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.