Rounding up funds for our new hospital

bboyce • January 31, 2025

Rounding Up Funds for our New Hospital

PICTON, January 31, 2025 – A Picton grocery store has again shown what partnership in action looks like by giving residents and visitors a chance to give to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s (PECMHF) Back the Build campaign.

Metro Inc. has proudly announced a donation of $8,656.79 from the cash register round-up promotion held between August 22, 2024, and September 4, 2024. This gift brings the five-year total raised to $74,182.63.

“Metro embodies the spirit of generosity that defines our County,” said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. “This wonderful contribution to our new hospital campaign demonstrates this store’s dedication to our community. Thank you to Metro, Murray Lupenette, and his entire team for working incredibly hard to raise these funds for a fifth year.”

“Metro has been an enthusiastic host for this in-store fundraiser that engages residents and visitors to Prince Edward County,” said Murray Lupenette, store manager at Picton Metro. “As for money raised this summer, I credit the store employees and our generous and loyal customers. Together, they raised the money at the registers, and those contributions will stay with their community. We also want to thank the Picton Firefighters Association for volunteering their time to staff the barbecue again this year.”

“Thank you to Metro for their commitment to community building. This gift will help transform care for our family, friends, neighbours, and visitors to Prince Edward County,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson. “Metro’s leadership is another excellent example of the collaborative effort underway across Prince Edward County to help build our new hospital. We could not achieve this goal without support from the community and corporate partners like Metro.”

PECMHF’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 and to lend your support, visit www.pecmhf.ca/back-the-build.

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Pictured at Picton Metro from left: Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation; Briar Boyce, senior development officer with the PECMH Foundation; Oscar Brugnera, Sr. Director Operations East Division at Metro Inc.; Sally Cowan, Back the Build campaign volunteer; Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign chairperson; Murray Lupenette, Picton Metro store manager; Chris Gillespie, district manager of Metro; Carman Kloet, bookkeeper for Metro and Trevor Smith, Picton Metro assistant store manager.

Debuting Murray’s video

Murray Lupenette lives and works in Prince Edward County. Many may know him from his managerial role at the Metro grocery store in Picton. He and his family have relied on Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) for medical care when they have needed it most.

Knowing you can count on the best possible care from our hospital’s Care Champions – close to home – is priceless.

Murray believes that our hospital is at the heart of our community, and we are proud to share his story of receiving lifesaving care not once but twice.

Here is Murray’s story - https://youtu.be/PrCxtsbvSQY

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Pounder Polar Plunge Raises Funds for Back the Build and Marine Rescue

March 20, 2026

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.