Community helps raise $3.27M for Prince Edward County’s hospital

In a celebration of a successful year of fundraising, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) thanked the community for helping to raise more than $3.27 million toward medical equipment, and the new hospital.

Barbara McConnell, foundation chairperson thanked the community for its continued generous support, during the group’s recent annual general meeting.

“Year in and year out, we raise money to purchase medical equipment for our County hospital and to support regional healthcare, and that is vitally important work. It ensures our hospital medical and technical staff continue to have the equipment they need to treat us, their patients, with the excellent care we appreciate so much.

“As we know, the foundation is raising money for our new hospital. That’s an even bigger job with a new target of $27 million. Just over $20 million has been raised in cash and pledges with $7 million left to raise.

“That is a great achievement, one that this entire community can be proud of. Now that we are in the qualifying contractors’ stage of the process, the expectation is that we will open the doors of our new hospital late in 2027,” McConnell told the group.

Board treasurer David Griffith, reinforced the significant role PECMHF plays in raising money each year for medical equipment for the County’s hospital, and the greater Quinte region.

“In the last fiscal year (ending March 31), PECMHF transferred more than $1,090,240 to Quinte Health to fulfill our responsibility to raise funds to pay for medical equipment,” he reported.

These donations equipped PECMH’s reprocessing department with new sterilization equipment. An electrocardiogram (ECG) and blood analyzer were purchased for the emergency department. The x-ray machine, which benefits almost 8,000 patients annually, was purchased, along with a borescope which cleans and disinfects gastroscopes and colonoscopes. New bariatric stretchers and smart beds were added to the fleet and the foundation contributed instalments toward both the Intensive Care Unit located at Belleville General Hospital and the Regional Health Information System (RHIS) project, which will increase efficiency in making medical records more accessible to health care professionals serving patients.

Griffith noted that in addition, the Back the Build campaign received $2.5 million in donations.

“The donations to our medical equipment fund and our Back the Build fund put us firmly on our path to raising the money we need to support our two important missions,” Griffith said. “We are very grateful for our donor support.”

In her presentation, McConnell noted her participation on the volunteer board, first as a director, and now embarking on her fifth term as chairperson, has been deeply rewarding.

“I see the foundation’s mission to raise money to support quality healthcare for everyone in the County as one of the most critical services available in this community. I am very proud of the foundation board of directors, the campaign cabinet and the staff for their commitment to advancing our efforts and reaching our goals.

“This volunteer board and our capable staff are deserving of our gratitude and appreciation for all they do to help make sure our health care team is supported and has the equipment and facilities needed to do their job well. Their dedication to keeping our County hospital strong is unsurpassed,” McConnell said.

The foundation board currently consists of 17 directors, including McConnell; Monica Alyea of Milford; Mohamed Khimji of Ameliasburgh; David Griffith of Lake on the Mountain; Dennis Darby of Cressy; Ken Menlove of South Bay; Doug Taylor of Wellington; Wendy Reid of Waupoos; and Leo Finnegan, Sherry Tait, Sandra Foreman, Steve Geist, Ann Galvin, Andy Janikowski, and Cliff Rice, all of Picton.

The foundation bid farewell to retiring director Pat Evans, of Picton. In turn, the organization welcomed two new members: Peggy Payne and Susan Quaiff of Picton. Payne, who recently completed her term with the Quinte Health Board of Directors is stepping into the role of vice-chairperson and Quaiff is joining as the PECMH Auxiliary (PECMHA) representative as part of her role as president of that organization.

McConnell emphasized the future success of the foundation’s work will result from continued collaboration with community partners, in addition to support from donors across the region and beyond. She expressed gratitude to the foundation staff, Shannon Coull, Briar Boyce, Sue Vincent, and Abi Sampson for their dedication and hard work.

The foundation’s audited financial statements are available online at https://www.pecmhf.ca/our-accountability.

To make a donation, or for more information, contact the foundation at 613-476-1008 ext. 4507, or visit the website at www.pecmhf.ca.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s volunteer board members, from left, standing at back, are: Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMHF; Mohamed Khimji; Steve Geist; Ann Galvin; Sherry Tait; Ken Menlove; Wendy Reid; Doug Taylor; Dennis Darby; David Griffith, treasurer; and Monica Alyea. Seated at front, from left, are: Susan Quaiff, PECMH Auxiliary representative; Dr. Cliff Rice; Barbara McConnell, PECMHF chairperson; Leo Finnegan; and Peggy Payne, vice chairperson. Missing from the photo are Sandra Foreman and Andrew Janikowski. Sue Vincent photo