Hustle and Heart for Their Local Hospital is What Sets This Hockey Club Apart

Website Editor • October 21, 2021

PICTON, October 21, 2021

The Picton Pirates Junior Hockey Club have skated forward with an in-kind donation for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation to help Back the Build for a new hospital.

 

Committed to assisting the goals of the foundation, the Picton Pirates gifted the PECMH Foundation with space on-ice to showcase their Back the Build logo for the 2021/22 season.

 

Over the summer, the Picton Pirates set out to secure sponsors for the upcoming season through selling local businesses advertisement space on the rink boards, hanging banners and new this year –  logo placement on the ice surface.

 

The Picton Pirates believe that a strong community makes the hospital greater, and a great hospital makes a community stronger. With this in mind, Dr. Cliff Rice, secretary for the Picton Pirates Hockey Club and director on the PECMHF Board put forth an idea for the Pirates to consider – offering the PECMH Foundation an in-kind donation of the logo placement on the ice surface to help raise awareness for the Back the Build campaign. The committee unanimously agreed to place the logo on the ice as a way to show their support for the building of The County’s new hospital.

 

“We are grateful to the Picton Pirates Hockey Club for helping to keep our Back the Build campaign top of mind in our community,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “We’re blessed to have a great hospital here. But we’re also blessed to have a diverse population that supports it, including the Picton Pirates Hockey Club. For anyone who wants to be involved in this exciting project, there is a role for you to play.”

 

With a shift in management and the threat of the possibility of the team being picked up by an outside group and possibly moved, a local group stepped up to take over the team. 

 

The new board consisting of Ron Norton (who started the team originally in 1991), Mike Millington, Adam Smith, Chris Rice and Cliff Rice, along with General Manager Jason Parks, stepped up to keep the team going in Picton.

 

Having less than three months to get ready for the new season, Parks set out to get a team together and the management sought out sponsors for this year. The Picton Pirates are a not-for-profit community corporation that relies almost entirely on sponsors and fundraising to finance the team. 

 

As one of the Pirates’ supporters says, “It’s all about community.”

 

When Cliff Rice proposed putting the PECMHF’s I Love the County, I Back the Build logo in the ice as an in-kind donation, the response was swift, enthusiastic, and unanimous.

 

“As many others in our community have, my family, friends and colleagues have benefitted from the care provided at our County hospital. It’s an important cause as it is here for everyone in our community. The Picton Pirates Hockey Club are proud to give back to our hospital through this in-kind donation,” said Cliff Rice.

 

The Picton Pirates Board encourages the community to come out and support the Picton Pirates this season. Game time is 7:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings at the Huff Arena located at the Prince Edward Community Centre in Picton.

 

The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization whose mission is to raise money to advance health care for the patients of the hospital and the people of Prince Edward County.

