A Message from RVH Foundation CEO

If the past little while has shown us anything, it is that change is a constant. Our community is changing by the day. The pandemic has forever changed the community in ways we’ll continue to feel for many years to come.

Whether folks have lived or cottaged here for generations or have newly moved to the region – we all love it. And, to make sure we all continue to enjoy the quality of life this beautiful region offers, we must ensure that the quality of our health care keeps pace.

This is the opportunity that change brings with it.

To ensure that RVH can offer the region world-class, life-saving care, RVH Foundation has been preparing for the largest capital campaign effort in the history of Simcoe Muskoka.

Read more from RVH Foundation CEO, Pamela Ross


A Message from our Campaign Co-Chairs

Campaign Co-Chairs, Steve Blanchet and Mary-Anne Frith

As long-time supporters of RVH, we could not be more honoured to be the co-chairs of what will be the largest capital campaign of its kind in Simcoe Muskoka.

This campaign, set to publicly launch this October, is a rallying cry for our community to support the planned expansion of this critical health centre. RVH is bursting at the seams. Prior to the pandemic, the hospital was at 115 percent capacity on most days. Our surgery wait times are close to four months. And the situation is only exacerbated by our rapidly growing population.

Read more from the Co-Chairs here.

Stories From Our Community

Our corporate and individual donors, our patients and their families, make up a community of support for RVH that we’re grateful to have with us. Here are some of their RVH stories.

Blair Peperdy, with his hand in his pocket and wearing a black suit, stands beside an alectra logo and smiles
Pictured: Blair Peperdy, Vice President, Government & Corporate Relations, Alectra

“The concept of Alectra being an ally to the communities and stakeholders it serves” became a rallying cry, says Peberdy. The company developed a social-impact program called AlectraCARES and began searching for partners who could help bring its vision to life. That’s where the RVH Foundation came in.

Read Alectra’s full story here.

Karen and Tom Ehrlich stand together outside and smile for a photo
Pictured: Karen and Tom Ehrlich, RVH supporters

Over the years, Karen and Tom have seen the area’s exponential growth first-hand and understood the challenges that the region was facing, particularly when it comes to health care. And during the pandemic that became particularly acute.

Read more of Karen and Tom’s story here.

Karen Henkenhaf, wearing a floral scarf and white denim jacket, stands outside the RVH emergency sign and smiles for a photo
Pictured: Kathryn Henkenhaf, RVH supporter and grateful patient

I told myself I was overreacting, and the pain would go away. But I’d been in agony for three days, and it wasn’t getting better. My husband and I decided to go to the emergency department at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH).

Read more of Kathryn’s story here.


Highlights

Here are some of our favourite moments from the past year, when our community came together in creative and caring ways to show their support for patient care at RVH.

two nurses in yellow protective equipment and face shields stand together with arms crossed
Pictured: RVH ICU nurses during the peak of the pandemic.

NATIONAL NURSING WEEK

To mark National Nursing Week in May of 2021, local philanthropist Jane Brown Jackson chose to honour the life-changing work of nurses by launching a fundraiser to benefit RVH. For the second year, Jane matched up to $25,000 in donations to RVH, resulting in more than $50,000 raised for a vital Intensive Care Unit expansion.

Having received exceptional care herself from nurses and other care providers, Jane wanted to show her gratitude by setting an example and inspiring others to donate to RVH to help provide life-saving care.

Pictured L to R: RVH President and CEO, Janice Skot, Crystal Classic co-chair, Nancy McCullough, with Steve Blanchet, and Charlotte Wallis, Chair, RVH Board of Directors.
Pictured L to R: Former RVH President and CEO, Janice Skot, Crystal Classical Co-char, Nancy McCullough, with Steve Blanchet, and Charlotte Wallis, Chair,

CRYSTAL CLASSIC INVITATIONAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

Following a pandemic postponement in 2020, we were delighted to welcome back our Crystal Classic invitational golf tournament last September, in a COVID-safe format, at the beautiful Barrie Country Club.

The tournament was a sell-out and participants enjoyed a wonderful sunny day on the greens while raising $114,000 to support the future of health care in our region.

The event included an online auction, delicious sampling stations, and some friendly competition that resulted in a hole-in-one for patient care at RVH.

Pictured: Kelly Hubbard, ED, Hospice Simcoe, (rear, third from right) Pamela Ross, CEO, RVH Foundation (rear, third from left) and local Tim Hortons owners and staff: Johnny Mizzoni, Sarah and Mark Hinton, Drew Beaupre, Tammy Jacklin, Chuck Perigo, Agnes and Geoff House, Dawn Melling, and Brandon Newlove.
Pictured: Kelly Hubbard, ED, Hospice Simcoe, (rear, third from right) Pamela Ross, CEO, RVH Foundation (rear, third from left) and local Tim Hortons owners and staff: Johnny Mizzoni, Sarah and Mark Hinton, Drew Beaupre, Tammy Jacklin, Chuck Perigo, Agnes and Geoff House, Dawn Melling, and Brandon Newlove.

TIM HORTONS SMILE COOKIE CAMPAIGN

We can’t stop smiling! RVH’s Birthing Unit received $85,103 to support patient care, thanks to the Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign during the week of September 13 to 19, 2021. The annual campaign is a week-long demonstration of community generosity, with all proceeds from the sale of Tim Hortons Smile Cookies benefiting local charities.

Funds raised support the redevelopment and expansion of the Birthing Unit and Maternal Care Unit – where approximately 2,000 babies are born each year – and will help RVH to meet the needs of our rapidly expanding community.

We’re grateful to the owners and staff of local Tim Hortons restaurants in Barrie & Stroud and to all those who purchased Tim Hortons Smile Cookies.

Pictured L to R: Barrie McDonald’s owners/ operators, Jason and Jennifer O’Neill, Andrea Smithyes with Barrie McDonald’s owner/ operator, Trevor McKee, and RVH Foundation CEO, Pamela Ross.
Pictured L to R: Barrie McDonald’s owners/ operators, Jason and Jennifer O’Neill, Andrea Smithyes with Barrie McDonald’s owner/ operator, Trevor McKee, and RVH Foundation CEO, Pamela Ross.

MCHAPPY DAY

McHappy Day was McAmazing! On September 22, 2021, the community came together in a delicious way to raise an incredible $40,000 in support of RVH’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and Ronald McDonald House, Toronto. The funds will be split evenly between the two charities.

We’re grateful to local McDonald’s Restaurants owner/operators, Jennifer and Jason O’Neill and Trevor McKee, who generously donated a portion of proceeds from the sale of all menu items that day, which will go to support the planned expansion of the NICU.

The expansion plans include a redesign of the clinical space to allow for additional space, with more privacy for new families to bond and heal, and additional specialized equipment for resuscitation, ventilation, and monitoring. Such wonderful support for our tiniest patients!