Hospital grateful for council support to fulfil $4.5 million pledge

Council members are pictured at Shire Hall presenting the final installment of $2,072,000 toward the municipality’s $4.5 million pledge for the new hospital, to Stacey Daub, president and CEO of Quinte Health; Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson; (with Mayor Steve Ferguson), Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. and Briar Boyce, Senior Development Officer.

Council members past and present were thanked for their decisions to back the build of a new hospital for Prince Edward County.

With construction now underway, council this week heard an update on the $153.8 million project from Shannon Coull, executive director for the hospital foundation, and Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chair.

The update included news the campaign has raised $23 million of the necessary $30 million contribution from the community.

Council received the presentation and thanked volunteers and staff members representing the foundation by presenting $2,072,000 – the final installment of the municipality’s $4.5-million-dollar pledge to the campaign.

“The County of Prince Edward, for many years, has demonstrated unwavering support for a new hospital in our community,” said Mayor Steve Ferguson. “A new hospital will benefit all residents by ensuring the highly qualified doctors and other medical professionals can continue to deliver quality health care in a modern, leading-edge facility. Today, we are thrilled to complete this commitment of the municipality’s $4.5 million pledge to the Back the Build campaign.”

The previous council, in 2018, approved the PECMH Foundation’s request for $4.5 million toward the redevelopment campaign. The investment marks the largest pledge ever received by the PECMH Foundation. The municipality’s support is a significant milestone for the foundation as it continues to raise funds for the largest campaign in its 39-year history.

“We are so proud of our partnership with the County of Prince Edward. The investment from Prince Edward County Council is an important commitment to local health care and is certainly transformative for our campaign,” said Coull.

This pledge installment from the municipality is included in the $23 million the foundation has raised toward its $30-million-dollar goal. The foundation must raise roughly 10 per cent of construction costs and 100 per cent of the cost for equipment and furnishings, as well as running its annual campaigns to replace outdated equipment.

“We are extremely grateful for former Mayor Quaiff, (also in attendance at the meeting with past councillors Monica Alyea and John Thompson), Mayor Ferguson and councils’ support as we work to modernize and enhance health care services to ensure people living in and visiting our community continue to have access to care close to home,” said Parks. “The municipality’s investment in our hospital and community is demonstrated again through their decision to make this very generous commitment.”

Stacey Daub, president and CEO of Quinte Health, was also in attendance and noted “We are incredibly grateful for the financial support and steadfast commitment of Mayor Ferguson, the Prince Edward County council, and this remarkable community.

“Their belief in this project has laid the foundation for innovation in rural healthcare, demonstrating that small communities can create state-of-the-art facilities as we embark on the first all-mass timber hospital in North America. This collaboration is not just about building a new hospital but about fostering partnerships that will continue to strengthen the health and well-being of our community for generations to come.”

The design of the new hospital is to be the first of its kind in North America with a focus on sustainability. Coull noted to council that usually, hospitals are some of the worst buildings from an energy use standpoint.

Plans include the mass timber frame made of treated wood, instead of traditional concrete and steel. The timber is net carbon negative and is designed to reduce the overall impact of construction on the environment. Further initiatives include geothermal energy systems, solar panels, a green roof, low-impact storm water and net zero carbon ready.

People interested in finding out more about the hospital, or with interest in donating, can do so by visiting www.pecmhf.ca Cheques can also be mailed to PECMH Foundation, 403 Main Street, Picton, ON K0K 2T0, and those with further inquiries may direct them to 613-476-1008 ext. 4507.