff member or team by visiting our Heartfelt Thanks page.... Read more...COVID-19: An update from the GBGH FoundationMarch 21, 2020Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation considers the health and safety of our staff, volunteers, community partners and donors to be of the utmost priority, so we are taking action to protect our community and reduce the spread of the virus. To continue efforts to socially distance and do our part we have made the decision to postpone and/or cancel donor events, tours, meetings and visits until further notice. We will continue to evaluate day by day and keep you informed as the situation evolves. We encourage you to connect with us via email at foundation@gbgh.on.ca or via phone at 705-526-GIVE(4483). We wish to express our sincere gratitude for all that our healthcare professionals are doing to care for our community. They are working around the clock to be there for our loved ones. The hospital family is here to support, care, test, operate or rehabilitate. They clean hospital rooms and equipment. Their commitment and dedication during this challenging situation is greatly appreciated. Now more than ever, we will continue to work to ensure they have the right tools in their hands to help advance the level of care they provide, for their safety and the safety of our community. If you would like to express your Heartfelt Thanks to our hospital care teams please click here. To everyone in our community who is stepping up to help those in need – a big Heartfelt Thanks to you from the GBGH Foundation. Nicole Kraftscik Executive Director GBGH Foundation... Read more...Lions Club of Penetanguishene funds IV Pump at GBGHMarch 12, 2020On March 6, 2020, the Lions Club of Penetanguishene presented a cheque for $4,000 to Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to help with the purchase of 100 Smart IV Infusion Pumps. Because the need was so great, the new pumps were purchased in July 2019 but donations from the community are still needed to pay for this important project. This gift brings total giving from the Penetanguishene Lions Club to $49,300. From left – Toni Juneau, Nancy Hargrave, Irene Ashworth and Randy Hargrave of the Lions Club of Penetanguishene present the cheque to Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation and Gail Hunt, president & CEO, GBGH.... Read more...GBGH Foundation purchases land to secure future development space for hospitalMarch 2, 2020The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation has purchased 22 acres of vacant land beside the hospital’s highway 93 location in Midland. The purchase was made by the Foundation in December 2019 after being notified of the opportunity in the fall of 2019. Acquiring this land enables the hospital to grow to meet future demands for health care services. “Both the Hospital and Foundation Boards of Directors realized their responsibility in securing this property for the future stability of GBGH,” says David Turner, president, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “By making this purchase, the Foundation is investing in the future of the hospital, ensuring there is sufficient space when there is a need to expand.” The Foundation was able to purchase the property in part due to the generosity of the late Gil Robillard and his family. “We are extremely grateful to the Robillard family whose kindness is enabling the Foundation to invest in the future of healthcare for our community,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “At this time, there are no plans for construction on the property, but given the age and size of our existing building, we know there will eventually be a need to redevelop and expand on a single hospital site.” “My dad was a visionary with great foresight,” says Susan Robillard, daughter of Gil Robillard. “He liked planning for the future, and the purchase of land to ensure future stability does just that. We are glad the Foundation could use the Gil Robillard Fund to help ensure the future of healthcare for our community.” Preliminary results from the GBGH’s master planning process indicates the size of the hospital will need to dramatically increase in the next 20 to 30 years. The existing hospital was built in 1976 and there is no existing vacant space in which to expand services. Through the Foundation making this investment in GBGH, it provides the hospital with significant growth potential – either to expand the existing building or construct a new building in the future. The location and size of this land has many benefits when planning for future development. There is sufficient space to allow for a completely new build, which can be significantly less costly and more efficient than renovating an old, existing building. Additionally, the hospital and the Foundation will not have to search for and purchase another suitable location elsewhere in North Simcoe. GBGH will be able to maintain this centrally-located, convenient and accessible site for decades to follow.... Read more...Staff at GBGH pledge $22,000 for equipment & education at the hospitalFebruary 28, 2020The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation recently held its first annual Staff Giving Celebration Week to recognize staff who donate to the hospital and encourage new donations. The celebration resulted in more than $22,000 in financial pledges from more than 85 staff members at the hospital. The pledges are part of the GBGH Foundation’s Staff Giving Circle, which offers the opportunity to make bi-weekly or annual donations to support the hospital’s capital equipment and continuing education needs. “There are many people – including some staff – who aren’t aware the government does not fund all the equipment used in hospitals,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “This celebratory week allowed us to encourage conversations around the importance of community support to the hospital. This includes donations from within our hospital community, which are vital to the care we provide at GBGH and the sustainability of our hospital.” Thanks to the generosity of two local realtors – Jim Hawke (Team Hawke Realty) and William Myles (Georgian Bay Live) – the GBGH team was also treated to lunch and breakfast during the week, as well as daily prizes. “We are very fortunate at GBGH to have a generous community who want to give back – not only to our hospital, but to our exceptional team as well,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “It was also a great opportunity for our team to see how generous businesses support the hospital in ways other than just financial donations. It certainly helped bring our people together throughout the week to learn how they can also contribute to their hospital.” Members of GBGH’s Staff Giving Circle, which includes 100 per cent of the hospital’s senior leadership team, can direct their donations to funding equipment purchases, education or the area of greatest need for the hospital. The third option provides the hospital with the flexibility to respond to urgent capital needs, such as when a critical piece of equipment suddenly breaks down. “I am glad to be able to contribute toward the purchase of equipment for our hospital,” says Jolanda Winlove-Smith, a sonographer at GBGH. “We are desperately in need of a new ultrasound, as our oldest unit is 14 years old. The cost will range from $220,000 – $290,000, and I’m proud to support this purchase along with my community. Having new equipment is not only important for quality, it also helps us attract and retain staff who want to work in a hospital with the best tools to provide patient care.”... Read more...Mud Mayhem 2020 proceeds to support GBGH!February 26, 2020On January 22, the North Simcoe Rotaract Club announced that the 2020 Mud Mayhem beneficiaries will be Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation and Bridget’s Bunnies! This year’s event will take place at Champlain Wendat Rotary Park in Penetanguishene on Saturday, May 9th. What is Mud Mayhem? Test your abilities and have fun while you walk, run , climb, or crawl through 5kms of amazingly muddy obstacles. The North Simcoe Rotaract Club invites you to join us on Saturday May 9th, 2020 at Parc Rotary Champlain Wendat Park, as we come together for fitness, wellness, and to support innovation and sustainability in our community. Who benefits from Mud Mayhem? This year, Mud Mayhem is supporting local innovation and sustainability. All proceeds will support both Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation and Bridget’s Bunnies. The GBGH Foundation will be dedicating funds towards the electronic record upgrade (Meditech Expanse) to improve the way patient information is shared between all hospital staff members and increase efficiency within the hospital. Bridget’s Bunnies will use funds to ensure no family endures pregnancy or infant loss alone by bringing their comfort kit program and raising awareness about the issue of pregnancy and infant loss at Georgian Bay General Hospital. Click here to learn more. ... Read more...From the Rings to the Green: Glenn Howard Charity Golf ClassicJanuary 31, 2020When Wayne & Sherry Middaugh retired the Middaugh Celebrity Golf Tournament in 2015, after 15 years, the opportunity arose for their good friends Glenn & Judy Howard to carry the torch onward and continue to support local healthcare at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). A world-renowned curling champion, Glenn put his success on the ice to work raising funds for his community. In 2016, Glenn & Judy Howard partnered with Urbacon Inc, to host the first Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament supporting GBGH at the Midland Golf & Country Club. With the help of a great committee of volunteers from the community, the event raised $105,900 to help the hospital purchase two scope cleaning machines. The success continued in 2017, with more than $150,000 raised to purchase an automated dispensing unit for the hospital’s Pharmacy. Wanting to have an even bigger impact on local healthcare for years to come, Glenn & Judy met with senior leaders at GBGH in 2018 and agreed to raise $300,000 for the hospital’s Operating Room Expansion Project. Excited by the prospect of providing such important enhancements to the hospital, Urbacon committed to partner with the team, pledging $500,000 over the next 10 years to the tournament & GBGH. “This tournament is an incredible example of what partnerships can do for local healthcare,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “Glenn is so generous with his time, and his connections, to help strengthen our hospital’s services, which has a ripple effect on thousands of patients in our community.” The 2018 tournament exceeded expectations, raising $151,185 toward the $300,000 commitment, and enabling the hospital to forge ahead with the surgical expansion. In 2019, an additional $113,000 was raised for the project, meaning that the project will be fully funded in 2020. “The funds from the Glenn Howard Golf Tournament have been instrumental in purchasing new equipment to support expanded urology surgical services and a new ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) surgeon,” says Dr. Eileen Sacks, surgeon at GBGH. “This financial commitment will allow us to purchase new equipment to expand gynecology operative procedures, anti-reflux surgeries and grow our laparoscopic hernia repair program.” In 2020, the tournament is getting a makeover, and will be officially known as the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Classic. The new branding highlights Glenn’s passion for both curling and golf, and emphasizes the fun atmosphere the tournament is known for. A complete sell-out every year, the event focuses on fundraising through golfer registration, and a live and silent auction after dinner. The on-course activities include hole-in-one contests, delicious food and beverage sampling, and the Par-Tee on the Green after party keeps guests dancing late into the night. This year’s tournament will take place on Friday, July 3rd at the Midland Golf & Country Club. For more information, click here.... Read more...Town of Penetanguishene continues annual support for GBGHJanuary 14, 2020In December 2019, the Town of Penetanguishene approved $10,000 from the annual budget to support capital equipment and technology at Georgian Bay General Hospital. Funds from this year’s budget will support the most critical needs at the hospital, including new Smart IV Infusion Pumps, a new Ultrasound and Telemetry Packs. This gift brings total giving from the Town to more than $169,000. From left – Gail Hunt, president & CEO, GBGH; Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation; Mayor Doug Leroux, Town of Penetanguishene.... Read more...Royal Canadian Legion Midland Branch 80 buys IV Pump for patients at GBGHJanuary 8, 2020On December 20, 2019, the Royal Canadian Legion Midland Branch 80, presented a cheque for $4,400 to representatives from Georgian Bay General Hospital. The funds will be used to purchase a Smart IV Infusion Pump, which ensure that patients receive the right medication, in the right dosage, at the right frequency for the right length of time. From left – Ron Adair, president, Midland Legion; Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation; Dr. Richard Thomas, physician, GBGH; Dan Travers, public relations officer, Midland Legion.... Read more...St. Theresa’s health care class donates 200 hygiene kits to local charitiesDecember 18, 2019A special health care class at St. Theresa’s Catholic Secondary School took part in a special project to create and donate hygiene kits to local charities, including Georgian Bay General Hospital, Shelter Now, the Salvation Army, the Guesthouse Shelter, Huronia Pregnancy Resource Centre and Huronia Transition Homes. The class collected more than 1,000 hygiene items through donations from students, staff and some local businesses, and assembled more than 200 