Items filtered by date: May 2024

At the well attended June 17 Groundbreaking Ceremony for the CT Scanner at Kemptville District Hospital (KDH), Margret Norenberg, Chair, KDH Foundation Board of Directors, addressed the gathering which included Frank Vassallo, KDH CEO, Steve Clark, MPP, Mayor Nancy Peckford, Jeff Nolan, Chair, KDH Board of Directors, Dr Colin Sentongo, Chief of KDH Staff, Mrs. Louise Tallman, Chair of the CT Scanner Campaign and many others, including donors, physicians and staff. She thanked everyone for coming and said that “procuring a CT Scanner has long been a dream for us”. 

She explained that “this achievement is not merely about acquiring a piece of equipment; it is about investing in the health and well-being of every individual within our community and beyond. I am delighted to share that we have raised $1.6 million and we are working hard to raise the remaining $600,000 needed to make the final payment of $2.2 million.”

She expressed her sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed to the Campaign and reviewed some highlights of the CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign.

The Foundation Annual Mail to the community raised over $150,000. The exciting Camaro Car Lottery last summer raised over $200,000. A long list of community organized events included golf and baseball tournaments, the Little Black Dress, Fashion Shows and choir performances, book and lemonade sales, which raised close to $200,000. Service Clubs from North Grenville and beyond, including Kemptville, Manotick, Merrickville and South Mountain have added another $70,000 to the Campaign. Financial support from eQuinelle Homes and the Taggart Parkes Foundation has been impactful. Hundreds of individuals have made personal gifts to the campaign, ranging from $25 to $100,000.

Ms. Norenberg gave special acknowledgement to Mrs. Louise Tallman. She and her family have been long time supporters of the hospital and the community at large.

She also noted that “the tremendous support of the community has demonstrated the power of collective effort. This has made a profound difference, for which I am very grateful.”

In her closing remarks, Ms. Norenberg concluded in the same way she had started by thanking everyone “for their remarkable generosity and unwavering commitment to the well-being of our community.  Together, we have made a lasting impact that will benefit all of us today and in the future.”

In the photo, proudly showing one of the three new Syringe Pumps recently purchased by the KDH Foundation are (l-r) Tanya Deans, RN, Manager, Clinical Services, Dr. Yvonne Kaethler, Anesthesiologist, Dr. Christopher Kirby, Chief of Anaesthesiology and Dr. Colin Sentongo, Chief of Staff. Through the wonderful generosity of The Royal Canadian Legion Ontario Command Branches and Ladies Auxiliary Charitable Foundation and the Royal Canadian Legion Kemptville Branch 212, $15,000 was gifted to the KDH Foundation to make this purchase possible.  A Syringe Pump is a small infusion pump used to gradually administer small amounts of fluid (with or without medication) to a patient. Our pumps in the OR were outdated and not compatible with the hospital’s new software system called EPIC. Thank you Royal Canadian Legion for this gift!

The Kemptville Tim Horton Smile Cookie Campaign held in May was another outstanding event in support of youth mental health in North Grenville. On June 11, Ingrid Kohling and Jose Salvador, independent owners of the Kemptville Tim Horton’s franchises, presented a $17,502 cheque to the Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) Foundation Board Chair, Margret Norenberg and Joanne Mavis, CEO of the KDH Foundation. These funds will be directed to WAY - Wellness Access for Youth.

WAY is a collaborative between fifteen community partners which includes Kemptville District Hospital. It provides referrals and support to youth and young adults aged 12 to 25 years of age, and their families, in need of mental health and addictions services.

Another WAY community partner is Connect Youth.

Dan MacKinnon, a navigator for Connect Youth in Kemptville, shared how their agency “aims to reduce barriers for youth and connect them with services, including housing for temporarily homeless teens.”

Robyn Holmes, Executive Director of Connect Youth, explained that “Smile cookie funds are used to support services that facilitate access to mental health supports for children, youth and families in the North Grenville community. Examples of supported activities include youth engagement groups, mental health promotion activities, community service coordination, and more.”

Kohling, the franchisee Tim Horton’s owner at Kemptville Mall, said, “Smile Cookies are so much more than just cookies. The focus of our Smile Cookie Campaign is about raising awareness. Through much appreciated support from our Kemptville Community we can help educate and end the stigma surrounding mental health. Our much-loved Smile Cookie represents community love, compassion and acceptance.”

Holmes added, “The ongoing support of the Smile Cookie Campaign is invaluable to the WAY program, as it not only supports service delivery but also reiterates our community's commitment to accessible mental health services for all.”

For more information about WAY and its health partners, see Wellness Access for Youth - KDH.   

For information about the Kemptville District Hospital Foundation and how to donate to the Crossroads CT Scanner Campaign, visit our campaign page.