A completely sold out Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation fundraising golf tournament filled Morden's Minnewasta Golf and Country Club Thursday. 156 golfers spent the day having fun, while financially supporting the organization. It was a record setting day, with about $110,000 raised, the most ever at the tournament.
"We used to think $40,000, $50,000 those were great, and now all of a sudden we're clicking over $100,000," shared Board Chair Ben Friesen. "Obviously, the government is supporting healthcare, but we're there to make it just a little bit better, and enhance the care and the work situation for the employees, as well."
The Foundation supports several key priorities at Boundary Trails Health Centre, including the Palliative/Spiritual/CancerCare programs, equipment needs and staff training and supports.
"Likely it (the money raised) will go primarily to equipment needs," explained Friesen. "Some times, in the past, we've had a particular ask of a certain piece of equipment, and we've designated it to that. We don't have that right now. We have the equipment list, and our Finance Committee is having some meetings right now to prioritize that equipment list, and then we'll bring it to the board and we'll go from there."
Record total yet another accomplishment for Foundation
With the 25th anniversary golf tournament in the books, Friesen took a moment to reflect on the accomplishments the Foundation has been part of over those years from the hospital's MRI and helipad additions to today's major expansion.
"Everything has been really good for the Foundation, we've had support all the way through," noted Friesen. "But this last expansion, now with the commitment we made and our board made, we've just raised the Foundation to a different level. There's just so much work to be done, and it's a rewarding work, because we see the building."
As the Foundation looks to what's next, the board will be working on a strategic plan to plot out what that looks like.
The fundraiser will shift to Winkler Centennial Golf Course next year, happening August 13th, 2026.
Friesen's time on board coming to a close
Meanwhile, Thursday's tournament was the last one for Friesen as Board Chair. After serving the maximum two consecutive, three year terms, he will be coming off the board in Spring 2026. It was through the encouragement of former Chair Gene Wiebe that he joined the board.
"It's been great," he said with a smile. "Everybody can get into it, as far as they want to. This last round, the commitment was very serious, because we wanted to work on the expansion, and we wanted to do whatever the Foundation could do to help this expansion get to the front. If I look back at anything, that's absolutely the highlight is to see this expansion happening right now."
- With files from Alexander Peters and Ty Hildebrand -