Base31 partners with Quinte Health and PECMH Foundation

August 14, 2025

From left: Base31's Vice President, Marketing & Communications Liz Kohn, Quinte Health Vice President & Chief Nursing Executive Lina Rinaldi, Quinte Health Board Chairperson Lisa O’Toole, Acting CEO and President of Base31 Assaf Weisz, PECMH Foundation Executive Director Shannon Coull, PECMH Foundation Board Chairperson Peggy Payne, Dr. Amber Hayward-Stewart, PECMH Foundation Back the Build Campaign Cabinet Chairperson Nancy Parks.

Base31 partners with Quinte Health and PECMH Foundation

$150,000 Gift-in-Kind Ensures Emergency Air Transport Services Continue During Hospital Construction

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation and Quinte Health are pleased to announce a partnership with Picton’s Base31 that ensures air ambulance services are continuing while construction on the new hospital is underway.

Quinte Health is incredibly fortunate to have a helicopter pad on the PECMH property. This means patients can be moved directly from the hospital into the helicopter instead of first taking a land ambulance to an off-site helipad (which is the case for many hospitals). This saves crucial time in emergencies and frees up ambulances to respond to other urgent needs.

With the construction of the new PECMH underway, the helipad supporting Ornge Air Ambulance has been temporarily relocated to provide a safe landing location for air ambulances.

Base31 has donated the space and built a temporary helipad at the intersection of the two landing strips on the north end of the Picton Airport property. This helipad is fully functional should the need for Ornge services arise. Land ambulances leaving PECMH will meet air ambulances at Base31 to transfer patients to hospitals providing specialized emergency services.

The value of Base31’s gift-in-kind donation to the PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign for constructing the temporary off-site helipad is $150,000.

“Base31’s generous $150,000 in-kind donation of land and construction of a temporary helipad is a remarkable demonstration of local support,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “We are incredibly grateful to the entire Base31 team for stepping up in such a meaningful way to support patient care in our community during this important time.”

The temporary helipad, now fully functional, serves Ornge Air Ambulance and will remain operational throughout the hospital construction period. The new Helipad is expected to be operational at the time of transition to the new building in early 2027 and will be built at the northwest corner of the hospital property near McFarland Drive.

“This partnership is another example of what we can achieve together as a community, working across sectors in support of care close to home. While the new hospital will include a new helipad onsite, in the interim, Base31 has stepped up as a generous and reliable partner,” said Stacey Daub, president and CEO of Quinte Health. “Their support ensures our teams can continue to respond swiftly to life-or-death situations with a helipad nearby, reinforcing the spirit of collaboration that is at the heart of the Prince Edward County community,”

“Base31 is proud to play a role in safeguarding the health and safety of our neighbours during this critical time,” said Assaf Weisz, Acting CEO and President of Base31. “Air transport is essential to ensuring patients receive life-saving care without delay, and we see this partnership as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the community we call home. Working alongside the PECMH Foundation and Quinte Health, we are honoured to help ensure uninterrupted emergency medical services while our new hospital is being built.”

“Base31’s generous gift exemplifies the kind of community leadership that is helping us bring our new hospital to life,” said Nancy Parks, chairperson of the Back the Build campaign. “Our Campaign Cabinet is proud to work alongside local businesses and organizations who support exceptional health care close to home.”

The new hospital will feature expanded services, more patient beds, and state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, allowing Prince Edward County residents to receive high-quality care close to home. For more information on the redevelopment and how to support the campaign, visit www.pecmhf.ca.

The PECMH Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to raising funds to advance health care for the people of Prince Edward County and patients of the hospital.

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Base31 is owned and operated by PEC Community Partners Inc. PEC Community Partners is a group of community builders including CaraCo Group of Companies, DECO Communities, Fieldgate Homes, Paradise Developments, PEC Placemaking, and Rockport Group. The Ontario-based partnership brings together expertise in complete community development, affordable housing and commercial space, mixed-use residential, site servicing and infrastructure, and adaptive re-use of heritage sites with a specific focus on creative placemaking.

For more information on Base31 and to purchase event tickets, visit. www.Base31.ca

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The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation is proud to recognize the generosity of Brandon and Hailey Pounder, co-owners of Pounder’s Pub & Patio, who hosted the first annual Pounder Polar Plunge on February 1. Held at Pounder’s Pub & Patio in Wellington, the event brought together community members, local hockey teams including the Wellington Dukes and County Royals, and spectators for a fun and meaningful day in support of local causes. Close to 40 participants took the plunge with a $20 entry fee, while attendees enjoyed a community BBQ donated by the County Royals. The event raised $1,000 for the PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign and $1,000 for the Wellington Auxiliary Rescue Association (WARA), supporting both the future of healthcare in Prince Edward County and the vital work of WARA’s volunteer-run marine search and rescue team. “We are incredibly grateful to Brandon and Hailey for their creativity, community spirit, and commitment to making a difference,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “Events like the Pounder Polar Plunge not only raise important funds but also build momentum and awareness for local initiatives that matter deeply.” “We started the Polar Plunge to give back to the community we grew up in and bring people together,” said Brandon Pounder, co-owner of Pounder's Pub & Patio. “The support from local teams and residents was incredible, and we’re excited to grow this into an annual event and continue supporting important local causes.” Over the past six years (2020–2025), Quinte Health has recorded 315 emergency department visits related to water incidents at its four hospitals—an average of approximately 53 visits per year across the region. PECMH alone sees an average of 11 such visits annually. “Even one drowning is one too many,” said David McFaul, WARA supervisor. “Water safety is something we can’t take for granted in our region, and it takes awareness, education, and strong community organizations to keep people safe. The Wellington Auxiliary Rescue Association plays a critical role in protecting residents and visitors on our waterways through their dedicated volunteer efforts.” WARA operates as part of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary, responding to emergencies across West Lake and Lake Ontario. With a highly trained, all-volunteer crew, the organization plays a critical role in ensuring safety along approximately 125 kilometres of shoreline and 2,400 square kilometres of water. Its operations rely heavily on community support and fundraising efforts. The PECMH Foundation extends its sincere thanks to Brandon and Hailey of Pounder’s Pub & Patio and everyone who participated in or supported the inaugural Pounder Polar Plunge.