individual bags for the charities, which were delivered on Monday, December 16, 2019. From left: Heather Spence, teacher at St. Theresa’s; Jen Russell, development and communications officer, GBGH Foundation; Muhammad Farooq, Jennifer Kennedy, Avery Hoddy and Timothy Paddon from St. Theresa’s; and Stephanie Patenaude, housekeeping supervisor, GBGH.... Read more...Mike “Pinball” & Diane Clemons celebrate Christmas in MidlandDecember 16, 2019On Tuesday, December 10, Mike “Pinball” & Diane Clemons welcomed guests to a unique Christmas variety show at the Midland Cultural Centre. In keeping with the spirit of giving, the proceeds from the event are being donated to the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation to help with the purchase of critical patient care equipment and technology. Thanks to a great spirit of generosity from the organizers, performers and guests, the event raised $10,600 for the hospital. It was the stories told throughout the show which brought out the real Christmas spirit, with raw and heartfelt memories shared by Diane on her childhood, and inspiring anecdotes from Mike on the true meaning of this special season. “The show tonight was spectacular! A truly unique intimate time together with special people and amazing talent! So happy I had the opportunity to be there,” says Michelle Lesperance, who attended the performance. Presented by Steve and Brandon Renault of Middle Retirement and hosted by Mike Clemons, the show featured local artistic performances from Georgian Bay School of Dance, Georgian Bay Musical Theatre Company, and numerous holiday ballads from Diane Clemons and her 5-piece band. “I’ve been down to a number of ‘Christmas with the Clemons’ events in Toronto, and felt it would be amazing if we could have the same sort of show here in the Midland area,” says Steve Renault, CEO of Middle Retirement. “We chose to raise funds for Georgian Bay General Hospital because it is such an important part of the community and equipment is not funded by the government.” “This was an incredible event for our community,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “Steve and Brandon from Middle Retirement brought outstanding talent together for a fun-filled, energizing Christmas celebration. We are honoured that Mike & Diane took the time to come to Midland, and be part of an event which resulted in an impactful gift of $10,600 for patient care at GBGH.” Brandon and Steve Renault of Middle Retirement present the $10,600 proceeds from the ‘Christmas with the Clemons’ event to the GBGH Foundation. The Christmas variety show featured local artistic performances from Georgian Bay School of Dance, Georgian Bay Musical Theatre Company and numerous holiday ballads from Diane Clemons and her 5-piece band. From left: Brandon Renault, manager of business development, Middle Retirement; Jen Russell, development and communications officer, GBGH Foundation; Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation; and Steve Renault, CEO, Middle Retirement. ... Read more...Team Hawke makes holiday gift to GBGHDecember 12, 2019Team Hawke presented the GBGH Foundation with a $5,000 donation, as their way of giving back to the community during the holiday season. Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer and Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation with (from left) Jessica Hawke, Brad Hawke, Jim Hawke, Vanessa Moreau and Heather Vermaire from Team Hawke Realty Services.... Read more...Community rallies to raise $26,500 for #Slings4GBGH campaign on GivingTuesday!December 12, 2019On Tuesday, December 3rd, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation launched a GivingTuesday campaign to purchase 50 patient slings ($400 each). These slings help patients get out of bed to regain their independence and mobility after a life-altering illness or long episode of critical care. Thanks to 64 individual donors, and a matching gift of $10,000 from Nick & Marina Boudouris and Family (owners of OPA Catering, the World Famous Dock Lunch and operators of Restaurant Sainte-Marie), a total of $26,500 was raised in 24 hours. “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our community,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “These slings are so important for patients at GBGH, and we are grateful that so many people chose to positively impact local healthcare through this campaign.” Slings are an essential piece of every day equipment used throughout the hospital. They assist a recovering patient out of bed to take a bath or shower, move into a wheelchair so they can become mobile again, or help a stroke patient begin to take the first steps toward recovery. “Although I still cannot walk after my accident, the ceiling lift in my room helps me get out of bed, which is great,” says Bradley Thayer, rehab patient at GBGH. “Getting out and talking to people, having lunch with them, was like the first step in getting to go home.” Patient slings are currently in use throughout the hospital, but many are worn out and there aren’t always the appropriate size available when required. Adding 50 new patient slings means all patients requiring a lift out of bed will now have access to this type of freedom and mobility. “It can be extremely frustrating for a patient, after having a life changing illness, to not be able to get out of bed,” says Santina Muriella, manager, Rehab, CCC, Palliative and Allied Services for GBGH. “Having the appropriate equipment is very important for staff to help patients in their recovery journey. It is our hope to standardize the type of slings we use for our patients, upgrade to a superior product and create a better experience for all of our patients.” While GivingTuesday is now over, those interested in supporting other critical needs at GBGH can make a gift to the GBGH Foundation holiday campaign. More information can be found by clicking here.... Read more...Nick & Marina Boudouris and family match GivingTuesday donations to GBGH Foundation.December 2, 2019GBGH Foundation raising funds for Patient Slings for GivingTuesday Global Day of Giving Takes Place this Year on December 3rd. The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation is raising funds for Patient Slings this GivingTuesday – a global movement for giving and volunteering, taking place each year after Black Friday. Just as Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season, GivingTuesday is the “unofficial” opening day of the giving season. In honour of this international day of giving, the GBGH Foundation is asking the community to help purchase 50 urgently needed slings ($400 each) to help patients at GBGH regain their independence and mobility. Slings can be used for many purposes – to help a recovering patient out of bed so they can take a bath or shower for the first time after a long period of critical care or hospitalization, to move a patient with a broken hip into a wheelchair so they can become mobile again, or to help a stroke patient begin to take the first steps towards recovery. To help the Foundation achieve their goal of purchasing 50 new patient slings, Nick and Marina Boudouris and family have offered to match all donations on GivingTuesday, up to a total of $10,000. That means for every $200 donated, a sling can be purchased for patients at GBGH. “The hospital is so important in our community. We are happy to help give patients some independence and dignity, by helping to purchase these slings,” says Nick Boudouris, owner of OPA Catering, the World Famous Dock Lunch and operator of Restaurant Sainte-Marie. “I challenge all of our local businesses to join me in supporting this campaign – I’ll match you dollar-for-dollar until we buy all the slings the hospital needs.” Businesses, media and individuals can get involved by joining the conversation on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, sharing our stories and posts on social media, and making a donation on Tuesday, December 3rd. ... Read more...North Simcoe municipalities make financial commitment to patient care at GBGHNovember 18, 2019For the last ten years, municipalities in North Simcoe have been generous supporters of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). Collectively, they have contributed $875,000 to renovate the Emergency Department, bring a new CT scanner to the hospital and help to purchase other essential equipment for patient care. In 2019, Tay Township, the Township of Tiny and the Town of Penetanguishene enthusiastically continued their long-standing support for the hospital. “Tay Township is pleased to continue our commitment to Georgian Bay General Hospital,” says Ted Walker, mayor, Tay Township. “Our investment in local healthcare supports the outstanding patient care and services that benefit our community today and for many years to come.” This year, the Township of Georgian Bay has also made a commitment to GBGH, stepping up to help the hospital which serves its 2,500 permanent and more than 15,000 seasonal residents. “We greatly appreciate the emergency services that GBGH provides to our residents, as well as the day to day services that allow our residents to access care closer to home, be it seasonal or permanent,” says Peter Koetsier, mayor, Township of Georgian Bay. Each municipality has directed their generous gifts to support the most critical needs, which enables the hospital to respond to urgent priorities. “Medical equipment has a lifespan of only 7 to 10 years, and much like our cars, there are times when we can’t predict a breakdown,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “By contributing to the general equipment fund, our municipalities are ensuring we have the freedom to direct money toward our most urgent equipment requirements when we need them the most.” Tay Township made a $25,000 gift in June – the first installment of their $100,000 pledge to the hospital. The Township of Tiny supported the hospital with $20,000 in February, and donated $5,000 from the proceeds of the Tiny Mayor’s Golf Tournament in September. The Township of Georgian Bay approved $2,333 for the hospital in November. The Town of Penetanguishene provided $10,000 in January, and has recently approved another $10,000 for the next fiscal budget. “On behalf of the Council of the Town of Penetanguishene, we are proud to support the hospital by helping provide modern, effective tools and technology so that the physicians and staff can continue to provide exceptional healthcare services to our residents,” says Doug Leroux, mayor, Penetanguishene. “We appreciate their efforts in all that they do for our community.” This year, the most critical needs include 100 new Smart IV Infusion Pumps, a new Ultrasound, Telemetry Packs and staff education for specialties such as Wound Care and Gentle Persuasive Approach, used when working with seniors with dementia. “Currently, our hospital requires more than $7 million in capital equipment upgrades,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director of the GBGH Foundation. “We are so grateful for the support the Town of Penetanguishene, and the Townships of Tay and Tiny have provided to help us address this long list of needs at GBGH.” The local hospital cared for more than 50,000 patients last year, and 90% of those patients have a permanent address within the boundaries of Midland, Penetanguishene, and the townships of Tay, Tiny and Georgian Bay. “The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is a leader in the provision of health care services and continues to be an integral part of our North Simcoe community,” says George Cornell, mayor, Township of Tiny. “The Township of Tiny is fortunate to have a strong hospital to serve our residents and is proud to support the hospital through the GBGH Foundation for another year.”... Read more...Tim Hortons Smile Cookie raises $44,086 for IV PumpsNovember 14, 2019For one week – from September 16-22 – our local Tim Hortons restaurants in Midland, Penetanguishene and Port Severn sold Smile Cookies with 100% of the funds collected being donated to Georgian Bay General Hospital. Thanks to the passion and dedication that our local restaurant owners – Theresa Tennant & Joanne Smith – and their team members showed surrounding the campaign, plus incredible community support, the results this year far surpassed any in recent history. $44,086 was presented to the GBGH Foundation on November 14, designated to help the hospital upgrade its fleet of IV Infusion Pumps. “IV Infusion Pumps are used to deliver medication and fluids to patients in every area of the hospital,” says Marnie Lightfoot, Director of Patient Care, GBGH. “Nearly 90% of all patients requiring admission will need some form of intravenous treatment during their stay, and these critical pumps ensure that patients receive the right medication, in the right dosage, at the right frequency for the right length of time.” The local Tim Hortons restaurants have generously supported Georgian Bay General Hospital during previous Smile Cookie campaigns, with total giving of more than $215,000! “We are so grateful to the Tennant family & Smith family, and all of their team members, for the incredible impact they are having on patient care at GBGH,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “The whole community rallies around the hospital during Smile Cookie week, and the results are tremendous; 44,086 Smile Cookies means 10 new IV Infusion Pumps for patients at GBGH this year!” ... Read more...Midland Civitan Club buys IV Infusion Pump for GBGH!November 8, 2019Carroll Wilson (far left) and Sandra Baxter (second from right) brought the donation to Christine Baguley, GBGH Foundation and nurses, Nicole Hurley and Debbie Belcourt from 1 North. Members of the Midland Civitan Club visited Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to deliver a cheque for $5,000 to help purchase new Smart IV Infusion Pumps. The gift was inspired by a recent letter from the GBGH Foundation, talking about the critical