This May Pinch A Bit

bboyce • December 9, 2022

This May Pinch A Bit

By Monica Alyea

This May Pinch a Bit

 

Have you been busy lately? Not busy like in the depths of covid when getting dressed sometime during the day constituted busy. Or braving a drive to the grocery store, list in one hand and mask in the other to be as quick as possible in getting your provisions and getting back home. Or having two Zoom calls in a week instead of just one. “Got to go. It's 10 a.m. and I have a Zoom call at 2 to get ready for.” Well maybe that's not your life – but it feels like it has been largely mine for the last couple of years.

 

Now, oh joy, we're back to restoring community! The Regent is running and so is the Prince Edward Fitness and Aquatics Centre pool. Hockey is back as are the Elks' dinners and Christmas bazaars, Pumpkinfest, and Milford Fair. Ameliasburgh Museum is active again as is Mt Tabor Playhouse. The list goes on and on as our community reaches for another kind of healing. And did I mention live music – yes, please and thank you!

 

People gathering. Masks optional.

 

And then – gotcha! Out of nowhere, but from somewhere, covid laid me low. Then two of my close friends got a nasty bout and we're pretty sure from me. Ouch. Much as I have appreciated really getting in touch with my introverted side during mainline covid time, being ill with it has, truthfully, been kind of scary. For weeks afterward I've had a fatigue that has held me at a distance from the me I know. Covid conversations these days seem to take up less airtime. However, when they arise, it's often about how we're different now – individually and collectively.

 

I've sat on the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation board since 2011. Over those years I've noticed that there are community conversations around healthcare that also take up less airtime. We've had challenges for sure – no need to list them here. But we have had promising and inspiring opportunities to sort out what really matters in healthcare for our community moving forward. As Quinte Health progresses through the stages of building our new hospital, they are right beside us as we work to raise the money that is our community's share. The Municipality and the Family Health Team have an understanding and engagement in supporting a new hospital and in finding medical personnel to replace our retiring doctors who, individually and collectively, have devoted many years to our community. Each of us knows someone, a family member, a neighbour, a friend who currently works in healthcare. If you are one of those reading this who provides, or has provided, a care service to us – thank you.

 

The other day I went for my flu shot. One day soon I'll be in line for my next covid vaccine. On the delivery end of those vaccines are scientists and researchers who are developing and improving them, the people taking my health card information and the person who says to me “this may pinch a bit.” They are all special people in these times.

 

As some of us tackle our personal budgets to deal with inflation, we are feeling another meaning of “pinching a bit.” We know some of our charitable non-profit community will have more folks to serve. We know our Foundation has a goal to reach for our new hospital. We're close but not there yet. This may be a tough stretch ahead for a while. So when you are making your gift wish list this season, please consider adding a wish for a donation with a meaningful human impact – to a local foodbank, Reaching for Rainbows, the ROC, hospice, or your local hospital.

 

You too can be special folks in these times. Thanks for a pinch – of sugar!

 

For information about our hospital, or to make a donation call 613-476-1008 ext. 4425, or visit the foundation’s website at www.pecmhf.ca.

 

