Pre-schoolers become builders for a day at hospital construction site

Story and photos by Sharon Harrison
“Every morning, the hospital construction workers run their hands along the fence when the children arrive, greeting them with high fives,” shared Shannon Coull, executive director of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF). “It was that quiet, but joyful attention, that sense of ownership from across the fence that inspired a unique moment of connection.”

For the children, families and staff at the HUB Child and Family Centre on McFarland Court in Picton, an interesting outlook has been developing in recent weeks providing a unique opportunity to watch the new hospital build unfold day-by-day.

The HUB, tucked in just behind the hospital, has a bird’s eye view of all the fascinating happenings and goings-on as far as construction of the new hospital is concerned.

“Every morning at the HUB, the sound of boots crunching gravel and the steady rhythm of machinery are more than just background noise, they’re the soundtrack to something exciting, unfolding just next door.”

Progress has been speedy when it comes to building the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (right behind the existing hospital), the hot and dry summer weather a boon to progress which is ahead of schedule. Once the site was cleared and prepped, things began to change rapidly with gigantic pieces of metal appearing to sprout from the ground soaring skyward. Next came all the wood, masses of wooden beams installed, quickly transforming the site as the build construction progresses and begins to take shape.

Located mere feet from the fenced construction site sits the HUB where the many children attending daycare have a daily front row seat to this massive build, pure wonderment for the little ones who get to stare up in awe of the giant moving crane, a variety of construction equipment, experiencing all the different sights and sounds and noises one would expect from a high-activity building site.

Wednesday morning saw the build progress in a unique direction when 16 three-year-olds got to experience first-hand what it is like to be a construction worker, donning little brightly-coloured hard hats and little safety vests to match, as well as using tiny shovels and rakes to dig holes (all supplied by construction firm Sullivan), the way real construction workers do.

It was a day filled with purpose, someone noted. But it was also a day to celebrate the children’s curiosity, producing some big smiles and much excitement in this change of daily routine for the little children.

“Really, at the end of the day, the story is about the interaction between the children and the build itself, and the people who are actually boots on the ground doing the hard work,” said Coull. “So, the relationship that has evolved between the children and the construction workers is quite inspiring.”

The little builders played a new custom I-Spy construction game where they were encouraged to identify objects on the board to see if they could find them on the construction site, such as hard hats, a cement truck or a pylon, in the interactive and fun adventure.

But the fun didn’t end there as a real back hoe was driven into the parking lot by one of the construction crew where the children could touch the big piece of equipment, but also climb up inside to sit in the driver’s seat.

Hosted by the Prince Edward County Memorial Foundation, and specifically its executive director Shannon Coull, the delightful occasion, heartwarming in so many ways, also brought Nancy Parks (Back the Build campaign chair), along with representation from Quinte Health with Lina Rinaldi (vice-president and chief nursing executive), Lisa O’Toole (board chairperson), Nicole Corcoran (communications specialist) and capital projects team staff members, Chris Sztuke, Lisa Mowbray and Chad Cranley.

Representing the construction team, M. Sullivan and Son Ltd., was vice-president Andre Roy, and Amanda Valiquette. As well, HUB staff Stacey Stanford (executive director) and Margie McConnell (Picton Centre Manager) were present.

Coull acknowledged how the HUB have felt the impact of the build more than anybody.

“The parents, when they drop off their children, they are going through a construction site, they have been so patient and really positive about the whole thing.“

With Roy leading his young team of new recruits, he asked the children what they were most excited about. “The crane!” came one little boy’s answer, “and it’s moving now”, he added. Another asked, “How do I get all the way up there?” pointing to the very top of the crane.

The children were asked what the hospital means to them, and how important it is, and what they would like to see in it when it’s built, and then they were asked, “Who wants to be a construction worker when they grow up?”, as many hands were raised.

One child summed up the occasion simply by saying, “It’s my new hospital”.

“We are building this for the next generation and you are the next generation for the new hospital, and one day, you are going to be driving by here and saying, “I saw that hospital being built”, said Rinaldi.

Explaining how the idea for the celebration came about, Coull said it all began in a grocery store when a HUB staff member shared with her how much the children were enjoying watching the hospital being built, and those high fives they were greeted with though the fence every morning by some of the construction workers.

“That stayed with me,” shared Coull, “It reminded me that this hospital is about people, and even our youngest community members are paying attention. We wanted to honour the joy and wonder these children have brought to our project. And we wanted them to know that their excitement means something.”

Coull had the opportunity to share with the trades people working on the hospital build how the children had shared with her how they were so excited to see them all out there working and they really appreciated getting the high fives every morning.

“It was amazing to see the electricians and the plumbers and the pipe layers, and their eyes lit up, and they didn’t realize that the work they do actually impacts people on a personal and emotional level,” she shared. “And they are inspiring our future generations, so we really are not just building a new hospital, we are building a community.“

From their window-side view, the children at the HUB have been watching more than a building go up.

“They’ve been witnessing their community come together. And while the hospital won’t open its doors for some time [hopefully 2027], it’s already left an imprint, not only on the landscape, but on the imaginations of the youngest neighbours next door.”

The day was most definitely all about the kids, although the grown-ups clearly enjoyed it too, and it was not only a day of wonderment for many, heartwarming too on many levels, the joyful occasion most importantly brought hope.

“Our community loves our hospital and it is the heart of our County, the building, and people are now recognizing it is a beacon of hope, and the children represent that message too,” expressed Coull. “It inspires hope, to see children so happy, it’s very heartwarming, and it’s so important to be spreading good news right now.”