equipment needs at the hospital. The Midland Civitan Club has been proudly giving back to the community since 1957, including donations of nearly $64,000 to GBGH. ... Read more...FIRE & ICE Gala raises $84,000 for Patient Care at GBGHNovember 1, 2019Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the 2019 FIRE & ICE Gala. Together, we raised more than $84,000 for Georgian Bay General Hospital! These funds will have a direct impact on patient care at GBGH: enhanced image quality for expecting parents with a new Ultrasound; safe and accurate delivery of medication through new, Smart IV Pumps; better monitoring for critically ill patients in ICU with new Telemetry Packs. Thank you especially to our sponsors, partners and chefs for making our event one of the best yet! Please check them out below. Photos from the event can be found on our Facebook page Our Sponsors: Our Partners: Our Chefs: ... Read more...Golf Tournament Fundraiser for Georgian Bay General Hospital & Wendat a Resounding Success!October 25, 2019PORT SEVERN – The Southeast Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce (SEGBAY), in partnership with Bell Media’s Pure Country 106 and 104.1 The Dock, hosted its 6th Annual Golf Tournament on August 13, 2019. The tournament raised a total of $36,000 – with $24,000 being dedicated to the purchase of new IV Infusion Pumps at Georgian Bay General Hospital, and $12,000 dedicated to the Wendat Seniors’ Residence in Penetanguishene. Picture perfect weather greeted the 160 golfers at Oak Bay Golf Club in Port Severn, who enjoyed the spectacular views of Georgian Bay and the challenges of the course. Fred Wareing, Chair of the Golf Tournament Committee, stated: “It is truly remarkable to see the generosity of the Sponsors and Golfers who support our tournament each year. We had a tremendously successful day thanks to their support, as well as the many dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to ensure that a good time is had by all. From the beautiful golf course at Oak Bay, the incredible dinner by Chef Luigi, and the auctions and raffles held after dinner, I feel that the golfers really got great value for their sponsorship dollar. The day was well received by all, and we’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from all parties.” Wareing went on to say: “We’d like to thank our many sponsors, staff at Oak Bay Golf Club, and the hardworking volunteers. The success of fundraisers like this is dependent on you, and we’re so grateful for your support each year.” Photos from the day, as well as a list of our many sponsors and volunteers will be listed on the SEGBAY website.... Read more...Tay Township pledges $100,000 to GBGH!October 21, 2019On October 15, 2019 Tay Township Council presented a $25,000 donation to Nicole Kraftscik and David Turner of the GBGH Foundation, as part of their $100,000 commitment to local healthcare over the next four years. Since 1999, Tay Township has contributed $342,576 to Georgian Bay General Hospital! From left: Councillor Barry Norris, Councillor Jeff Bumstead, Councillor Mary Warnock, Councillor Paul Raymond, Mayor Ted Walker, Nicole Kraftscik (Executive Director), David Turner (President), Deputy Mayor Gerard LaChapelle, and Councillor Sandy Talbot. ... Read more...Tiny Township Mayor’s golf tournament proceeds support patient care at GBGHOctober 3, 2019From left – Councillor Gibb Wishart; Deputy Mayor, Stefan Walma; Dave Turner, president, GBGH Foundation; Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation; Christine Baguley, philanthropy officer, GBGH Foundation; Mayor George Cornell; Councilor Cindy Hastings; and Councilor Tony Mintoff. September 13, 2019 was the Tiny Township Mayor’s Golf tournament at Brooklea Golf & Country Club, supporting 17 local charities & non-profit organizations. $5,000 was donated to Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation to assist with the purchase of Smart IV Infusion Pumps. Thank you to all the golfers, sponsors and volunteers for making this day and this great donation possible! ... Read more...Young ladies deliver SMILES to GBGH!September 26, 2019On September 23, friends Ally, Nora, Myla, Robyn and Jocelynn delivered 356 Smile Cookies to the patients, staff and visitors at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). The cookies were generously purchased by the group, who sold rainbow loom bracelets, cupcakes and lemonade to raise funds to help their community. During Smile Cookie week (September 16-22), the group decided they would use their hard-earned dollars to support the hospital and make people happy at the same time.... Read more...Staff and Volunteers at GBGH ready to serve smiles to raise funds.September 13, 2019What’s better than a cookie that tastes good? A cookie that does good! Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign is back supporting charities in communities across the country, including Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) – one of 550 Canadian charities, hospitals and community programs supported through the annual campaign. For one week, from September 16 – 22, the Tim Hortons restaurant owners in Midland, Penetanguishene and Port Severn, Theresa Tennant & Joanne Smith, will donate the full $1 from every freshly baked chocolate chunk Smile Cookie purchased to help buy Smart IV Infusion Pumps for GBGH. Staff and volunteers from GBGH will be supporting the campaign throughout the week, giving their time to help sell Smile Cookies and thank Tim Hortons patrons for supporting the hospital. “There is so much excitement in the community around Smile Cookie week,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, Georgian Bay General Hospital. “Staff and volunteers from the hospital help sell cookies at the restaurants, our volunteer-run Coffee Bar sells them too and thousands of local residents, businesses, schools and community groups support the campaign by buying smile cookies every day during the week.” “The real magic behind the Smile Cookie campaign is the local impact and we’re excited to be able to support local charities, hospitals and community programs again this year. Our guests, restaurant owners and their team members can feel incredibly proud knowing that the money raised during the campaign directly supports local Tim Hortons communities.” – Mike Hancock, Chief Operating Officer, Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign Facts In 2018, the Smile Cookie campaign raised $7.8 million across Canada, and $35,882 in North Simcoe Local Tim Hortons restaurants have donated $217,400 to Georgian Bay General Hospital over the past 7 years For over 23 years, we’ve been spreading smiles – the Smile Cookie campaign began in 1996 to help raise funds for the Hamilton Children’s Hospital in Ontario... Read more...Waubaushene Legion gives $500September 10, 2019On September 8th, the Waubaushene Legion hosted their Annual General Meeting, with a few special guests from Georgian Bay General Hospital. After receiving a letter from the hospital in the spring, outlining the urgent equipment needs at GBGH, the members decided to make a special gift. Legion members presented $500 to Bernie Uhlich, GBGH Board of Directors and Christine Baguley, GBGH Foundation, designated to the most critical needs of the hospital. ... Read more...Georgian Bay Pops raises more than $110,000!August 31, 2019Thank you to everyone who supported the 6th Annual Georgian Bay Pops event on Saturday August 17, 2019. Guests were treated to the eclectic sounds of the Durham County Poets, while basking in the beautiful sunshine on a magnificent pier in Thunder Beach, owned by Helen & Frank Morneau. True North Catering provided an exceptional culinary feast, and guests were treated to Scotch nosing and Rum tasting, courtesy of a couple local connoisseurs. Thanks to the incredible support of our sponsors, partners, donors and guests, the event raised more than $110,000 towards the emerging critical care needs of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). To see pictures from the event, please click here. ... Read more...Ideal Rebekah Lodge #199 adopts a room at GBGHAugust 27, 2019On August 27, 2019, members of Ideal Rebekah Lodge #199 presented a cheque for $8,000 to the GBGH Foundation, which will help with the ongoing Adopt a Room project at Georgian Bay General Hospital. Their gift will help the hospital renovate a single-bed patient room, including new electrical and lighting fixtures, paint & drywall, sinks, plumbing and flooring. From left – Mary Graham, Bonnie Desjardins, Glenna Tuck, Lorene Pelling and June Asselin from Ideal Rebekah Lodge #199 with Jen Russell & Nicole Kraftscik, GBGH Foundation.... Read more...Welcome Christine Baguley!August 22, 2019Please join us in welcoming Christine Baguley to the GBGH Foundation. Joining the team September 3rd, Christine will be the Philanthropy Officer for the Foundation. Christine has over ten years of experience in healthcare philanthropy, and is a highly successful fundraising leader within the North Simcoe Muskoka health care community. She has worked at both RVH Foundation in Barrie as the Philanthropy Officer raising funds for the $25 M Hearts and Minds campaign and most recently worked at the Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care as their Major Gifts Officer continuing her dedication to mental health initiatives. Christine also has 7 years experience here at GBGH Foundation where she started her fundraising career in 2008. She has a passion for her home hospital (GBGH) and care close to home and is excited to continue building strong relationships in the community in which she lives and return back to GBGH. Christine is an active Midland Rotarian and enjoys spending her leisure time with her partner Chris Edwards, President of Weber Manufacturing and her two daughters Courtney and Mya at their home in Tay Township.... Read more...Nine winners take home prizes in the 2019 Drop the Ball Raffle!August 6, 2019On August 4, hundreds of spectators gathered to witness our community’s first ever helicopter golf ball drop raffle at the Midland Golf & Country Club. More than 6,000 tickets were sold, and the corresponding numbered golf balls were dropped from a helicopter to determine the lucky prize winners. “So many people have been involved in making this unique partnership event a success,” says event organizer, Gerard La Chapelle. “All of our volunteers, the prize partners, the Midland Golf & Country Club and the GBGH Foundation team have all worked together to help support our Georgian Bay General Hospital with proceeds of $55,000.” All the funds raised will support critical emerging care needs at Georgian Bay General Hospital, which will help to purchase important patient care equipment such as IV Infusion Pumps, Telemetry Packs for ICU and an ultrasound machine. “It is inspiring to witness our community come together in support of Georgian Bay General Hospital,” says Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation. “We rely on our community to fund all of the equipment and infrastructure upgrades for our hospital, as the government does not fund these critical capital expenditures. Our sincere thanks to Gerard and his team of volunteers for this incredible donation.” The winners in the raffle are: Dawn Toner – Dewalt 12″ Mitre Saw Jack Blanchette – Weekend for 2 in Niagara on the Lake Pam Arbour – Molson Canadian Beer Fridge Mary Hunt – $1,000 Boathouse Eatery Gift Card Peggy Marchand – 75″ Samsung TV John Marchildon – Weber BBQ Kyle O’Donnell – Trip & Airfare Don Redmond – C02 Inflatable & Yamaha Motor Dr. Richard Coutts – 2019 Mustang Convertible... Read more...CUDDLE COT™ arrives at GBGH!August 1, 2019On July 31, the Birthing Program team at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) gathered to celebrate the arrival of a CuddleCot™, a generous donation from the Maxwell George Fleming (MGF) Foundation. Based in Toronto, the MGF Foundation’s mission is to provide hospitals in Canada with CuddleCots™, which allow bereaved families experiencing the loss of an infant the ability to spend more physical time with their child. The gift to GBGH is the MGF Foundation’s first donation. “We are very excited to be receiving this innovative bassinet for use with our bereavement families,” says Jen Mercer, Shared Services Manager for the Birthing Program at GBGH and Orillia Soldier’s Memorial Hospital (OSMH). “The grief experienced with infant loss can be devastating. The addition of a CuddleCot™ to our developing bereavement program means we can offer families the choice to spend as much time with their baby as they wish before leaving the hospital.” Thanks to the Shared Birthing Program between GBGH and OSMH, a more robust bereavement program is being developed at Georgian Bay General Hospital. Having a CuddleCot™ will enhance the program by allowing families to have more time with their baby before saying goodbye, which can assist with the grieving process. “We chose GBGH for our first donation as my husband and I have family ties to the area,” says Jessica Fleming, founder of the MGF Foundation. “We wanted to have an impact in a small community, and are so pleased to hear about the work being done to redevelop the birthing and bereavement programs at GBGH.” For more on this donation or the GBGH Foundation contact: Jennifer Russell GBGH Foundation 705-526-1300 ext 5339 russellj@gbgh.on.ca Jessica Fleming MGF Foundation 416-908-3433 j.paciocco@hotmail.com About the MGF Foundation The Maxwell George Fleming Foundation is a non-profit corporation which strives to provide as many hospitals as possible with CuddleCots™ so that all families experiencing the devastating loss of a baby have the opportunity to spend more time with their child should they choose to do so.... Read more...Carson Funeral Home shows big community spirit with donation to GBGH!July 23, 2019On June 8, 2019, during Ontario’s Best Buttertart Festival in Midland, representatives from Carson Funeral Homes