A fundraising effort three years in the making has successfully been completed.
On Jan. 12, the Affinity Credit Union’s boardroom was filled with bustling energy as Hearthstone’s Community Campaign chair, Vern Buck, made the formal announcement regarding their campaign’s mission; a new nursing home in Estevan is no longer a matter of if, but a matter of when, because the required 20 per cent of the $40 million project had been raised.
“The generous people of Estevan and the surrounding area have themselves to congratulate for reaching the fundraising goal so quickly,” Buck said about the $8 million in cash and pledges that were raised. “It reflects the urgency of our need for a new facility.”
The $8 million mark was broken just before Christmas.
Buck acknowledged the numerous acts of generosity that raised the $8 million, which ranged from money made from cutting grass, a quilt sale, a car auction and a canola crop spearheaded by Ray Frehlick and Red Head Equipment of Estevan.
As of now, a total of $8, 129, 000 has been raised.
Following a big thank you to all of the volunteers and members of the community who donated money and time to the project’s efforts, Buck turned his attention to Hearthstone Foundation president Don Kindopp.
“He did the work and I got the glory,” Buck said. “I couldn’t have done it without him.”
Following the official announcement, Kindopp said that what happens next is going to be a challenge, despite the relief he currently feels surrounding the $8 million.
“I feel there is a great deal of pressure now to approach Sun Country and the government to make this happen,” he said. “The community feels like, ‘well, we donated the money and we want to see the new facility,’ and that’s a valid feeling.”
Estevan’s Saskatchewan Party MLA, Doreen Eagles was on hand to congratulate everyone involved with the fundraising efforts. She said the need for a new nursing home is undeniable, and that despite her limited time left in office, she will ensure major steps in the planning process are made.
“I give you my commitment that I will do whatever I can to make this a reality and see the planning stages move forward,” she said. “I’m certain my successor will continue on with it as well.”
Much is still uncertain when it comes to what the new facility will look like and when the actual construction will begin, but Sun Country Health Region CEO, Marga Cugnet said she is confident that the existing plans for the new nursing home, which consists of several prominent additions to St. Joseph’s Hospital, will be taken into serious consideration.
“I think our board and the committee have considered the future location and though it hasn’t been formally approved, we’re leaning towards it being a part of St. Joseph’s Hospital, so we’ll be working closely with St. Joseph’s board as well,” she said after the presentation.
Cugnet noted there’s a possibility of applying Lean methodology to the project.
“We have the chance to educate our staff and have them know it’s not just about the building, but how you manage and care for its residents,” she said.
The CEO wasn’t surprised the $8 million was amassed in such a relatively short amount of time.
“This community has been very good at achieving their targets,” she said, adding the Health Region had its ear to the ground and followed the fundraiser’s progress throughout the years.
