Lehigh Cements Commitment to New Hospital Campaign

Website Editor • September 24, 2020

PICTON, September 23, 2020

A local company who cares about their employees and the communities where they live are cementing that commitment with a healthy donation.

For more than a century, Lehigh Hanson has been supplying cement, aggregates, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt and other building materials throughout North America. Today, the company announced a $25,000 pledge to help the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation raise funds to build a new hospital in Prince Edward County.

Dedicated to the communities where they work and live, representatives from Lehigh Hanson felt very strongly about supporting the hard work and dedication of Prince Edward County’s health care workers and wanted to express gratitude with this pledge to the hospital’s much-needed redevelopment project.

“We make careful decisions about our charitable giving and giving back to the communities in which we operate is essential to Lehigh. To support the construction of a new hospital, here, in Prince Edward County, was the right decision to make,” said Melissa Eaton, on behalf of Lehigh.

“It is clear that this new hospital is a vital project and is one that is important to our employees and their families. Together, our efforts will continue to build sustainable products, and resilient strong communities. We are proud to play a part in the delivery of excellent health care in the County for decades to come,” said Carsten Schraeder. Eaton and Schraeder are members of the Lehigh plant management team.

Lehigh Hanson, formerly ESSROC Cement, have been donors to the PECMH Foundation for over 22 years. Having a well-equipped hospital, close to their plant is important to Lehigh. Their past support helped PECMHF acquire the digital mammography machine and build the dialysis clinic, among other projects.

“We are incredibly thankful to have such a generous organization within our community,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “The cement plant has been part of the landscape of Prince Edward County for decades and in that time, established themselves as community partners who provide generous support for many local charities, including PECMHF. We are very grateful for Lehigh’s commitment to advance health care for the people of Prince Edward County and beyond with this donation to help us build our new hospital.”

“Through this gift, Lehigh is reaching all of its neighbours throughout the County and is showing our communities how much they care,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chair. “What this gift translates into for the health of the people and the families across Prince Edward County is invaluable.”

With state-of-the-art design and infrastructure, Quinte Health Care’s new hospital in Prince Edward County will offer the same services as today but in a space that meets today’s standards for care. The emergency department will be equipped with the latest technology and staffed with our skilled and dedicated health care professionals. Inside its walls will be a suite of clinics to provide, among other medical services, endoscopy and dialysis treatment. And it will have 18 inpatient rooms that will be larger, each equipped with its own private washroom. Based on current projected timelines, the new hospital construction will be completed in 2025. The PECMH Foundation is commissioned with raising the local share portion of the build, which works out to be $16.5M.

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.

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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.