J.H. Chapel set up a table and distributed free water to festival-goers, asking only that they make a donation to the GBGH Foundation if they felt moved to do so. Their random act of kindness raised $455 for Georgian Bay General Hospital, which will be donated to the most critical emerging care needs at GBGH. From left – David Carson and Shaelyn Dorion of J.H. Lynn Chapel, Midland and Jen Russell, development and communications officer, GBGH Foundation.... Read more...RBC donates $1,000 in honour of Bayles Deschamps Wealth Management!July 18, 2019Members of RBC Dominion Securities Bayles Deschamps Wealth Management volunteered at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) selling tickets for the Drop the Ball Raffle – a fundraiser for the hospital. To honour of the team’s volunteer commitment, RBC Foundation has made a $1,000 donation to the GBGH Foundation. From left – Brenda Dorion-Duquette, GBGH and Drop the Ball Raffle volunteer; David Turner, president, GBGH Foundation; Cathy Bayles, Janet Walter, Anna Tyubina from RBC Dominion Securities and Krista Walker from RBC.... Read more...Drop the Ball early bird winner takes home a 2019 SEA-DOO!July 16, 2019On July 4, volunteers from the Drop the Ball Raffle committee gathered with representatives from Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) and the GBGH Foundation to draw one ticket for the early bird prize of a 2019 SEA-DOO and trailer. Nathan Robitaille, a local resident and Penetang Kings alumni, was the lucky winner. “I just bought a ticket to support the hospital,” says Robitaille. “I didn’t even know what the prizes were, so I still can’t really believe I won a SEA-DOO.” Nine additional prizes winners will be determined by a Helicopter Golf Ball Drop Raffle on Sunday, August 4, 2019 at the Midland Golf & Country Club. Numbered golf balls will be dropped from a helicopter hovering at 100 feet above the Midland Golf & Country Club’s first fairway. There will be nine flags and cups within the drop area, each representing one of the prizes. The ball which lands in the hole or is closest to the pin wins. If multiple balls land in a hole, one ball will be drawn for the prize. The nine remaining prizes include: 2019 Ford Mustang Convertible $1,000 Boathouse Eatery Gift Certificate Weber BBQ 75” Samsung Smart TV Highfield Inflatable & Yamaha Motor Dewalt 12” Mitre Saw Trip to Mexico Weekend for 2 in Niagara on the Lake Molson Canadian Beer Fridge Tickets are $20 each or three for $50, and all proceeds will support new and much-needed equipment purchases at Georgian Bay General Hospital. Tickets can be purchased at Bourgeois Motors, Factory Recreation, Scotiabank Penetanguishene, Elmvale Home Building Centre and GBGH. Call 705-526-GIVE (4483) for more information.... Read more...New chairs for Health Records!July 10, 2019Thanks to an anonymous donor, volunteers and staff in the Health Records department at GBGH have new comfortable chairs! Did you know that even chairs for staff and volunteers aren’t paid for by provincial government funding? We rely on our community to purchase all the tools and equipment needed within the hospital…chairs included! If you would like to learn more about opportunities to get involved and support your hospital, please contact us: 705-526-GIVE (4483) or foundation@gbgh.on.ca... Read more...GBGH Foundation celebrates success at AGM!June 27, 2019On June 25, the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at Sainte Marie Among the Hurons. A clean audit report was presented, highlighting generous donations of more than $2,280,000 which enabled the hospital to purchase essential equipment, including a portable x-ray machine, vital signs monitors, portable ultrasound for the intensive care unit (ICU) and a surgical video tower. GBGH relies on community support to fund all the tools and technology required for patient care, as the government does not fund any equipment for hospitals. “We have had another successful year at the Foundation and it is due to the efforts of the many people who made generous financial contributions, and to the champions of our cause, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to support healthcare in our community,” says David Turner, president of the GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “The highlight of the year for me was seeing the completion of the Emergency department redevelopment, and the addition of the new CT Scanner in October, knowing that our community saw these projects through to completion.” In addition to other standard AGM agenda items such as donor recognition and annual highlights, the audience experienced a keynote presentation from Natalie Harris. Harris is a retired Simcoe County advanced care paramedic and current City of Barrie councillor. Harris, who authored Save-My-Life School: A first responder’s mental health journey, recounted her personal struggles with mental health, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder as a first responder. The meeting’s audience of nearly 100 included first responders and staff from local police, fire, paramedics, Central North Correctional Centre and Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. This year’s winners of the Robbert Hartog Innovation in Health Award were also announced at the meeting. This award is an opportunity to recognize and honour the outstanding achievements of staff and credentialed staff from GBGH. This year’s winners are Jennifer Moore (communications officer) and Dr. Vik Ralhan (ED physician and medical quality lead), who will each receive $2,500 toward furthering their professional learning and development. The GBGH Foundation Board is welcoming one new director this year. Kathy Elsdon Befort, who recently served as the Foundation’s interim Executive Director, will join the Board for a three-year term. Finally, three directors are leaving the Board as their term ends. We would like to thank and acknowledge Carey Moran, Roger Goddard and Janet Magee for their many valuable contributions during their time with us. ... Read more...Drop the Ball Raffle raises funds for critical care needs at GBGH!June 4, 2019This summer, residents of North Simcoe have a unique opportunity to support their local Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH)…and win some incredible prizes! On August 4, 2019, Midland Golf & Country Club will host our region’s first ever Helicopter Golf Ball Drop Raffle, organized by a group of volunteers who wanted to do something impactful for healthcare in our community. “We know residents of North Simcoe have an important role to play in how patient care is delivered at GBGH”, says Gerard La Chapelle, chair of the Drop the Ball organizing committee. “With this raffle, we are raising funds for equipment and staff education, and bringing awareness to the needs of our community hospital.” GBGH relies on the community – residents, businesses and municipalities – to fund 100% of the equipment required for patient care. This year, the hospital needs donations to replace one of the aging ultrasound machines, buy 100 IV infusion pumps, purchase 10 telemetry packs for the ICU and upgrade the portable ultrasound used in the Emergency department. “We are committed to providing exceptional care, for every person, every time at GBGH, but we cannot accomplish our vision without modern medical equipment and technology,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO at GBGH. “Community support through events like the Drop the Ball raffle are so important in providing the funds we rely on to improve the hospital experience for thousands of patients each year.” The goal for the Drop the Ball Raffle is to sell 16,000 golf balls and drop them from a helicopter hovering at 100 feet above the Midland Golf & Country Club’s first fairway. There will be nine flags and cups within the drop area, each representing one of the prizes. Each golf ball will be marked with a ticket number, and the ball which lands in the hole or is closest to the pin wins. If multiple balls land in a hole, one ball will be drawn for the prize. Prizes for the raffle include: – SEA-DOO and trailer (Early bird prize – drawn July 4, 2019) – 2019 Ford Mustang Convertible – $1,000 Boathouse Eatery Gift Certificate – Weber BBQ – 75” Samsung Smart TV – Highfield Inflatable & Yamaha Motor – Dewalt 12” Mitre Saw – Trip to Mexico – Weekend for 2 in Niagara on the Lake Tickets are $20 each or three for $50, and can be purchased at Bourgeois Motors, Factory Recreation, Scotiabank Penetanguishene, Elmvale Home Building Centre and Georgian Bay General Hospital. Tickets will also be on sale during the Buttertart Festival and Canada Day celebrations in Tay, Midland and Penetanguishene. Call 705-526-GIVE (4483) for more information, or go to https://gbghf.ca/get-involved/events/drop-the-ball/. Contact: Jennifer Russell GBGH Foundation 705-526-1300 ext 5339 russellj@gbgh.on.ca... Read more...McHappy Day® helps families at GBGH!May 29, 2019On Wednesday, May 8, McDonald’s restaurants in Midland and Elmvale partnered with Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) for McHappy Day®. The one-day event raised $30,000 – $15,000 of which will be donated to GBGH’s Emergency department (ED) children’s play area. The other half of funds raised support Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto. “We are excited that we beat our goal for this year,” says Carol Cruden, owner of the McDonald’s restaurants in Midland & Elmvale. “We couldn’t have done it without the support of the community, hospital staff and volunteers, and of course, our restaurant staff and management teams.” In 2018, Mark & Carol Cruden, owners of the McDonald’s restaurants in Midland and Elmvale, pledged $50,000 from McHappy Day® to build a children’s play area in the newly redeveloped ED at GBGH. The room was built in 2018 and is a huge success with families who visit the hospital. “The kids’ play room certainly helps make the experience happy and also gives me peace for whatever reason we are there, because I know my kids are having fun,” says Sabrina Staunton, mother and sales representative at the Faris Team. “Now instead of my son associating the hospital with a scary or boring time, he wishes he could go there to play even when he has no reason to go to the hospital.” -30- For more on this event or the GBGH Foundation contact: Jen Russell GBGH Foundation 705-526-1300 ext 5339 russellj@gbgh.on.ca About McHappy Day® McHappy Day® is a national fundraiser, where restaurants, their communities, employees, customers and special guests raise money to help children in need across Canada. This year marked the 25th McHappy Day® in McDonald’s Canada since its inception in 1977. As of 2018, the event has raised over $56-million for local charities and Ronald McDonald Houses®. More than 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants participated in McHappy Day® this year. ... Read more...Balm Beach House of Glass Celebrates 20 Years with $20,000!May 13, 2019To celebrate their 20th year in business, Balm Beach House of Glass is donating $20,000 to Georgian Bay General Hospital with the help of the community! For every order of $5,000 or more, 10% of the total will be donated to the GBGH Foundation until they reach their target. BUT, that’s not all… The donation will be in their customer’s name for a charitable tax receipt. Get those outdoor projects done this year, and help a great local business make a big impact for your local hospital. For more information, visit www.balmbeachglass.ca or call 705-527-6509.... Read more...Guys Who Care have big impact at GBGHMay 10, 2019Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) is celebrating a $22,500 donation from Guys Who Care North Simcoe. The donation comes from nearly 90 individual members of the group, whose mission is to bring together men in North Simcoe who care about local community causes. “What better way to give back to our community than investing in better equipment for our hospital,” says Mike Thor and Andrew Combes, organizers of Guys Who Care. “We are proud to support the GBGH Foundation in their ongoing efforts to care for local patients and their families.” The donation will help to fund the purchase of a new portable ultrasound for the Emergency department at GBGH. This vital diagnostic tool is used at least five times every day, and allows physicians to provide fast, accurate diagnosis at the patient bedside. It can be used to diagnose gall stones, congestive heart failure, skin infections or abscesses, and internal bleeding. “As a physician, I know access to the latest diagnostic imaging tools really does save lives,” says Dr. Dan Lee, chief of Emergency Medicine, GBGH. “Using the portable ultrasound, we are able to make diagnoses instantaneously which means treatment can begin sooner and results in better patient outcomes.” The new portable ultrasound will cost $70,000. Ontario hospitals receive no government funding to update or buy new equipment. It is the community’s responsibility to fund all the tools and technology required for patient care. To help purchase the portable ultrasound – a vital tool for GBGH – please contact the GBGH Foundation at 705-526-GIVE (4483). ... Read more...GBGH Staff donate $8,209!May 2, 2019Each member of the GBGH Staff Giving Circle has their own reasons for giving, and their annual donations give the GBGH Foundation a reason to celebrate! “I give because my family and I use the hospital, and it feels good to give back,” says Dawn Charbonneau, Giving Circle member since 2017. In 2018, the 35 members of the GBGH Staff Giving Circle donated $8,209 to help purchase critically needed equipment for GBGH. Their collective gifts are an integral part of the fundraising efforts of the GBGH Foundation. “Not only do the staff work hard to provide exceptional care, but they are also helping to fund the equipment and technology that is critical for hospital patients,” says Nicole Kraftscik, Executive Director for the GBGH Foundation. “We