The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation and county residents are celebrating the community’s push for better healthcare.
19/05/2022 – Prince Edward County residents gather at Picton’s Crystal Palace for Back The Build celebration. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
On Thursday a modest crowd at Picton’s Crystal Palace heard updates and exciting news about PECMHF’s Back The Build campaign which aims to support the construction and financing of equipment and services at the new Quinte Health Care Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (QHC PECMH) set to open in 2027.
The campaign’s initial goal of $16.5 million, to be raised by the community, was blown out of the water with the announcement that the campaign has already raised $20,700,000 in pledges and cash to go towards 10% of building costs, furniture, sustainability and development of needed services for the new hospital.
The donations will also help with the instalment of 20 in-patient beds as opposed to the initial 18 beds which had been planned.
At the event, the Dainard family continued to spread the good news with their pledge to donate $1.25 million towards PECMHF, with the first instalment of $250,000 being gifted today (Thursday) at the celebration. This pledge was part of the $20.7 million in total donations announced.
Rick and Debbie Dainard are county residents who have split their time between their home in Toronto and in Prince Edward County over the past 20 years. Despite not always living in the area, Rick Dainard says he feels as though they never left.
“I would say we never really left the county, we’ve been in the city for 20 years or whatever the math is, but we’ve really been county folks all that time and this is where all my ancestors are from and we still have a lot of friends here and a lot of relatives.”
19/05/2022 – Dennis Darby, co-chairperson for Back The Build campaign. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Back The Build campaign co-chairs Dennis Darby and Nancy Parks announced the project is hoping to raise an additional $6 million by 2027 to go towards modern equipment such as CT Scanners, as well as implementing smart technology into the hospital.
Darby says the community’s investment in healthcare will help lead to more growth in the community and ensure that both older and younger generations remain in the area.
“Healthcare is so important as a pivot around which the whole community grows, if you want a dynamic community you need a dynamic healthcare and I think everyone understands that here. In order to have this generation, the next generation and visitors all come to the county and stay in the county, you need a health care hub and the hospital is a great place to remind everybody about where we all come together. So we’re so pleased that the community, given the size of the community, how incredibly generous they are.
19/05/2022 – Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory Chief R. Donald Maracle at the Back The Build campaign event. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory Chief R. Donald Maracle says with health issues such as diabetes being prevalent in Indigenous people, having a new modern facility and services close by is great.
“For the Indigenous community, our people have a high tendency for diabetes and other health complications along with that, so having facilities close to home is very beneficial for our people.”
19/05/2022 – Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson thanks those who have helped the Back The Build campaign. (Photo: Andrew Clarke / Quinte News)
Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson praised all those in the crowd who have helped with project whether it be through donations or volunteering time.
Ferguson announced the project has been approved to move to stage four of five.
The Province of Ontario is investing up to $100 million in the new hospital accounting for around 90% of construction costs.
