The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation is celebrating a major milestone in its Back the Build campaign following a generous $600,000 grant from the RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund.

The grant was formally presented today during a cheque presentation and thermometer unveiling at PECMH, marking another significant step toward the Foundation’s $30 million fundraising goal for the new hospital currently under construction. With this contribution, $27 million has now been raised, demonstrating the strength and generosity of local donors and community partners dedicated to ensuring high-quality healthcare remains close to home.

The RBC Foundation’s investment will support the installation of solar panels, a vital feature of the hospital’s sustainable design. The system will generate approximately 30% of the hospital’s power from clean, renewable energy. This innovation is expected to offset roughly 275,000 kWh of electricity each year—the environmental equivalent of planting 133,000 trees or eliminating 430,000 vehicle miles.

“This grant from the RBC Foundation’s Community Infrastructure Fund comes at a pivotal moment in history,” said Shannon Coull, Executive Director of the PECMH Foundation. “We are redefining healthcare—not only by delivering advanced medical services but also by building a hospital designed to reach net-zero carbon emissions. The addition of solar panels on our new hospital will create clean energy, lower costs, and ensure more dollars go directly to patient care.”

“In Canada, the built environment remains the third-largest source of emissions,” says Alex Medeiros, Regional Vice President, Kingston Quinte at RBC. “That’s why, through the RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund, we’re proud to support capital projects aimed at reducing environmental impact such as the new PECMH build, as they work towards creating more environmentally sustainable spaces.”

“This gift demonstrates how corporate philanthropy and community passion can come together to create lasting change,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign cabinet chairperson. “RBC’s investment will help ensure our new hospital is both state-of-the-art and environmentally responsible—a place that embodies care, innovation, and sustainability for generations to come.”

“Back the Build has always been about supporting the creation of a new hospital that reflects who we are in Prince Edward County—caring, forward-thinking, and deeply connected to our environment,” said Stacey Daub, President and CEO of Quinte Health. “Thanks to the RBC Foundation Community Spaces Grant’s extraordinary support, sustainability will be at the heart of our new hospital—one that will care for both people and the planet for generations to come.”

During the celebration event, the Foundation also unveiled a newly updated fundraising thermometer, proudly showing $27 million raised toward the $30 million goal. The visual marker stands as a symbol of community spirit and momentum as PEC residents and partners continue to “Back the Build.”

Construction of the new 96,000-square-foot Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is well underway, with doors expected to open in 2027. The new facility will be North America’s first un-encapsulated mass timber hospital powered by geothermal and solar energy systems—setting a new standard for sustainability in healthcare infrastructure.

Launched in April 2024, the RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund supports projects that make community spaces more accessible and environmentally sustainable. Since its inception, 54 projects across Canada have received funding to create spaces that reflect RBC’s commitment to inclusion and environmental responsibility.

Since 1985, the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation has been dedicated to improving local healthcare through community philanthropy. The Foundation raises funds for essential medical equipment not covered by the Ontario Government and in doing so supports Quinte Health.