Friday night, it was yet another sold crowd for the Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation’s annual fundraising gala at the Access Event Centre in Morden. The evening had a Price is Right theme, with the games played a clever way of educating attendees about the real cost of the specialized medical equipment the Foundation has bought for the hospital.
The items contestants bid on ranged in price from $110 for a a finger pulse oximeter to $194,000 for a mom and baby patient simulator comprised of mannequins mimicking actual human anatomy and function.
"We approve it (equipment purchases) throughout the year, and even myself, I forget how much the amount was on this equipment," explained Foundation Board Chair Ben Friesen. "It's just phenomenal, Joel and and his team, they make a list of what they know would make the place better. It's not that it wouldn't operate without it, we know that, but the whole idea of the Foundation is to make it better for not only the patients, but we also want to make it better for the staff and the doctors and everybody that works there."
Foundation commits $125,000 to equipment purchases for 2024-25
"We spend a lot of money on equipment, but it's really checked through really closely every time by other doctors," noted Friesen. "We get a lot of information, and make sure it's really essential stuff that'll really improve things, and make it easier for both the patients and the healthcare workers."
Over 300 people attended this year's gala, and Friesen continues to marvel at the ongoing high level of support the organization receives.
"People are calling ahead and saying, 'When is it next year? Mark me down. I don't want to be on the waiting list, get me on early," he shared with a smile when reflecting on the gala being consistently sold out for years.
Hospital expansion update shared
The evening also included an update on the expansion project underway, which was presented by Southern Health-Sante Sud's Implementation Lead Kyle MacNair. Ahead of the update Friday night, Friesen shared the project continues to move forward fantastically well.
"I keep saying to Brad (from penn-co) any glitches? And he says 'no', and I said, 'Well, there's got to be some glitches. You've got 35 subcontractors working here, and you got all this stuff going on,' but they're doing well. We don't see any glitches," said Friesen. "Last winter was really great. They got all the the groundwork done, and now the big buildings are going up. They've been working on the parking lot. Some paving is scheduled to be happening Monday and Tuesday (October 28th, 29th)."
Final fundraising numbers are still being tabulated, and the feel is it will be a very successful event.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Ben Friesen, below.