Lehigh Hanson cements commitment to new hospital campaign

Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation; Robin Fair, Lehigh’s electrical supervisor; Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chair; Melissa Eaton, Lehigh’s quality manager; Jim Dunlop, Back the Build campaign cabinet member; Jason Bosley, president of the Boilermakers Union, Carsten Schraeder, Lehigh’s plant manager and Darcy Jeffery, Lehigh’s purchasing manager. Briar Boyce photo

A local company has cemented its commitment to a healthy community with a $25,000 pledge to help build the County’s new hospital.

For more than a century, Lehigh Hanson has been supplying cement, aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and other building materials throughout North America.

Noting dedicated to the communities where they work and live, representatives from Lehigh Hanson said they felt strongly about supporting the hard work and dedication of Prince Edward County’s health care workers and wanted to express gratitude with the pledge to the redevelopment project.

“We make careful decisions about our charitable giving, and giving back to the communities in which we operate is essential to Lehigh Hanson,” said Melissa Eaton, on behalf of the company. “To support the construction of a new hospital, here, in Prince Edward County, was the right decision to make.”

Carsten Schraeder, another member of the management team, said it is clear the new hospital is a vital project and is one that is important to employees and their families.

“Together, our efforts will continue to build sustainable products, and resilient strong communities. We are proud to play a part in the delivery of excellent health care in the County for decades to come,” said Schraeder.

Lehigh Hanson, formerly ESSROC Cement, has been a donor to the PECMH Foundation for more than 22 years. Past support helped PECMHF acquire its digital mammography machine and build the dialysis clinic, among other projects.

“We are incredibly thankful to have such a generous organization within our community,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “The cement plant has been part of the landscape of Prince Edward County for decades and in that time, established themselves as community partners who provide generous support for many local charities, including PECMHF. We are very grateful.”

“Through this gift, Lehigh is reaching all of its neighbours throughout the County and is showing our communities how much they care,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chair. “What this gift translates into for the health of the people and the families across Prince Edward County is invaluable.”

Based on current projected timelines, the new hospital construction will be completed in 2025. The PECMH Foundation is commissioned with raising the local share portion of the build, which works out to be $16.5M.

With state-of-the-art design and infrastructure, the new hospital will offer the same services but in a space that meets today’s standards for care. The emergency department is to be equipped with the latest technology among a suite of clinics to provide, among other medical services, endoscopy and dialysis treatment. And it will have 18 inpatient rooms that will be larger, each equipped with a private washroom.