are so grateful for their ongoing commitment to Georgian Bay General Hospital!” Members of the program make their donations through payroll deduction, in amounts ranging from $2 to $100 every two weeks. Each year, the funds collected help to purchase a critical piece of equipment for the hospital.... Read more...Doctor’s Day 2019May 2, 2019National Doctors’ Day (May 1, 2019) is a day celebrated to recognize the contributions of physicians to individual lives and communities. It can be easy to forget the sacrifices that doctors regularly make on behalf of their patients. Whether it is forfeited time with loved ones, long work hours or the burden of the many life-and-death decisions they face; it is important to recognize and celebrate the human elements of the profession. This year for Doctors’ Day, we treated our community’s physicians with a special breakfast in their honour. Hospital and family physicians joined us for a morning of delicious food, laughs and good conversation. A special thank you to Team Hawke Realty Real Estate Services for their partnership in putting on this event, and joining us for the morning.... Read more...Local donors ensure care remains close to their communityApril 18, 2019Immediate Release April 15, 2019 – Although the Port Severn location of the Muskoka Community Health Hub didn’t develop as planned, generous donors Conrad and Donna Huber – with the assistance of the Township of Georgian Bay – are still committed to investing in local healthcare. The Hubers made a donation of $21,000 in 2015 to purchase 14 items for the health hub, including an examination table, procedure light, infant and adult weigh scales, electrocardiogram (ECG) unit, vital signs machine, ear flusher, calibration syringe, spirometry kit (for testing lung function), otoscope (for looking into ears) and fetal doptone (to listen to a heartbeat during prenatal care). “We are thrilled to receive these tools from the Township of Georgian Bay and the Huber family,” says Marnie Lightfoot, director of Patient Care at GBGH. “Much of the equipment was purchased for use during routine examinations in a primary care setting, but we have many areas that can put it to good use, such as the Emergency department, Obstetrics, Respiratory Therapy, the Operating Room and Ambulatory Care.” When funding for the Port Severn location was withdrawn in 2017, the Township of Georgian Bay discussed options with the Hubers. As both the township and the Hubers wanted to see the equipment remain locally, they decided to offer it to GBGH – ensuring it would still enhance healthcare in the hospital’s catchment area which includes the southern part of the Township of Georgian Bay. “The Township is really a middle man in all of this, but we are so delighted the Hubers have chosen GBGH as a new location for all of this essential, high quality equipment,” says Peter Koetsier, Mayor of Georgian Bay Township. “Together, we are making the most out of a situation we could not control. Making sure our residents have access to this equipment for acute care made this hospital a perfect choice.” Contacts: Jennifer Russell GBGH Foundation 705-526-1300 ext. 5339 russellj@gbgh.on.ca Jennifer Schnier Township of Georgian Bay 705-538-2337 ext. 259 jschnier@gbtownship.ca ... Read more...Volunteer Association gives $93,000April 12, 2019Did you know that the Georgian Bay General Hospital Volunteer Association (GBGHVA) is also one of the hospital’s largest annual donors? Last year (2018), the Volunteer Association raised more than $90,000 for the hospital’s general equipment fund. This is critical as all the equipment used for patient care is 100 per cent the responsibility of the community. The volunteers raise funds thanks to the dedication of their members who not only fulfill their volunteer shifts around the hospital, but go above and beyond – assisting with fundraisers like bake sales, raffles and clothing drives (don’t forget to bring your old clothes to GBGH’s main entrance). On April 10, GBGH & the GBGH Foundation celebrated the incredible Volunteer Association during National Volunteer Week. An integral part of the GBGH team, some of hospital’s 185-person volunteer force were honoured with a dinner. In the past year, GBGH’s volunteers have generously contributed more than 35,000 hours of their time (equivalent to $500,000 in salaries!). Thank you to all our volunteers for thousands of hours and thousands of smiles. We couldn’t do what we do without you! ... Read more...Penetanguishene’s Justin Wojcicki grateful after emergency appendectomyMarch 7, 2019Story from Simcoe.com – written by Andrew Mendler. Original link: https://www.simcoe.com/community-story/9192702-penetanguishene-s-justin-wojcicki-grateful-after-emergency-appendectomy/ March 2, 2019 – Recent upgrades to Georgian Bay General Hospital benefited Penetanguishene resident Justin Wojcicki. Wojcicki, 36, woke up around 4:30 a.m. on the morning of Feb. 7 with unbearable pains in his lower abdomen. His fiancé quickly got him to Georgian Bay General Hospital and a few hours later he had received a CT scan, been diagnosed and had his appendix removed. Wojcicki arrived at the GBGH emergency department around 5 a.m. By 7:30 a.m. he had received a CT scan to determine the cause of his abdomen pain. By 10:30 a.m. he was informed that he had appendicitis and his appendix was on the verge of rupturing. He quickly opted for surgery to remove it. At around noon Dr. Eileen Sacks, president of GBGH medical staff, stopped by to go over details of the surgery. “It seemed like just another day for them, but I had never had surgery before,” said Wojcicki, who was slightly unsettled at the thought of being cut open. Nurses began prepping him for surgery just before 2 p.m. and he was impressed with how well the hospital staff put him at ease. “Everybody was doing their thing, they had music going and were making it a comfortable environment,” said Wojcicki. “They were very professional and it made me very comfortable.” The anxiety around getting knocked out by anesthesia and going under the knife seemed to fade away for Wojcicki. The fact it was a common surgery — Dr. Sacks had already performed two appendectomies earlier that same week — also helped keep Wojcicki calm. Surgery went perfectly and after an evening of observation Wojcicki was discharged and went home. He walked out of GBGH grateful for the care he had received — which hadn’t been the case in the past. “Quite frankly, I had a couple experiences at that hospital and I had said to myself that I’d never go back,” said Wojcicki. “But I was in so much pain I knew I had to go to GBGH. They really earned my respect.” Wojcicki was also able to benefit from the renovated emergency room, new CT scanner and refurbished second operating room — all upgrades the hospital made over the past year.... Read more...Township of Tiny continues investment in exceptional care at GBGHFebruary 28, 2019Members of the Township of Tiny Council present $20,000 to Gail Hunt, President & CEO of Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), and Shelly Price, GBGH Foundation. These funds will support the annual equipment fund at GBGH, helping to address the $7-million in equipment and technology needed by the hospital. Since 1999, the Township of Tiny has generously contributed more than $215,000 to Georgian Bay General Hospital, supporting the Emergency Department renovation, the purchase of the new CT scanner and other critical equipment needs. Thank you to the Township of Tiny for investing in exceptional care at Georgian Bay General Hospital!... Read more...A gift from the heart…February 22, 2019For more than 30 years, Bill and Arlene Schumacher have called Sand Castle Beach in Tiny Township their summer home. Their love for the beautiful shores of Georgian Bay fueled their desire to escape from their hometown of Waterloo each summer, and with each passing year, their family became more rooted in their warm weather community. Although they rarely had the occasion to use it, there was always a sense of ease knowing that Georgian Bay General Hospital was part of the community where they spent their summers. “We need our summer hospital,” says Bill. “If anything were to happen at the cottage, it is so important that we can get to a reliable Emergency Department fast.” In December 2018, Bill and Arlene felt it was time to support their summer hospital with a financial gift and made a gift of $50,000 to fund the purchase of critical equipment and infrastructure at GBGH. “We know the government doesn’t fund equipment for hospitals,” Bill shares. “This is our Christmas gift for GBGH.”... Read more...CC Tatham & Associates completes $7,500 pledgeFebruary 15, 2019In 2016, CC Tatham & Associates committed to helping the GBGH Foundation purchase a new CT Scanner for Georgian Bay General Hospital. With their recent $2,500 donation, the group completed their pledge and got to see the results of their investment first hand. Bill Goodale, of CC Tatham & Associates (4th from left), joined a group of donors and hospital leadership for the CT Scanner Celebration on February 7th, and helped to reveal the GBGH Foundation new donor wall.... Read more...Donors gather to celebrate new CT ScannerFebruary 13, 2019Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) and the GBGH Foundation invited donors to attend a celebration in honour of the hospital’s new computerized tomography (CT) scanner. More than 2,000 donors contributed $1.35 million to purchase the important new diagnostic tool. The names of those donors can now be seen on the foundation’s new CT donor wall. “When this new CT arrived in late September, it was a huge relief for us as the old unit had well surpassed its lifespan at 13 years old,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “The CT is one of the most important tools in our hospital to accurately diagnose what ails our patients. Our team – staff and physicians alike – are so pleased with the new addition. We’re all grateful for our community’s support in bringing enhanced diagnostic imaging equipment to GBGH.” A CT scanner is used to diagnose disease or injuries, by taking a series of X-ray images of the body. It uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images (slices) of the bones, blood vessels and soft tissues inside the body. CT scan images provide more-detailed information than plain X-rays do. GBGH’s new state-of-the-art unit – a Siemens Somaton Definition Edge – can take hundreds of highly-detailed images in a few seconds versus the original CT scanners of the 1970s which took one image in four minutes. The images can be seen immediately, patients are receiving timely access to imaging care and they are exposed to less radiation. “The Foundation began fundraising for the CT scanner in 2014 and it is an incredible milestone to see this project near completion – with just a little over $124,000 left to raise,” says David Turner, president, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “We are very proud to celebrate our donors because they have made this improvement in patient care possible at GBGH. We celebrate your commitment to ensuring our hospital is equipped to provide exceptional care with our new CT.” The CT, which arrived on September 28, scanned the first patient October 15. To accommodate the new CT, GBGH’s Diagnostic Imaging department was extensively renovated, with the CT relocating from a smaller room to a much more spacious one with enough space to accommodate a stretcher and other equipment. Since arriving last fall, the CT has performed more than 2,800 scans. Each year, GBGH performs more than 10,000 CT scans. ... Read more...Port Severn couple pledges $150,000 to GBGHJanuary 30, 2019January 21, 2019 – After a tour at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) in the fall of 2018, Port Severn couple Donna and Conrad Huber made a $150,000 commitment to the critical needs of the hospital. “When we heard that the need for equipment and infrastructure is more than $7 million, we wanted to help,” says Donna. “Thousands of residents rely on GBGH for urgent care, and we want to help ensure our hospital is equipped to provide each patient with the care they need.” Beginning in 2018, the Huber family pledged $30,000 to GBGH each year for five years, allowing the hospital to use the funds where they are most needed. The Hubers also shared their story with thousands of community members through a letter mailed in December, asking others to join them in supporting the urgent needs at GBGH. More than 200 donors responded to their request, with collective donations surpassing the $30,000 goal. “We are so grateful to the Huber family for their generous gift, and for inspiring giving across our communities,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “This year, the funds from the Foundation will purchase items such as a portable x-ray machine, vital signs monitors and specialized patient beds.” GBGH relies on donations from the community to purchase 100 per cent of the equipment needed for patient care and hospital operations. For more information on getting involved in your hospital, visit dev.gbghf.ca Thank you to all of our generous donors for responding to our recent letter! James & Anne Agnew Allan and Doris MacDiarmid John & Linda Anderson W.L. MacKenzie Linda Andrews In memory of Donald Roy Simpson Douglas & Lynda Annis Alan Macmenemey In honour of Rena Arbour Diane Macmenemey Bob & Yvette Armstrong John Magill Rick Ashford Anne Mandlsohn Donna Bachinger Anonymous Stuart Bahen Cy & Deb Marchildon Diane & William Baker Gertrude Marion Roger Ball Willard Marshall Bandana Construction Ltd. Marie Marshall Geoff Barley Lorraine Martin In honour of Dorothy Barton Alan & Barbara Martin John Baxter In honour of Sven Mathiesen Bayshore Lanes Bowling Centre John & Barbara McCallum In Honour of John Douglas Beattie Judy McKay Rita Befort McLaren Equipment LTD. Roger & Valerie Bell Donna McLaughlin Lawrence & Monette Bellehumeur M. McLeod