Items filtered by date: September 2023

A sold-out Fashion Show held at the eQuinelle Golf Club, Kemptville on September 29, 2023 to benefit the Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) Foundation CT Scanner Campaign, was an outstanding success. The evening event raised $20,072.

Event Co-ordinators were Yvonne Latta and Cheryll Meredith, both eQuinelle Resident Club members and staff from Jac’s Boutique, Kemptville. When asked why she wanted to support the CT Scanner fundraising, Latta responded, “We are so fortunate to have this amazing hospital in our community. It just seemed like the only smart thing to do was to help KDH reach the goal of having our own CT Scanner. I have personally had to go elsewhere for one and it sure would be nice to have it right here in town.”

The KDH Foundation must raise $2.2 million for the CT Scanner. It will bring faster and better patient care closer to home. Presently, KDH patients must travel to an Ottawa hospital for a CT Scan which adds time, effort and discomfort, especially in an urgent situation.

Along with Jacqueline Taylor and Lyndsay Taylor of Jac’s Boutique, Latta and Meredith recruited 25 local friends, neighbours and clients to model clothing from Jac’s and shoes from Tanda Shoes.

The models were photographed by the eQuinelle Photography Club as they roamed the room and moved between the 20 tables draped with gold table runners, colourful leaves and mini lights. They charmed the guests with a diverse collection of clothing in autumn colour palettes featuring cinnamon, nutmeg, cream, green and pumpkin. Room décor was provided by Kathy Ranger and Sandy Richmond.

Organized by Rick Milks, General Manager of the eQuinelle Golf Club, guests enjoyed special “Barbie” pink cocktails / mocktails and delicious desserts, presented on tiered cake plates at each table.

Community-minded donors contributed some 60 auction items, ranging from gift certificates to local restaurants to an overnight stay with breakfast at The Westin, Ottawa, including two tickets to a Sens Home game, a $950 value. Meredith said, “The local community was a key element in their donations making the auction the success it was.”  Auctioneer Hunter McCaig, along with wingman, Ross Meredith, provided lots of laughs while encouraging generous bids to support the CT Scanner project.

Frank Vassallo, KDH CEO, attended the Fashion Show and expressed his appreciation to the guests, volunteers, donors and organizers for the very successful fundraising event. “This vital diagnostic tool will be a gamechanger for the hospital.”

During the Fashion Show, the Camaro was on site for the 156 guests to see. CT Scanner Lottery Tickets sold briskly for a chance to win the vehicle. The winning ticket will be drawn October 26. For more information about how to purchase your ticket(s): ctscannerlottery.ca.

When Greg Lane heard that there is no funding from the Provincial government to purchase a CT Scanner for the Kemptville District Hospital (KDH), he said he was “gobsmacked!” He first heard about it May 1, 2023, at the North Grenville Community and Economic Development Advisory Committee meeting, of which he is a member.

Joanne Mavis, Executive Director, KDH Foundation spoke at the meeting about the CT Scanner fundraising campaign and the urgent need to raise $2.2 million. She explained that CT Scanners are standards of care and having one at KDH will eliminate patients waiting to be seen after being transferred to an Ottawa hospital via ambulance with a KDH nurse on a 100 km round trip. It will bring better patient care closer to home. Greg recognized that it just makes economic sense to have a CT Scanner in our ever-growing community. He responded to Joanne’s suggestion to act as an ambassador to promote the initiative.

Greg decided to speak to his fellow golfers to see how they could help. He thought if he could help people understand the situation, it would make sense to them, too.

As a member of the Thursday Men’s Night at eQuinelle Golf Club, Kemptville, he regularly participates in the 50/50 ticket draw. For the last 10 years, the group has customarily nominated three worthy charities to share the total seasonal draw. Greg felt that the CT Scanner was a worthy cause from which the whole community could benefit. Why not give the entire amount to the hospital? He “did the ask” and the response was unanimously approved by his fellow golfers.

Recently, Greg and Andy Csiffary, representing the eQuinelle Men’s Golf League, donated $3,180 to the CT Scanner Campaign. They presented a cheque to Joanne Mavis, KDH Foundation Executive Director and Kristy Carriere, Foundation Coordinator, which was gratefully received

On September 30, National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, the winning ticket was drawn by Clifford Mavis for the “Healing Garden Shed”. Attending the draw was the Kemptville District Hospital Foundation’s Executive Director, Joanne Mavis and Craig McCormick, Project Organizer. Congratulations to the winner, Kelly Johnson, a resident of Manotick, who said she was “surprised and extremely happy to have won the shed”. She intends to donate the shed to Saunders Country Critter Zoo and Sanctuary in Oxford Station where she volunteers her time to care for the animals, a place, she said, “that brings her much happiness”.

McCormick thanked everyone who purchased tickets for this fundraising project. Ticket sales realized $4,400 which will be split to support the Wellness Access for Youth program (WAY) at Kemptville District Hospital and Minwaashin Lodge, an Indigenous Women’s Support Centre in Ottawa.

The Healing Garden Shed was constructed and generously donated by community-minded Brian and Christine Dillon, owners of Timely Touchups, “More Than Just Sheds”, located in Oxford Station.  Christine said, “Brian and I like to help the community any way we can, and when we can. It makes us happy. We are a small town and the Kemptville community helps each other. Every bit helps.”

The colourful, striking murals inside the Healing Garden Shed were painted by Aurora Jade, a Plains Cree visual artist and musician who lives in Ottawa.

In a heartwarming conversation with the winner, Johnson said she “just loves Saunders Country Critter Zoo and Sanctuary! It means an enormous amount to me. Lots of people don’t know about it. It is a place where animals find a safe place to live out their lives after they have had an accident, such as being hit by a car and they are deemed unable to be released again to the wild. At the Sanctuary, they receive nutritional and medical care. I couldn’t be happier to help out by giving them the Shed! I know they will make good use of it.”

McCormick, a retired OPP Officer, has been involved with many community projects in the past which support youth mental health, including WAY. WAY is supported by the Kemptville District Hospital Foundation. It offers one easy phone number for youth in North Grenville to call for help with their mental health: 1-866-741-1929.

The winning ticket for the Healing Garden Shed, shown here by Project Organizer Craig McCormick (right), was drawn by Clifford Mavis (left) on September 30, 2023.

Winner of the Healing Garden Shed, Kelly Johnson, will donate the shed to Saunders Country Critter and Zoo, an animal sanctuary in Oxford Station.