PECMH Foundation Celebrates Record-breaking Fundraising Year
By Tanya Moore July 4, 2025
PECMH Foundation Celebrates Record-breaking Fundraising Year - The PECMH Foundation reported that the community stepped forward to help raise over $6.2 million in the 2024/25 fiscal year ending on March 31.
Mass Timber Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital
By Tanya Moore July 2, 2025
Mass Timber Construction Takes Centre Stage in New Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Build
Monica Alyea Receives the 2025 Leo Finnegan Distinguished Service Award
By Tanya Moore June 27, 2025
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation is proud to announce Monica Alyea as the 2025 recipient of the Leo Finnegan Distinguished Service Award (LFDSA). PECMH Foundation former Board Member Leo Finnegan, and Executive Director Shannon Coull, presented this year’s award.
RE/MAX GOLF CLASSIC PECMH FOUNDATION
By Tanya Moore June 25, 2025
A decade of commitment to advancing local healthcare was celebrated in full swing on June 10, as the 10th Annual Teeing Up Fore Health Care Golf Classic raised a record-breaking $68,600 in support of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation. The sold-out tournament welcomed 24 teams and 96 golfers to the Picton Golf and Country Club. This year’s proceeds will support the purchase of a new digital mammography machine, a vital diagnostic tool for early breast cancer detection at the new County hospital. The current mammography unit, in use for over 12 years, is nearing end-of-life, and the cost of replacement is estimated at just under $1 million . "Marking 10 years of community support with a record-setting total is an extraordinary milestone," said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMHF. "This event continues to demonstrate how deeply committed this community is to ensuring exceptional healthcare remains close to home." The winning foursome was Wilkinson & Company LLP Chartered Accountants , with Jeff Snider, Richard Dainard, Craig Closson, and Terry Greer , finishing 10 under par. “This tournament is more than a day of golf,” said Sean McKinney, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quinte Ltd. “It’s a chance for the business community to step up and give themselves an opportunity to make a lasting impact on local healthcare.” Special thanks are extended to Wilkinson & Company Chartered Accountants and Tax Specialists who came in again as the title sponsor for the tournament for the 10th consecutive year in a row. This day would not be possible without the incredible support from our corporate sponsors: Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co., DLC National - The Gulliver Team (Terri Gulliver), Euro Tile & Stone, HDR Architecture Associates, Herb & Kathy Pliwischkies, Kingsford Management, M. Sullivan & Son Limited, Market High Advertising, Monument Geomatics and Estimating, Parkside Landscaping and Contracting, Port Picton Homes, Scotiabank, Taste of Country, Wellings of Picton, and Boats and Holes. "Seeing this community come together to raise a record-breaking total on the tournament’s 10th anniversary is both humbling and inspiring,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build Campaign Cabinet Chairperson. “Each dollar raised is a step closer to bringing the best diagnostic tools to our new hospital, and I couldn’t be prouder of the generosity and spirit that define Prince Edward County." Additional thanks go to all who donated prizes, sponsored holes, provided swag, volunteered, golfed, or participated in the silent and live auctions. Every contribution directly supports better equipment and care at PECMH. One auction item at this year’s tournament exemplified the extraordinary generosity of our community. A stunning BBQ package, donated by Picton Home Hardware and Steve VanDusen, valued initially at $2,200, became a powerful fundraising moment when multiple bidders donated their winning bids and returned the BBQ to be re-auctioned. The prize pack also included a deluxe grill set, a 12-pack of craft beer from Prince Eddy’s, and a bottle of Argentinian Malbec, courtesy of Herb and Kathy Pliwischkies, and $150 worth of premium steaks from Ralph’s Meat Market — donated by the Pliwischkies sisters: Kristen, Lauren, and Kara. Thanks to this incredible spirit of giving, the item raised over $19,000 of the $68,600. Sincere thanks to all our donors, bidders, and partners who made this possible, including Josh Doxtator, Hotch Earl, Herb and Kathy Pliwischkies, Nancy Cleave, and Steve VanDusen. Their generosity continues to fuel our mission. PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign is raising $30M to help build and equip a new hospital to serve residents and visitors in Prince Edward County. For more information about upcoming events or to lend your support, please contact Cait Lavoie at 70clavoie@quintehealth.ca or visit our website at www.pecmhf.ca .
By Tanya Moore June 9, 2025
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation is thrilled to announce a remarkable $50,000 sponsorship commitment from Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. , naming them as the Presenting Sponsor for the upcoming series of 40th Anniversary fundraising events in 2025. This generous contribution underscores Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.’s deep-rooted commitment to enhancing healthcare in our community and supports a critical priority — the purchase of a new state-of-the-art mammography machine for the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. This investment will ensure faster, more accurate diagnostic care and timely breast screening for residents across the County. "As we mark 40 years of impact, we’re not only reflecting on how far we’ve come, but also envisioning a healthier future for everyone in Prince Edward County," said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. "Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.’s ongoing leadership and generosity are helping make that vision a reality.” Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.’s $50,000 sponsorship includes support for four cornerstone events in PECMH Foundation’s celebratory calendar: RE/MAX Teeing-Up Fore Health Care Golf Classic (June 10, 2025 – Picton Golf and Country Club) An Evening with David Frum and Karen Valihora (July 24, 2025 – The Regent Theatre) Fall Golf Tournament at Wellington on the Lake (Date TBC) 40th Anniversary Celebration Their sponsorship builds on a powerful legacy of giving, including their transformational $1.5 million gift to Back the Build , which will name the Diagnostic Imaging Department in the new hospital. This latest commitment continues their leadership role in shaping the future of local health care. “Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.’s leadership as Presenting Sponsor of our 40th Anniversary events not only honours our past, but boldly invests in our future,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build Campaign Cabinet chairperson. “Their ongoing support is a powerful reminder that when we come together with purpose, we can build something truly transformative — a hospital that will serve generations of residents and families in Prince Edward County." “We believe in giving back to the communities we serve, and supporting healthcare is one of the most meaningful ways we can do that,” said Jeff Howell, president of Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. “The new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be a cornerstone of this community for generations to come. We are proud to stand behind this exciting milestone and to help equip the future hospital with the technology and tools our neighbours deserve.” At PECMH Foundation, we are proud to be a strong voice and champion for exceptional healthcare for the patients of our hospital and the people of Prince Edward County and beyond. Giving to our Foundation is an investment in the health of our community. With the support of dedicated partners like Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co., we can ensure the hospital has the tools, technology, and resources to provide the care our residents and patients deserve — now and into the future. PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign is raising $30M to help build and equip a new hospital to serve residents and visitors in Prince Edward County. For more information about upcoming events or to lend your support, please contact Cait Lavoie at 70clavoie@quintehealth.ca or visit our website at www.pecmhf.ca .
Paul B. Helliwell Foundation Prince Edward County
By bboyce May 29, 2025
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) is proud to announce the successful completion of its CT Scanner Campaign, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the community and a transformational matching gift from the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation.
Rotary Club of Picton
May 6, 2025
The Rotary Club of Picton has once again demonstrated its continued commitment to local healthcare with a $5,000 donation to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation.
R. John Garside  Volunteering
April 28, 2025
It’s National Volunteer Week, and this week we are celebrating our behind-the-scenes Champions at the PECMH Foundation!
Third Annual Curl-A-Thon
By bboyce March 27, 2025
Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation were rocked this week, when the Prince Edward Curling Club members presented $45,363.00
The County Guys pose with Cody-Rae Fowler, this year's bursary recipient.
March 7, 2025
In a special presentation, The County Guys Real Estate Group and Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation presented a $2,500 bursary to Cody-Rae Fowler, a Cherry Valley resident who works as a Registered Practical Nurse in the Inpatient Unit as well as the Emergency and Endoscopy Departments at PECMH. Fowler is set to begin her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) at Loyalist College while continuing her work at our County hospital.
Show More