Kurt Benke Patricia McNamara Brian Betty Arthur Yung Ron & June Boettger Robert Megaw Dennis Brabant Joseph Raymond Middleton Anton & Maria Brancelj Linn & Donna Milne William & Barbara Brennen Victor Moncarz John Brown William Montgomery Kathleen Burnett Patricia Moody Odette Bussiere Raymond & Frances Moreau Marion Carnduff Kelly Morris David & Sheila Carpenter Morris Steffler and Shirley Dixon In honour of Nancy Carruthers Catherine Morrison In Honour of Raymond Carter Cal & Betty Munroe Pat & Ron Clark Doug Muxlow In honour of Martha Cleary Anita & Norman Naumoff Don Cooper Ken Nevar Ann Coultrup Robert Newman Donald & Kathleen Cox Barbara & Edward Nichols Shirley Craig Freda Nicholson George R. Culver Paul Noack Alun Davies Howard Norbert Lloyd & Ann Day Frank & Rosemary O’Callaghan Bill Deeks William O’Donnell Ray Deeton Louis Parent James and Barbara Dennett Anne & Paul Parkes Waltraud Denninger Burt & Bonney Parsons Ruby I. Deschenes Allan & Darlene Paterson Maria & Vince Di Cesare Larry & Janet Pattullo Ted & Niki Dimitriadis In honour of Susan Pearce and Martha Ralph Joanne Donaldson In honour of The Gamble Family Loretta & Michael Dorion Pentor Electric Donna & Robert Drapkin David & Lillian Pettibone Paul Dubeau William & Jane Playter Peter Dubeau Margaret Polkinghorne Robert Duncan Don Powell George & Adrienne Dunn Jane & Ray Stevenson Frances Dupuis In honour of Lionel Quesnelle Elke Duquette Paul Quick Ken & Cathy Edgar Ralph & Betty Rawn In Honour of Patricia Stone Rawson’s Meat & Deli Anne Evans Gordon Richardson In honour of the Emergency Staff In honour of Bert & Cay Armstrong Eileen Vallee Patricia Roberts Doris Fielder Pauline Robillard Kathleen Finney Kathleen Robson In honour of David M. Forget Rod Skelton Hermann Franz Royal Canadian Legion Br #68 Susan Rudy Royal Canadian Legion Br#316 Ladies Aux Lorraine Galloway In honour of St. Josef Hospital Nov. 27, 1944 Larry & Susan Gardiner In honour of Rogerio Sanchez & Anne Boykoch In memory of Edward J. Gattoni Barry Saunders Ziggy and Nelle Gaweda Jerry & Elaine Schnarr Gerry Light Irma Schwarz Mary Gieseler Pamela & William Scott Denis Gignac Scobie Yacht Services INC. Jack & Patricia Goodfellow Charles Seguin In honour of Dr. McNamara Robert & Joan Shantz Leslie Gottics Amina Ayad-Shehuta William Grant Lorrie Smelko Cecil & Jayne Gratrix Irma Smith Patrick & Pat Greene Ernest & Sandra Somers Ruth E. Haig Joan Sovey Richard Hall Frieda Spazierer Alma Hall Brock Stackhouse Rita & William Hall In honour of Bill G. Stevens Bob Harper Donald & Muriel Stevens Roger Hart In honour of Danny Stillson Marven Hebner In memory of Mike Nihill Gerlinde Heidel Robert Stubbins & Margaret Cudahy-Stubbins In honour of Jane Heins Alan Sundeen Margaret Henderson Suzanne Plouffe & James Mitchell Herb Carpenter Limited Valerie & Doug Swann Herbst Ilse Rodney and Wendy Switzer In honour of Donna & Conrad Huber John Thistlethwaite John & Ellen Hinks Waltraud Thoma Bruno Hoflich Judith Thomas Susan Hopkinson Dorothy Thompson George & Anne Hume Ralph Learn Pauline Hunter Raymond & JoAnn Vaillancourt Huson Brothers Flooring In memory of Jackie McLaughlin-Welch Huynh Van Tho Marilyn Van Norman Angela Ingram Gerrit Vangelderen Marcella Ingriselli Wilfried& Sonja Vogelsang Dennis & Joan Marie Jackson Gerry & Linda Vrieswyk Tony Janssen Max and Jean Wagg Jane Jeffery In honour of Joseph Walker June Jenkinson David J. Walker Diane Johnson Dan Webb Don Jones Anton & Lilo Weber Thomas & Deborah Jones Edith Weber Steve & Margaret Killing Gail & Dan Webster Paul & Vivian Kirkup Elizabeth & William Weech Michael & Elaine Kovach Roisin White In memory of Roland Kuerzdoerfer Don & Karen Whitfield Yvette Lafreniere Jean Widdes Rita Larmand Edith Wilson Cleo Laurin In honour of Peter Wilson In honour of Gordon & Kim Leonard Peter Wohlert Lloyd & Ann Leroux Ina Wood Patricia and Ruldolph Lewkoski In honour of D. Thorpe In honour of Dr. Martin Veall In honour of Kenneth & Valerie Stief Jim & Virginia Lunnie George, Tinka & Bogdan Yordache In Honour of Carol Zabinski ... Read more...New Surgical Tower for GBGHJanuary 30, 2019January 30, 2019 – Staff and surgeons from Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) celebrated the arrival and first procedure of a new surgical video tower for the hospital’s operating room (OR). The $80,000 tower was purchased thanks to generous donations from Michael and Sarah Thor, as well as some of their friends and clients. “When I required emergency surgery last summer, I was so fortunate the OR at GBGH was available,” says Mike. “I later learned that without a second surgical video tower, the second OR wasn’t functional for most procedures. Sarah and I could not imagine if I’d had to wait for surgery, so we decided to raise the funds necessary to purchase one.” A surgical video tower enables surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures with tiny high definition video cameras and lights connected to an HD television screen. It is a critical part of surgical services at GBGH, and the purchase of a second tower had been identified as a priority by the staff, credentialed staff and leadership. “We use the video tower for every gallbladder surgery, most appendectomies, and increasingly, for colon cancer and hernia surgeries,” says Dr. Eileen Sacks, surgeon and president, Medical Staff Association, GBGH. “It is essential equipment for any operating suite and having a reliable tower is key to growing our surgical program to provide gynecology and urology procedures locally.” Mike and Sarah committed $10,000 personally to the project, and nine friends and clients collectively contributed $70,000. GBGH was able to purchase the tower in December and it is already in use with the surgical team. “The passion that Mike has shown for ensuring exceptional care at GBGH is inspiring,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “We are grateful for his incredible fundraising efforts which have enhanced our surgical program for thousands of patients in our community.”... Read more...GBGH Foundation welcomes Nicole KraftscikJanuary 28, 2019January 28, 2019 – The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation has hired Nicole Kraftscik as its new executive director (ED). Kraftscik, who brings more than 10 years of philanthropy experience, will begin working part-time for the Foundation in February, transitioning to full-time in early April. “I am thrilled to work for my hometown hospital, where my husband Martin and I have raised our family of three children – Haley, Taylor and Riley – and plan to stay for years to come,” says Kraftscik. “I really look forward to bringing new ideas and experience to GBGH, as well as building relationships both in the community and with the Board of Directors, staff, credentialed staff and volunteers who play an integral role in great patient care here at GBGH.” Kraftscik comes to GBGH with an extensive background in the field of fundraising leadership in Simcoe County. This includes her most recent role as Senior Development Officer at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) Foundation. As part of that team, Kraftscik was jointly responsible for raising $2.4 million in major gift revenue in the last fiscal year – well exceeding the $1.3 million target. “I attribute this success to an ability to build strong relationships with donors, volunteers, staff, credentialed staff and corporate partners who are committed to improving patient care, close to home,” says Kraftscik. “I’m grateful for my experience at OSMH, and the strong relationships I have built within the Orillia and area community.” As a leadership member in the OSMH Foundation, Kraftscik has experience in the strategic and campaign planning process for a medium-sized hospital foundation, major gifts and legacy giving. Additionally, she has held roles in annual giving, organizing signature events and direct mail, and is also an Executive Member on the Planned Giving Council of Simcoe County and Rotary. Kraftscik also holds memberships with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and Association of Health Care Philanthropy (AHP). “We are very pleased to have Nicole join us to lead our Foundation,” says David Turner, chair, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “We are certain her experience and relationship-focused approach will greatly assist the hospital in its mission to improve the health of the communities we serve.” ... Read more...Graphic artist donates time and talents to help local hospitalDecember 17, 2018Immediate Release December 17, 2018 The Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation (GBGHF) recently recognized Michelle Rogers, owner of Willow Graphix & Co., for giving her time and creativity in support of various fundraising projects over the past five years. In 2018, Rogers donated more than $2,500 in design work to the Foundation, including graphics for the hospital’s CIRQUE Gala, signage for the Georgian Bay Pops, posters for fundraising events and a four-page brochure. During her history of giving to the Foundation, Rogers has produced numerous graphics, signage, marketing materials and logos at no charge. In-kind donations, such as that made by Rogers, are critical to the success of the Foundation’s fundraising efforts. This in-kind donation enables the Foundation to spend more funds on purchasing critical equipment for the hospital. “We are a small team in the Foundation office at GBGH, so we are so fortunate to have Michelle as part of our support system, lending her talents for our graphic and design work”, says Kathy Elsdon Befort, interim executive director, GBGH Foundation. “Because she gives of her time to help us with our creative needs, we can spend our time focused on raising funds for the hospital.” For Michelle, the decision to give back in this way was an easy one – it allows her to support her hospital in a big and meaningful way. “GBGH is my hospital,” says Rogers. “I remember sitting with my Poppa before he passed away, just holding his hand; I was there every day when my Mom was recovering in ICU; I have welcomed three nieces into the world, and given birth to three of my own children there, and have had to return from time to time when they too have needed care. Even though I don’t know many of the people who work at the hospital, I have relied on them to care for the people I love most in life.” -30- Contact: Jennifer Russell GBGH Foundation 705-526-1300 ext 5339 russellj@gbgh.on.ca... Read more...Deluxe Canada employees donate hundreds of coins to GBGHNovember 30, 2018Employees at Deluxe Canada worked together this fall to fundraise for Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). Coin drives, food & bake sales, raffles and other fundraisers resulted in jars and (very heavy) bags full of coins, totaling $1,600. Thanks to a fundraising challenge from Deluxe Corporation, the $1,600 raised by the employees was 100% matched by the company, bringing the total donation to $3,200. The gift will support the critical equipment needs at the hospital. Representatives from Deluxe Canada delivered the funds to GBGH this week. In the photo, from left: Catherine Johnson (GBGH Foundation), Shannon Griffiths (Deluxe Canada), Kathy Elsdon Befort (GBGH Foundation), Tony Hume and Thom Leiper (Deluxe Canada), and Stewart Boecker (GBGH).... Read more...2018 La Chapelle Memorial Golf Tournament raises $32,775November 13, 2018The 2018 La Chapelle Golf Tournament once again was a huge success raising $32,775. Proceeds from this year’s event are going to support the purchase of a Crash Cart for the Emergency Department and investing in staff education for the team at GBGH. View more photos from the event, taken by SNAPd Midland/Penetang – Click Here.... Read more...The 2018 GBGH Gala: CIRQUE was a spectacular evening!October 29, 2018Vibrant decor, delectable dishes prepared by local chefs, magical cirque performances and tremendous support for Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). Thanks to incredible support from our sponsors, donors and guests, the evening raised $80,135 for the critical needs at GBGH. See pictures of the event from snapd Midland/Penetanguishene and simcoe.com. Thank you to our partners, who donated their time and talents to make our event a success! Thank you to our media sponsors, who help promote the event! Thank you to our wonderful sponsors! Title Sponsor: Pre-Gala Party Sponsor: Photo Booth Sponsor: Auction Sponsor: Welcome Drink Sponsor: Chef Showcase Sponsors: Friend Sponsors: Thank you to the incredible restaurants and caterers who are part of our Chef’s Showcase!... Read more...Grand Opening of the new Emergency DepartmentOctober 11, 2018Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) has officially opened the final two phases of its Emergency department (ED) redevelopment with a ceremony held in the hospital’s ambulance bay. The entire project – spanning more than five years of construction – concluded earlier this month and nearly doubled the previous department’s size. “The hospital’s focus when planning this redevelopment – even from the earliest days – was to re-build the ED in a way that best serves our patients,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Our focus of providing our community with exceptional care meant our ED needed to expand and modernize to meet the growing demand for services. When the original ED was completed in 1976, it was built to serve 17,000 patient visits and was a single room with curtains. Now we see 47,000 ED visits each year. It was time GBGH developed a department to match our volumes.” The ED redevelopment has been one of the largest projects in the hospital’s history. Phase 1, completed in 2014, was entirely funded through community support. With a price of $5 million, this 6,000 square foot addition included a new ED entrance, triage area and trauma rooms. “The community believed in the need for a new ED and without their support, the project would have never happened,” says