November 5, 2021

I'll understand if you don't notice.

I have a new mug shot complete with long COVID hair. It's “contemporary.” A statement of the times. But the thing I like most about this shot, taken by Daniel Vaughan, is that I am smiling. Smiling! And there is a big reason for that. In fact, a “million” reasons!

Way back in 2014, Paul Huras CEO of the Southeast LHIN at the time, had encouraged Leo Finnegan, Chairperson of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation to start making noise again about the need for a new hospital in Prince Edward County. Quinte Health Care (QHC) were fully on board. So what would it take to convince the Province to put us on their list? Why were they holding back?

The agreement on building a new hospital in Ontario is that the affected community must put up 10 per cent of the cost of the build. The Province wasn’t sure a little community of 12,000 households with a very limited industrial base could do that. They knew that as a Foundation and community we already must meet the agreed upon annual expenditures for needed new equipment at QHC PECMH and share in some of the costs on a proportional basis for non-duplicated equipment elsewhere in the system used to serve County residents. That has meant fundraising for about $400,000 annually over the last 10 years. And they knew that there were numerous other non- profits in The County vying for donor dollars at the same time.

So could Prince Edward County deliver?

“Lion-hearted Leo” took on the self-imposed task of finding some money. Enough money that the Province would be impressed.

Be influenced.

Change their darn minds.

And he did. And they did!

One of the first contributors was the PECM Hospital Auxiliary. It's an organization that has been serving the hospital and our broader community for 87 years. Their beginnings were in making pillowcases. Over the years they have contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars for healthcare equipment and scholarships. Sue Law, an Auxiliary Past President and Foundation member at the time of Leo's search, set the request before the Auxiliary board members who took it to their broader membership. The request was for $1M dollars. And they agreed.

Late September the Auxiliary, on the site of the new hospital, presented their final installment on the $1M pledge. That's the day my smiley shot was taken! During nearly two years of COVID with the coffee shop closed and the Second Time Around Shop running intermittently and Festival of Trees moved to online, they pulled out all the stops to fulfil their commitment.

On October 17, I attended the Auxiliary AGM and luncheon. For many of us, I expect, it was our first large social gathering in a very long time. Masks on, masks off, masks on, vaccine certificates and identification. I was able to slip into the last seat at the back of the room and closest to the door because I didn't know if I was quite there yet – the comfort threshold for being with this many folks. But I stayed for the whole thing. The energy and joyfulness were contagious – as was the pride. They did it!

Just so you know...

The Auxiliary - with its demonstrated history of always being there for our County hospital and its $1M pledge – are a significant reason we are getting our new hospital.

Do support their fundraising efforts and consider becoming a volunteer. Contact: 613-476-1008 ext. 4427 or pecmvol@qhc.on.ca.