Hospital Foundation welcomes campaign manager

The addition of Marthe Robertson in the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation office has completed the trifecta needed to strategize and launch campaigns needed to raise more than $12 million for a new hospital – possibly opening in 2025.

Marthe Robertson

Robertson, as campaign manger, joins executive director Penny Rolinski and communications co-ordinator Briar Boyce in the foundation office at the hospital.

“Marthe’s exciting and challenging responsibilities will include soliciting major gifts and building relationships with donors and people in our community as we work toward building a new hospital in the County,” said Monica Alyea, chairperson of the Foundation.

Over the past 15 years, she has managed fundraising programs with The Royal Winter Fair, Canada Blooms, Sick Kids Hospital Foundation, Save the Children Canada and The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity.

A farm girl from Huron County, Marthe studied agribusiness management, bought a farm and ran a market gardening operation before launching into the restaurant business in Stratford, Ontario.

After eight years in the hospitality industry, she moved to Toronto to study sports and events marketing, which led to the career in fundraising.

She and her husband fell in love with The County in 2013 while on a cycling trip and bought a former B&B in Waupoos. An outdoor enthusiast, Marthe enjoys sailing, kayaking, cycling and stand-up paddling in her spare time.

The hospital’s ‘Stage 1’ proposal is now complete. In January, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care approved the pre-capital submission, giving the green light to move to Stage 1. The 500-page document focused on the future of the hospital, including the site and details of services.

The proposal includes the recommendation that the new hospital be built on the existing site, with the current hospital remaining fully functional while the new hospital is being built. The proposal has been approved by the QHC Board of Directors and is to be reviewed next by the province’s ministry of health.

Four stages remain. Stage 2 involves review and approval of functional program design and development and could take a year to complete. The hospital’s base cost is estimated at $65 million

Robertson can be reached in the PECMH Foundation office or by e-mailing marthe@pecmhf.ca or mrobertson@qhc.on.ca . Her phone extension will be set up shortly.