Kathy Elsdon-Befort, interim executive director, GBGH Foundation. “GBGH’s loyal supporters have a history of being very generous when the hospital needs them the most. We needed a bigger, modern ED and they were there for us the whole way, also funding 10 per cent of Phases 2 and 3. They’ve never let GBGH down.” Finished in the late fall of 2017, Phase 2 included the new indoor ambulance bay, as well as specialized treatment rooms, mental health safe rooms, new exam rooms, a negative pressure isolation room (for infection prevention) and improved access from the ED to operating rooms. The final stage of construction, completed in September 2018, posed the most challenges due to closures of the waiting room and regular See & Treat area where the ED sees 60 per cent of its patients. Now complete, this section includes a new See & Treat, an expansion to accommodate ED administration and staff areas, and a new waiting room. The new waiting area comes complete with both an isolation section and a children’s play area, produced by Keebee Play of Midland and donated by Mark and Carol Cruden, owners of McDonald’s Restaurants in Midland, Elmvale and the Midland Walmart. After construction, the ED team of staff, credentialed staff and volunteers worked diligently to prepare the space for opening. This included moving in equipment, orientating staff with the new space and running simulations to ensure safety and quality. “I would like to acknowledge the ED team for their patience and professionalism throughout the three stages of the ED redevelopment,” says Dr. Patrick McNamara, chair, GBGH Board of Directors. “Their dedication to patient care despite the constant construction and change is a testament to their belief in what a new department would mean for the hospital and its patients. I’d also like to thank the community for its cooperation and understanding during the renovations. We were making the best of a challenging situation and we hope you see it’s been worth it in the end.” See what your generosity has accomplished for our community! Thanks to Overstreet Media Productions for producing this incredible video for us.... Read more...SEGBAY Chamber Golf Tournament raises $32,000October 5, 2018From left: Fred Wareing (SEGBAY), David Turner (GBGHF), Sara Reimer (SEGBAY), Moira Austin (Bell Media), Larry Braid (Georgian Bay Township), Lisa Nolan (Bell Media), Tyler Pilon (GBGH), Linda Young (SEGBAY) and Santina Muriella (GBGH). MEDIA RELEASE October 5, 2018 Golf Tournament Fundraiser for Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation and Wendat a great Success! PORT SEVERN – The Southeast Georgian Bay Chamber of Commerce (SEGBAY), in partnership with 104.1 The DOCK and KICX 106, hosted its 5th annual golf tournament. The golf tournament raised $32,000, with $26,000 dedicated to the renovations of patient rooms at the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) and $6,000 for the seniors’ residence at Wendat in Penetanguishene. The tournament took place at Bonaire Golf and Country Club in Coldwater on August 14, 2018. Fred Wareing, Chair of the Golf Tournament Committee, stated: “It was a fantastic day. We had a great turn-out with 152 golfers on the course, followed by a fantastic dinner, fabulous auction, silent auction, and raffle. We even had a hole-in-one winner, who went home with a fabulous side-by-side from Team Powersports. The weather couldn’t have been better, and the whole day went off without a hitch.” Wareing went on to say: “The success of this event was possible because of the generosity of our Title Sponsor, Newmarket-Tay Hydro, as well as a large group of other sponsors. The golfers and other diners also opened their wallets during the auctions and raffle. Our sincere thanks to a hard working committee and a great group of volunteers and to the dedicated Bonaire staff. We thank our many sponsors, who will be listed on our website in the next few weeks. This tournament couldn’t have been accomplished without the hard work of so many: the staff at Bonaire, the Golf Tournament Committee, the volunteers, the enthusiastic golfers, businesses and individuals.... Read more...Tim Hortons cookies give GBGH thousands of reasons to smile!September 30, 2018Back row, from left – Roger Goddard, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors; Theresa Tennant, Tim Hortons franchisee (Midland); Cathy Travers, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors; Natalie Sickinger, Tim Hortons (Midland); Matthew Brady & Kim Bujold, Tim Hortons (Penetang); Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH; and Sid Beelen, Tim Hortons (Midland). Front row, from left – Joanne Smith, Tim Hortons franchisee (Midland, Penetanguishene, Port Severn); and Tamara Smith, Tim Hortons (Port Severn) The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation is the proud recipient of $35,882 raised during the 2018 Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign in September. The funds were raised from the sale of Smile Cookies at Midland, Penetanguishene and Port Severn Tim Hortons restaurants. When customers purchased a Smile Cookie for $1, the entire price was donated to GBGH. Local Tim Hortons franchisees visited GBGH to present the funds which will assist in the renovation of four inpatient rooms as part of the Foundation’s Adopt-A-Room program at the hospital. Check out the photos below from our amazingly sweet week!... Read more...Commonwell Mutual C.A.R.E. donates $15,000 to CT scannerSeptember 21, 2018Pictured left to right: Gail Hunt, Roger Goddard, Sandra Stoughton (CMIG), Mary Myles (CMIG), Julie Bryant (CMIG), Steve Renault, Jane Millar, David Hobson, Teresa Lahey (CMIG), Brandon Renault, Cindy Hastings, and Shelly Price. On Friday, September 21st, 2018, representatives from the Commonwell Mutal Insurance Group visited Georgian Bay General Hospital to present a cheque for $15,000, in support of the new CT Scanner. This gift was part of the organization’s C.A.R.E. program (Create a Ripple Effect). The program focuses their charitable giving to make a difference to the future of our children, the health of our neighbours and the general safety of those we care about. Thank you Commonwell Mutual for partnering with us to improve the health and safety of our community!... Read more...Raytheon ELCAN & Midland Legion Adopt-a-RoomSeptember 12, 2018Ron Adair from the Midland Legion and Katharine Rowe-Bailey from Raytheon ELCAN present a cheque to Gail Hunt and Theresa Hartley, Georgian Bay General Hospital and David Turner, GBGH Foundation. Raytheon ELCAN and the Midland Legion team up to support veteran care in our community. Raytheon ELCAN and the Midland Legion have raised $12,000 to “Adopt-A-Room” at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). Upon completion, this four-bed ward room will be available to the community, including the many veterans residing in the area. Improving care for its users is an ongoing goal of the GBGH Foundation, and by adopting a room honouring area veterans, Raytheon ELCAN and the Midland Legion aim to support that need. The GBGH Foundation Adopt-A Room program offers donors the opportunity to renovate and update patient rooms throughout the hospital. A patient’s environment has a significant impact on his/her healing process. Research has found that the more attractive the environment, the lower the anxiety for the patient and the better the recovery outcome. Some studies show that ‘high-touch’ treatments and a healing environment account for as much as 80 per cent of healing, yet most hospital rooms are not built, furnished or decorated with this in mind. For more information about the Adopt-a-Room project, click here.... Read more...Glenn Howard Charity Golf Raises $151,185September 5, 2018From left: Glenn Howard, Marco Mancini (Urbacon), Gail Hunt (GBGH), David Turner (GBGH Foundation), Judy Howard, Roger Goddard (GBGH Foundation), Tim Kastelic, Chad Weatherell, Shelly Price, Lyn Wolfhard and Lisa Florschutz The Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament committee is celebrating another incredible year! $151,185 was raised for Georgian Bay General Hospital at the annual tournament on Friday, July 20th…with special thanks to Marco Mancini of Urbacon for his incredible generosity. Marco also announced at the event that Urbacon would continue to support the event with a $50,000 commitment annually for the next 10 years! Thank you so much to the whole crew for your amazing contribution to local healthcare at Georgian Bay General Hospital!... Read more...Midland District Shrine ClubAugust 29, 2018The Midland District Shrine Club has a long history of supporting their Georgian Bay General Hospital. For 20 years, the club has been making an annual gift to the hospital, supporting the purchase of critical equipment necessary for patient care. On August 28th, members of the club presented their cheque to the hospital, bringing their total giving to more than $20,000. THANK YOU Midland District Shrine Club!... Read more...2018 Georgian Bay PopsAugust 18, 2018The 2018 Georgian Bay Pops was a tremendous success! 180 guests gathered at the private residence of Helen & Frank Morneau on Saturday, August 18th, to enjoy a live performance from the Slocan Ramblers, rum-tasting and scotch nosing, a fabulous meal from True North Catering and a live auction featuring priceless experiences. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our hosts and guests, $98,100 was raised for the new CT Scanner at Georgian Bay General Hospital. Special thank you to our gracious hosts Helen & Frank Morneau, the Tiny Firefighters, and our volunteer committee who worked tirelessly to make the event a success.... Read more...Georgian Bay Blast raises $5,000!July 23, 2018Each year, Performance Boat Club Events Inc. organizes poker runs across Ontario, raising funds for local charities. In July, members of the PBCE gathered for the 2018 Georgian Bay Blast, blasting off in Midland and heading up the inside channel to Parry Sound. Over the course of their adventures, thanks to a silent auction, 50/50 draw and donations from the group, $5,000 was raised for Georgian Bay General Hospital.... Read more...Revitalization of the ICUJuly 17, 2018Tyler Pilon, Interim Manager, ICU and Respiratory Therapy and Dr. Shirley Babaran, Chief of Medicine with the new GlideScope Video Laryngoscope. Thanks to a generous gift from the Weber Foundation, the ICU at Georgian Bay General Hospital is receiving three key pieces of equipment to enhance patient care. Nurses and physicians in the ICU care for patients in critical condition, where time is of the essence. The care team needs efficient, high-quality tools to provide their patients with exceptional care. The Sonosite portable ultrasound will enable physicians to treat patients faster, more accurately and in a non-invasive way at their bedside, without trips to the Imaging Department. A transvenous cardiac pacing unit provides temporary electrical cardiac stimulation to treat a patient’s heart arrhythmia, either until it resolves, or until long-term therapy can be initiated. The GlideScope video laryngoscope (shown in photo above) enables quick intubation, giving physicians a clear, real-time view of the patient’s airway. To learn more about the needs of your Georgian Bay General Hospital, and how you can help to enhance patient care, please contact the Foundation office: 705-526-GIVE (4483).... Read more...Gbay Gals Give visit GBGHJuly 7, 2018Checking out the new equipment in GBGH’s Ambulatory Care department are (from left) Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH; Lyn Wolfhard, GBay Gals Give; Kathy Elsdon Befort, interim executive director, GBGH Foundation and GBay Gals Give; Jennifer Lalonde, team lead, Ambulatory Care, GBGH; Theresa Hartley, manager, Ambulatory Care, GBGH; and Cathy Siekierko, GBay Gals Give. Local philanthropic group, Gbay Gals Give, recently visited Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) to see first-hand what the proceeds from their recent $24,000 donation purchased. With some of the funds, the hospital replaced an outdated piece of surgical equipment with new electrocautery equipment and a functional smoke evacuator – vital components for surgical procedures. The new equipment helps remove air contaminants caused during surgical procedures that cut, cauterize, or destroy tissue with heat-producing devices. The remainder of funds raised for GBGH is being directed to the Adopt-a-Room project to renovate and upgrade a room at the hospital. GBay Gals Give is a group of local women dedicated to giving back their community through philanthropy. Meeting twice per year, each member contributes $200 per meeting and the money is directed to a local non-profit. The next social is taking place October 15 and the group is looking to add to its 142-person membership. For more information or to join, visit www.gbaygalsgive.com. On June 7th, Gbay Gals Give hosted their first fundraising social at the Midland Golf & Country Club. With more than 100 women in attendance, the group raised $24,000 for Georgian Bay General Hospital, to renovate a 1-bed patient room and purchase a new Electrocautery unit for the Operating Room. Thanks Ladies!... Read more...North Simcoe Car Dealership Golf Classic a huge success!June 20, 2018More than $31,000 raised for Georgian Bay General Hospital! It was an absolutely perfect day on the golf course, with more than 140 golfers taking to the greens at the Midland Golf & Country Club in support of Georgian Bay General Hospital! With sponsorships, golf and dinner tables purchased, the event raised $31,000 toward a new Nurse Call System for the ICU and 2E patient unit. A big THANK YOU to our title sponsors: Special Thanks to our Lunch Sponsor: Sabrina Staunton, Ryan Lesperance and Daniel Faris Thanks to our Hole Sponsors: And, finally, thank you to all those who supported the event with prizes and donations: Midland Golf & Country Club Honda Canada Huronia Alarms Huronia