Construction on the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital has started after more than a decade of planning. The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) is celebrating shovels going into the ground and the last phase of the Back the Build fundraising campaign.

On Tuesday, October 1, PECMHF welcomes everyone to a free community celebration at Base31’s Drill Hall. The family-friendly event will begin at 4:00 p.m. and include music by Pushbroom Tycoons, face painting, and incredible food from the Base31 Commissary. Remarks, including a project update from the project planning team, will begin at 5:15 p.m.

“County residents and businesses have been planning, wishing, and waiting for this hospital for over 10 years. I am thrilled that we have officially broken ground on this exciting new chapter,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson. “The Back the Build Campaign Cabinet volunteers, and I hope everyone will consider joining us at Base31. Sharing this milestone and journey with our community is so important and goes far beyond those soon-to-be-built walls.”

PECMHF is immensely grateful for the overwhelming support for the Back the Build campaign, with over $23M in pledges and outright gifts committed. These generous contributions demonstrate the unwavering belief in the future of healthcare in Prince Edward County and serve as a testament to the passion people have for their local hospital.

“This leading-edge hospital will raise the bar in healthcare in our region for generations of families, allowing residents and visitors to continue to receive the care they need close to home,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This event will be an opportunity to learn about the equipment that will attract the brightest and best medical professionals to our new hospital and the environmental sustainability enhancements planned for the new hospital.”

The hard work, planning, fundraising, and dedication of the project partners and PECMHF’s donors' generosity make this dream a reality, and the foundation wants to acknowledge how far we’ve come by celebrating this next phase with everyone on October 1.

“We are hosting this celebration with Quinte Health to extend gratitude to every individual and organization that has embraced our campaign and those who will join us for the final phase. We want to celebrate with everyone the power of collective impact and the change it can bring,” said Coull. “The community has proven time and time again that when we work together, we can achieve anything. We are grateful to work and live in a community full of tremendous supporters, shaping a legacy of care that will uplift our community and be remembered for years. Bring your family and friends and join us!”

RSVPs are appreciated at www.pecm-hospital-celebration-event-tickets.eventbrite.ca, by calling 613-476-1008 ext. 4507, or by emailing info@pecmhf.ca by Friday, September 20, 2024. All are welcome.

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital 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.