Join us for Bid for the Build

bboyce • April 5, 2024

Join us for Bid for the Build

By Briar Boyce

On Saturday, June 1, 2024, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) and six local galleries are hosting a special fundraising auction of curated contemporary and historical fine art to Back the Build for our new County hospital.

 

Bid for the Build: A Fundraising Art Auction will be hosted at Picton’s historic Crystal Palace, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. This will be your opportunity to bid on stunning works by professional artists, including paintings, prints and sculptures.

 

Upon arrival, guests will receive their bidding paddle and enjoy a glass of bubbly provided by Karlo Estates while perusing the silent auction. There will be hors-d’oeuvres and an opportunity to mingle with fellow collectors and art lovers while previewing the items going into the live auction. The Crystal Palace will be decorated with elegant drapery, making you feel like you are at a Sotheby’s Auction.

 

The live auction will be the centrepiece of the evening as these hotly anticipated works of art will be auctioned by our professional auctioneer, Julie Riches from Riches Appraisals & Consult, who will captivate attendees with her entertaining banter and rapid-calling style.

 

The competition will be fierce as guests outbid each other for once-in-a-lifetime art experiences while supporting PECMHF’s Back the Build campaign. Collectors will vie for their chance to bid on an original Charles Pachter painting - just one of the many highlights of the evening.

 

In 2019, the inaugural Bid for the Build art auction netted an astonishing $118,000+ to support the new hospital campaign. The 2024 edition of this exciting fundraising auction aims to exceed that success and have an even greater impact on healthcare services in The County.

 

Funds raised will assist in purchasing a Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner and other critically needed digital diagnostic tools for the new hospital. In 2022 alone, patients from PEC were referred to other regional hospitals for CT Scans over 2,100 times. Access to a CT Scanner in our new hospital is a first for our hospital and community and will revolutionize local healthcare options for our neighbours, friends, and families.

 

We are grateful to the generous collectors and artists who have made amazing and significant contributions. An incredible catalogue of available works will be featured online in early May. At that time, early bids can be cast through an online auction that will run for two weeks before the live event. Visit www.pecmhf.ca/bid-for-the-build for all the details.

 

PECMHF would like to thank our Gallery Sponsors: Oeno Gallery, 2gallery, Maison Depoivre, Mad Dog Gallery, and Hatch Gallery – for their support and commitment to our hospital. Each gallery has worked hard to ensure the art available for auction features affordable and higher-end works so there is something for everyone.

 

The Bid for the Build committee is thrilled to welcome RBC Wealth Management as the gold sponsor of Bid for the Build. RBC, along with silver sponsors, CIBC Private Wealth, and HDR Architecture Associates, will help maximize proceeds for this auction and show how these partnerships can help us realize our dream of building a new hospital in Prince Edward County.

 

We’re looking for engaging and energetic individuals willing to donate their time and effort to ensure a successful event – and to raise much-needed dollars for the PECMH Foundation. We’re looking to fill as many volunteer roles as possible, including event set up and tear down, auction spotters, art installers and wrappers. If you are interested in volunteering on June 1, please email Dana at dcharles@oenogallery.com.

 

Seating is limited to just 300 guests. At $50.00 per person, tickets are selling out quickly. Tickets are available online at www.pecmhf.ca/bid-for-the-build or by calling the foundation at 613-476-1008 ext. 4507. Reservations of 10 or more tickets will receive a 5% discount. 

 

The evening is expected to have good-natured bidding and competition, resulting in a win-win-win for all involved, and we hope to see you there.


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Community Spirit Shines as Bake Off Breaks Fundraising Record PICTON, September 24, 2025 – The sweet smell of success filled the air at the Picton Fair as the 16th annual Bake Off Challenge raised a record-breaking $18,700 for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF). With more than 50 entries and enthusiastic bidding, the community once again proved that a passion for baking can translate into life-changing support for local health care. Proceeds will go toward the purchase of a digital mammography machine, a critical tool for early breast cancer detection. Since 2007, the Prince Edward Agricultural Society, who host the Bake Off has raised over $64,500 for the hospital. This year’s event included a special one-time memorial apple pie category in honour of the late Deputy Fire Chief Jim Young, who was the inaugural Bake Off winner in 2007 with his unforgettable apple pie. A total of 26 apple pies were entered in his honour, raising an incredible $8,250 on their own. Jim’s parents, Colleen and Murray, and daughters, Dahnon and Kendyl, were present to celebrate his legacy. Entries were judged by Ken Menlove, a local lawyer; Jordan Smart with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Auxiliary Unit; Mike Roy, a community member; and Chris Malette, MP for Bay of Quinte. The auction produced plenty of highlights. Firefighter Autumn Benlap’s Caramel Apple Spice Cheesecake topped the apple pie category and sold to Dr. Sarah Waterston, and Elizabeth Lodge’s Lemon Cream Pie, named best overall pie, sold to Herman Prinzen. “The Bake Off is more than a fundraiser — it’s a celebration of community spirit and generosity,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This year’s proceeds will support the purchase of a new digital mammography machine for the new County hospital, and we are so grateful to every baker, bidder, and volunteer who made that possible.” “The Bake Off has become a highlight of the Picton Fair, and it’s inspiring to see how much it has grown,” said Susan Harrington, president of the Picton Fair Board. “The generosity of our community never ceases to amaze us. Thank you to everyone who baked, bid, or volunteered to make this year such a success.” The Agricultural Society also expressed its gratitude to the many individuals and local businesses who made the event possible. “There’s something truly special about seeing friends, neighbours, and businesses come together over pies and cakes to support health care,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson. “This event proves that even the simplest of traditions can make a lasting impact on our community.” The Foundation is proud of its longstanding partnership with the Agricultural Society and looks forward to welcoming everyone back to next year’s Picton Fair. 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. 
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