Historical Parks Intact Insurance Ralph & Kathy Befort Sunsport Signs TD Canada Trust Penetanguishene Tim Hortons – Theresa Tennant & Rob Bucht... Read more...URBACON commits to 5-Year PartnershipJune 18, 2018Members of the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament volunteer organizing committee and GBGH Foundation with Urbacon President & CEO, Marco Mancini and Director of Development, Chad Weatherall. URBACON COMMITS TO 5 YEAR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GLENN HOWARD CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT AS TITLE SPONSOR – $100,000 TOTAL SPONSORSHIP IN SUPPORT OF THE GEORGIAN BAY GENERAL HOSPITAL Midland, ON (June 18, 2018) – Toronto-based Urbacon has made a 5-year $100,000 commitment to the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament with all proceeds benefiting the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH). “We are very excited to have Urbacon back as our title sponsor for the 3rd Annual Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament” said Glenn Howard. “Urbacon’s continued commitment to supporting the Georgian Bay General Hospital with their 5-year partnership pledge is simply outstanding.” Urbacon has been supporting local charity golf tournaments since 2009, initially as title sponsor of the Middaugh Celebrity Golf Tournament and more recently with the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament. Last year the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament raised $123,000. These funds were used to purchase a much-needed automated dispensing unit for medication. This year, funds raised will be used to help GBGH with the OR Expansion Project which will include advancing the surgical services offered. “Community hospitals are vital to the health and well-being of the people who live, work and vacation in the area, including myself,” said Chad Weatherell, Director at Urbacon. “We believe it’s extremely important to do our part in supporting GBGH, and in turn the communities it serves, through our ongoing involvement with the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament.” Support such as that provided by Urbacon is integral to the success of the Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation’s (GBGHF) goal to reach its fundraising targets now and in the future. Partnerships with the GBGHF are key to the on-going success of the Hospital. In addition to community support through donations, over 200 community members volunteer at the Georgian Bay General Hospital on a regular basis. “Although Urbacon is a Toronto-based company, they understand the important role community hospitals play for our residents – both permanent and seasonal,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “For many people, GBGH is their home hospital, but for some, it’s their hospital away from home. We want our operating rooms to be current – with the latest technology and tools – so whether it’s an emergency or routine surgery, everyone has the best care during their time here. By supporting the Glenn Howard Charity Golf Tournament, Urbacon is helping make this happen for our patients.” For more information on the GBGH Foundation, and details on how to get involved, click here. Media contacts: Shelly Price, 705.526.1300 ext. 5338 Development Associate Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation prices@gbgh.on.ca Chad Weatherell, 416-342-1292 Director, Business Development Urbacon cweatherell@urbacon.net In the event we reach our fundraising goal for the Operating Room Expansion Project, we will direct additional funds to another area or equipment purchase of greatest priority for the hospital. Thank you for your support.... Read more...Cathy Bayles & Team volunteer for GBGHJune 16, 2018Pictured with Jen Russell (far left) and Kathy Elsdon Befort (far right) from the GBGH Foundation, and Gail Hunt (third from right), president and CEO, GBGH are (from left) Michelle DeGeer, Janet Walter, Cathy Bayles and Rolf Springer. Cathy Bayles & team at RBC Dominion Securities donate $1,000 to Georgian Bay General Hospital On June 16, 2018 members from Cathy Bayles RBC Dominion Securities team and other volunteers, joined the GBGH Foundation at Hindson Marina to help raise funds for a new CT Scanner at Georgian Bay General Hospital. As a result of their volunteer work, the RBC Foundation donated $1,000 to the Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation.... Read more...Midland Power & Sail SquadronMay 30, 2018Celebrating with Kathy Elsdon-Befort (far left), interim executive director, GBGH Foundation and Gail Hunt (third from left), president and CEO, GBGH are (from left) Mike Hamilton, Jim McLarty, Wendy McLarty, Christine Robinson and Ken Robinson of the Midland Power & Sail Squadron. Members from the Midland Power & Sail Squadron presented a cheque for $500 to Georgian Bay General Hospital. Funds will be used to help purchase a new CT Scanner for the hospital. After learning about the hospital equipment needs through the Boaters for Best Care program of the GBGH Foundation, the Bridge (directors) of the Squadron made the unanimous decision to invest in local healthcare.... Read more...Volunteer Association gives more than just their time to GBGH as National Volunteer Week approaches May 26, 2018The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Volunteer Association presented the hospital with $88,000 – a donation toward GBGH’s new CT scanner. From left – GBGH volunteers Debbie Petrie, Liz Gaudet, David Strachan; Allison Cramp, diagnostic imaging, GBGH; Carey Moran, vice president, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors; Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH; Cathy Travers, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors; volunteer Julie Belanger-Lachance; Bill Whittaker, vice president of Human Resources, GBGH; and volunteer Sue Fraser.April 10, 2018 – The Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Volunteer Association recently presented a cheque for $88,000 to the hospital. The funds will go toward the purchase of GBGH’s new CT scanner, equipment which takes pictures of organs and organ systems inside the body to determine a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan. Expected to be operational in the fall of 2018, the new scanner will replace a 13 year old unit at the end of its lifespan. The new CT will provide better image quality, reduce radiation doses and increase the types of exams offered at GBGH. “The Volunteer Association chose to support the new CT scanner because technology advances so quickly and it’s an important component of GBGH’s Diagnostic Imaging department that must remain current,” says Karen Roberts, president, GBGH Volunteer Association. “Everything we do as volunteers is to ultimately help our patients, so investing in the new CT will mean better, more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments for patients.” The money was raised based on revenue from the Volunteer Association’s two hospital businesses – the Coffee Bar and the Gift shop – as well as proceeds from bake and flower sales, and the clothing drive which raised more than $10,000 for the association in 2017-18. The Volunteer Association also donates annually to the staff education fund – $10,000 in the past year. GBGH volunteers are extremely generous and put a lot of effort into providing the best experience for patients and visitors,” says Carey Moran, Vice-President of the GBGH Foundation. “We are very appreciative of the funds raised this year. Hospital equipment, which typically has a seven to 10 year lifespan, is not funded by the provincial or federal government. We rely on the generosity of our volunteers and other donors in order to ensure our staff has the best tools to provide patients with the best care possible.” The Volunteer Association donation falls just before National Volunteer Week – April 15 to 21, 2018. The hospital is celebrating its 185-person volunteer force, also known as the ‘Blue Jackets’ with an appreciation lunch and inspiring stories of volunteerism throughout the week. The Blue Jackets donate 35,000 hours to the hospital each year – the equivalent of more than $500,000 in wages. “We are so fortunate to have our Blue Jackets and they deserve to be recognized for their efforts this week and throughout the year,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “Our volunteers do so much for this hospital. Whether it’s the friendly face you see when you first walk in our doors, fundraising for equipment like our CT scanner, helping patients at mealtime, serving coffee at our coffee bar or getting patients out of bed and moving, we really couldn’t do what we do without them. They are an integral part of the GBGH team and we couldn’t be more thankful for them and proud of them.” GBGH is in need of more volunteers. To become a volunteer, applications are available at the hospital’s gift shop, coffee bar, Emergency department volunteer desk, switchboard and the main entrance info desk, as well as on the website – http://gbgh.on.ca/join-our-teams/volunteer-association/ -30- Contact: Jennifer Moore Communications Officer, GBGH 705-526-1300 ext 5177 moorejen@gbgh.on.ca... Read more...McHappy Day donations sponsor Children’s Play Area in ED waiting roomMay 5, 2018Thanks to the wonderful teams at McDonalds in Midland, Elmvale and Midland Walmart for their support on McHappy Day! $24,000 was raised on Wednesday, May 2nd, which will be split evenly between Ronald McDonald House Charities and Georgian Bay General Hospital. Earlier this year, the owners of these McDonalds restaurants, Mark & Carol Cruden, made a $50,000 commitment to sponsor a Children’s Play Area in the Emergency Department Waiting Room at Georgian Bay General Hospital. The funds raised from McHappy Day will be used toward this pledge. THANK YOU to the whole team at McDonalds for their incredible commitment!... Read more...New Interim DirectorApril 5, 2018GBGH Foundation welcomes new interim leader April 5, 2018 – Kathy Elsdon-Befort has assumed the role of interim executive director (ED) of Georgian Bay General Hospital’s (GBGH) Foundation. Elsdon-Befort will be in the position until a permanent ED candidate is recruited. Elsdon-Befort has been a friend of GBGH for many years now, as well as a dedicated long-time supporter of many community organizations in the Midland and Penetanguishene area through both her work and volunteerism. Through the operation of her own business over the past 28 years, Elsdon-Befort has provided training and consulting services to business, government, industry and community-based organizations. “With a vast skills set including business management, staffing, human resources, and training and education, she will be an asset in helping our Foundation while the recruitment process takes place,” says David Turner, president, GBGH Foundation Board of Directors. “Kathy is very familiar to our community and we are very thankful for her willingness and generosity to step in as the interim ED until a permanent candidate is found.” The GBGH Foundation will continue the recruitment process this spring. The remainder of the Foundation team – including development associates Shelly Price and Jennifer Russell, and database specialist Catherine Johnson – is also available to assist donors with requests or questions.... Read more...2018 March MUDNESSMarch 29, 2018MARCH MUDNESS RAISES $55,742 FOR NEW CT SCANNER AT GEORGIAN BAY GENERAL HOSPITAL! Organized by The North Simcoe Rotaract Club, March Mudness brought more than 200 runners together to help raise funds for a new CT Scanner at the local hospital. On Saturday March 24th, 2018, Champlain Rotary Wendat Park was transformed into a 3km, 21-obstacle course full of mud, snow, and fun! The event, which was organized by the North Simcoe Rotaract Club, had more than 200 participants registered. Money was raised online and day of, with more than 1,000 donors rallying toward this excellent cause. Proceeds of $55,742 from this event will go directly back to Georgian Bay General Hospital for the purchase of a new CT Scanner. The North Simcoe Rotaract Club thanks all sponsors, participants, donors, and volunteers for their continued support. THANK YOU NORTH SIMCOE ROTARACT for organizing such an incredible event!... Read more...2018 Gail La Chapelle Education GrantsMarch 17, 2018A legacy in Education Each year The Family and Friends of Gail LaChapelle Memorial Fund and Bursary supports lifelong learning through a Nursing Bursary and continuing education program at the hospital. This tribute to Gail provides money for nursing applicants who have demonstrated their commitment to continuing education through improving their skills and certifications. The fund was started in 2007 after the passing of Gail LaChapelle, an Emergency department nurse at GBGH. Gail was a nurse, mother, wife, student and champion of fundraising efforts to support cancer research and treatment. And she was passionate about education – returning to school for her RPN designation when she was 32. She kept on taking courses while working, parenting four children and eventually fighting pancreatic cancer. Just months before losing her battle with cancer in September 2006, Gail proudly achieved her Registered Nurses’ designation. In her memory, her family and friends turned her passion for family, learning and her chosen profession – nursing – into a legacy they have generously shared with the GBGH community. Since the program began in 2007, The Family and Friends of Gail LaChapelle Education Fund has supported approximately 100 nursing staff in their educational pursuits. This year’s fund and bursary has supported nursing staff with $6,000 in funds to be put toward courses ranging from Masters programs, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), emergency nursing pediatric course, advanced wound care, critical care placement, perioperative nursing certificates and RPN to BScN bridging.... Read more...
