(From left to right: Campaign Chair Mark Foxton, WDH Foundation Coordinator Nicole Jutzi, Rob Stute Owner of Maitland Welding and Partner of Britespan Building Systems Inc., Jenny Hogervorst of Britespan Building Systems Inc. and Campaign Team Leader, Ben Hogervorst, Owner and President of Britespan Building Systems Inc.)
WINGHAM, ON, February 18, 2016 – For more than a century, the Wingham & District Hospital (WDH) has been delivering quality healthcare in our communities. Serving the healthcare needs of North Huron, South Bruce, Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, Morris-Turnberry, Huron-Kinloss and Howick has always been of fundamental importance.
Over the years, the hospital has kept pace with the advancements and changes in healthcare delivery. Once again the hospital is adapting to a changing healthcare landscape by restructuring its facilities and updating equipment to continue the tradition of excellent care.
To achieve the best possible results from the redevelopment project and deliver a hospital that will be functional well into the future, the Wingham & District Hospital Foundation (WDHF) is embarking on a $4 million community based capital campaign called ‘Our Hospital, Our Future’ to complement the provincial funding.
The three major components of the capital campaign include hospital renovations, diagnostic imaging equipment replacement, and opening a community health campus.
The hospital renovations and equipment replacements will focus on improving access, safety, clinical and operational efficiency. The community campaign will supplement government funding by supporting the renovation of a new accessible front entrance, departmental moves, creating new space for rehabilitation services and accessible showers for the inpatient unit.
Replacing and upgrading the diagnostic imaging equipment will allow the hospital to better collaborate with other hospitals, will cut costs and time, and will enable consistent quality patient care and services throughout the healthcare system.
Redevelopment of the former Wingham Public School into a campus of healthcare providers including primary care, family health team and physicians will allow the hospital to meet the needs of an aging population and a changing healthcare system. By leasing additional space, the community health campus will become a self-sustaining space for serving the long-term goals of the hospital.
An outstanding team of community members has stepped up to lead the ‘Our Hospital, Our Future’ campaign. Mark Foxton, Owner of Foxton Fuels, is heading the up the team as campaign chair with Bruce Telecom CEO Bart Cameron as deputy chair. The remainder of the leadership team is rounded out by Jenny Hogervorst of Britespan Building Systems, Mark Leslie of Leslie Motors, Wingham and District Hospital Foundation director and Lions Club member Andy McBride, former North Huron councillor Bernie Bailey, and Scott Miller of CTV News.
Britespan has committed to donating $100,000 to the hospital over the course of five years. “We are proud to play an important role in the success of this campaign,” says Jenny Hogervorst.
“As a local company, Britespan employs people from all over the Huron County, all of whom rely on this hospital for their healthcare and the healthcare of their families. We are committed to supporting the Wingham & District Hospital so that our local community continues to receive the quality patient care the hospital has always provided,” says Jenny.
Learn more about the ‘Our Hospital, Our Future’ campaign and about how you can help at www.wdhfoundation.ca/OurHospitalOurFuture