Monica Alyea Receives the 2025 Leo Finnegan Distinguished Service Award
By Tanya Moore June 27, 2025
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation is proud to announce Monica Alyea as the 2025 recipient of the Leo Finnegan Distinguished Service Award (LFDSA). PECMH Foundation former Board Member Leo Finnegan, and Executive Director Shannon Coull, presented this year’s award.
RE/MAX GOLF CLASSIC PECMH FOUNDATION
By Tanya Moore June 25, 2025
A decade of commitment to advancing local healthcare was celebrated in full swing on June 10, as the 10th Annual Teeing Up Fore Health Care Golf Classic raised a record-breaking $68,600 in support of the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation. The sold-out tournament welcomed 24 teams and 96 golfers to the Picton Golf and Country Club. This year’s proceeds will support the purchase of a new digital mammography machine, a vital diagnostic tool for early breast cancer detection at the new County hospital. The current mammography unit, in use for over 12 years, is nearing end-of-life, and the cost of replacement is estimated at just under $1 million . "Marking 10 years of community support with a record-setting total is an extraordinary milestone," said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMHF. "This event continues to demonstrate how deeply committed this community is to ensuring exceptional healthcare remains close to home." The winning foursome was Wilkinson & Company LLP Chartered Accountants , with Jeff Snider, Richard Dainard, Craig Closson, and Terry Greer , finishing 10 under par. “This tournament is more than a day of golf,” said Sean McKinney, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quinte Ltd. “It’s a chance for the business community to step up and give themselves an opportunity to make a lasting impact on local healthcare.” Special thanks are extended to Wilkinson & Company Chartered Accountants and Tax Specialists who came in again as the title sponsor for the tournament for the 10th consecutive year in a row. This day would not be possible without the incredible support from our corporate sponsors: Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co., DLC National - The Gulliver Team (Terri Gulliver), Euro Tile & Stone, HDR Architecture Associates, Herb & Kathy Pliwischkies, Kingsford Management, M. Sullivan & Son Limited, Market High Advertising, Monument Geomatics and Estimating, Parkside Landscaping and Contracting, Port Picton Homes, Scotiabank, Taste of Country, Wellings of Picton, and Boats and Holes. "Seeing this community come together to raise a record-breaking total on the tournament’s 10th anniversary is both humbling and inspiring,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build Campaign Cabinet Chairperson. “Each dollar raised is a step closer to bringing the best diagnostic tools to our new hospital, and I couldn’t be prouder of the generosity and spirit that define Prince Edward County." Additional thanks go to all who donated prizes, sponsored holes, provided swag, volunteered, golfed, or participated in the silent and live auctions. Every contribution directly supports better equipment and care at PECMH. One auction item at this year’s tournament exemplified the extraordinary generosity of our community. A stunning BBQ package, donated by Picton Home Hardware and Steve VanDusen, valued initially at $2,200, became a powerful fundraising moment when multiple bidders donated their winning bids and returned the BBQ to be re-auctioned. The prize pack also included a deluxe grill set, a 12-pack of craft beer from Prince Eddy’s, and a bottle of Argentinian Malbec, courtesy of Herb and Kathy Pliwischkies, and $150 worth of premium steaks from Ralph’s Meat Market — donated by the Pliwischkies sisters: Kristen, Lauren, and Kara. Thanks to this incredible spirit of giving, the item raised over $19,000 of the $68,600. Sincere thanks to all our donors, bidders, and partners who made this possible, including Josh Doxtator, Hotch Earl, Herb and Kathy Pliwischkies, Nancy Cleave, and Steve VanDusen. Their generosity continues to fuel our mission. PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign is raising $30M to help build and equip a new hospital to serve residents and visitors in Prince Edward County. For more information about upcoming events or to lend your support, please contact Cait Lavoie at 70clavoie@quintehealth.ca or visit our website at www.pecmhf.ca .
By Tanya Moore June 9, 2025
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation is thrilled to announce a remarkable $50,000 sponsorship commitment from Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. , naming them as the Presenting Sponsor for the upcoming series of 40th Anniversary fundraising events in 2025. This generous contribution underscores Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.’s deep-rooted commitment to enhancing healthcare in our community and supports a critical priority — the purchase of a new state-of-the-art mammography machine for the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. This investment will ensure faster, more accurate diagnostic care and timely breast screening for residents across the County. "As we mark 40 years of impact, we’re not only reflecting on how far we’ve come, but also envisioning a healthier future for everyone in Prince Edward County," said Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation. "Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.’s ongoing leadership and generosity are helping make that vision a reality.” Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.’s $50,000 sponsorship includes support for four cornerstone events in PECMH Foundation’s celebratory calendar: RE/MAX Teeing-Up Fore Health Care Golf Classic (June 10, 2025 – Picton Golf and Country Club) An Evening with David Frum and Karen Valihora (July 24, 2025 – The Regent Theatre) Fall Golf Tournament at Wellington on the Lake (Date TBC) 40th Anniversary Celebration Their sponsorship builds on a powerful legacy of giving, including their transformational $1.5 million gift to Back the Build , which will name the Diagnostic Imaging Department in the new hospital. This latest commitment continues their leadership role in shaping the future of local health care. “Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.’s leadership as Presenting Sponsor of our 40th Anniversary events not only honours our past, but boldly invests in our future,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build Campaign Cabinet chairperson. “Their ongoing support is a powerful reminder that when we come together with purpose, we can build something truly transformative — a hospital that will serve generations of residents and families in Prince Edward County." “We believe in giving back to the communities we serve, and supporting healthcare is one of the most meaningful ways we can do that,” said Jeff Howell, president of Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. “The new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital will be a cornerstone of this community for generations to come. We are proud to stand behind this exciting milestone and to help equip the future hospital with the technology and tools our neighbours deserve.” At PECMH Foundation, we are proud to be a strong voice and champion for exceptional healthcare for the patients of our hospital and the people of Prince Edward County and beyond. Giving to our Foundation is an investment in the health of our community. With the support of dedicated partners like Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co., we can ensure the hospital has the tools, technology, and resources to provide the care our residents and patients deserve — now and into the future. PECMH Foundation’s Back the Build campaign is raising $30M to help build and equip a new hospital to serve residents and visitors in Prince Edward County. For more information about upcoming events or to lend your support, please contact Cait Lavoie at 70clavoie@quintehealth.ca or visit our website at www.pecmhf.ca .
Paul B. Helliwell Foundation Prince Edward County
By bboyce May 29, 2025
The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation (PECMHF) is proud to announce the successful completion of its CT Scanner Campaign, thanks to the extraordinary generosity of the community and a transformational matching gift from the Paul B. Helliwell Foundation.
Rotary Club of Picton
May 6, 2025
The Rotary Club of Picton has once again demonstrated its continued commitment to local healthcare with a $5,000 donation to the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation.
R. John Garside  Volunteering
April 28, 2025
It’s National Volunteer Week, and this week we are celebrating our behind-the-scenes Champions at the PECMH Foundation!
Third Annual Curl-A-Thon
By bboyce March 27, 2025
Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation were rocked this week, when the Prince Edward Curling Club members presented $45,363.00
The County Guys pose with Cody-Rae Fowler, this year's bursary recipient.
March 7, 2025
In a special presentation, The County Guys Real Estate Group and Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital (PECMH) Foundation presented a $2,500 bursary to Cody-Rae Fowler, a Cherry Valley resident who works as a Registered Practical Nurse in the Inpatient Unit as well as the Emergency and Endoscopy Departments at PECMH. Fowler is set to begin her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) at Loyalist College while continuing her work at our County hospital.
Contractors stand on the site of the new PECMH
By bboyce February 26, 2025
M. Sullivan & Son Ltd. was awarded the contract for the new hospital construction in 2024 and will oversee the project until completion. They have hired many local subcontractors, including Drew Harrison Haulage, Otter Energy, Picton Home Hardware, Southside Sanitary Solutions and Wentworth Landscapes, to contribute to the redevelopment.
Cheque presentation photo with reps from Picton Metro.
By bboyce January 31, 2025
Metro Inc. has proudly announced a donation of $8,656.79 from the cash register round-up promotion held between August 22, 2024, and September 4, 2024. This gift brings the five-year total raised to $74,182.63.
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