Annual Tree of Life campaign raises $1.5 million for new G&M hospital CT scanner

Collingwood Hospital Foundation has raised over $1.5 million in their annual Tree of Life fundraiser for a new CT scanner for the Collingwood G&M Hospital. With focus on CGMH frontline staff, the Foundation inspired the community to support the campaign in reaching its $1million goal, half of the total cost needed to bring the new CT Scanner to the current hospital.

“We are extraordinarily grateful to this community for helping us raise more than $1.5 million during the Tree of Life campaign,” said Alison Smith, director of operations and communications. “We are pleased to announce that due to the incredible generosity of our donors, we have now met our total goal of $2.1 million needed to purchase a new CT scanner for CGMH.”

Every year, the Tree of Life campaign brings together the caring and compassionate communities of South Georgian Bay to fund vital equipment for CGMH. “The kindness of this community never ceases to amaze our team,” said Maria Borges, Tree of Life campaign lead, “there is such a spirit of generosity here in South Georgian Bay and we are fortunate enough to witness this magic unfold.”

To bring the best possible diagnostic imaging technology to South Georgian Bay, the Foundation was tasked with raising $2.15 million to cover the capital costs for the CT scanner replacement and installation. The current CT scanner is failing and desperately needs to be replaced so that CGMH can meet the 1,000 requests for CT diagnosis that they get every single month. Since 2017, CGMH has seen wait times grow by 30 per cent due to the increased demand as well as an increase in maintenance and repairs to try to keep up. After a brief moment to reflect and celebrate, the team at the Foundation are heads down again and working to launch a $5 million campaign to bring an MRI to CGMH. This will not only cover the cost of the machine but the installation and housing. The Ministry of Health and Ontario Health recently announced funding for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner for the Collingwood G&M Hospital, one of 27 licenses across the province.

“We once again salute the hospital leadership at all levels for its diligence and ongoing commitment to the improvement of patient care where we live and work,” said CGMH Foundation president and CEO Jory Pritchard-Kerr, “I can say confidently that there will be overwhelming support from the community to get behind this CGMH priority.”

MRI service will help CGMH to advance safety, quality of care, and efficiency while improving access to care closer to home. This will be a tremendous benefit to inpatients and ED patients as well as those with significant cancer, stroke, orthopaedic, and emergency medical conditions.

A significant portion of the hospital’s outpatients will experience far shorter wait times and will reduce the need to travel for essential imaging care.

Health unit enforcement blitz aims to reduce youth access to illegal tobacco, vapour products

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is undertaking an eight-week Tobacco and Vapour Product Retailer education and enforcement campaign next week. This blitz is happening in collaboration with public health units across central eastern Ontario to ensure compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA).

In Ontario, public health tobacco enforcement officers are given authority by the province to enforce the SFOA and ensure that local businesses, public places, schools and workplaces are following the law. This includes inspecting premises to ensure that tobacco and vapour product retailers are following advertising regulations, proper signage is posted, and youth are not able to purchase tobacco or vapour products.

“Non-compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act among some tobacco and vapour product retailers is an ongoing concern,” says Tony Makrostergios, manager of enforcement with SMDHU. “In the second half of 2022, our enforcement officers were involved with 250 investigations related to the illegal sale of tobacco and vapor products by retailers in Simcoe Muskoka and an additional 90 investigations in response to the illegal use of vapour products by youth at area secondary schools during the fall school term. Our goal is to protect youth and achieve retailer compliance by eliminating the sale of vapour and commercial tobacco products to youth, including the sale of illegal products and flavoured vape e-juices at locations in Simcoe Muskoka.”

As part of the Tobacco and Vapour Product

Retailer campaign, SMDHU tobacco enforcement officers are conducting compliance inspections at tobacco and vapour product retailers to ensure SFOA requirements are being met, including: Staff are trained on the legal age for sale of vapour and tobacco products; Retailers are not selling illegally flavoured or improperly packaged products; and Retailers are compliant with indoor and outdoor advertising restrictions. If during an inspection a retailer is found to be non-compliant the health unit may proceed with enforcement measures. For more information or to file a complaint related to the Smoke-Free Ontario Act please contact Health Connection weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 to speak with a tobacco enforcement officer.

Swept

For Sale

CREEMORE HILLS WINERYWine for sale. Pet-Nat Picnics and/or Wine tastings. By appointment only. Pick up or delivery. Call/Text 647588-8931, cmorrissey0708@icloud. com.

SERVICES

CONTRACTOR REPAIRS, restores, dismantles and jacks up farm buildings, homes, and cottages. Also roofing, siding, doors, windows, beams, posts, foundations, piers, cement work, fencing, eaves troughing, decks, docks installed, repaired, replaced. Contact Brian McCurdy, at 519-986-1781 or 519375-0958.

ELLIOTT PAINTING AND DECORATING, over 30 years experience with excellent references. Interior and exterior painting and wallpapering. Call for free estimate at 705-466-2356.

CREEMORE BAKERY IS BACK from our Seasonal Break! Re-opening for the 2023 season on Friday, Feb. 17. Can't wait to see you!

Help Wanted

St. John's United Church is looking for a PIANIST to play hymns and preludes for weekly services. Text Brenda Wilson at 705-443-7084.

For Rent

Commercial rental available in CREEMORE MEAT MARKET Building. Approx $400/sq ft. Suitable for office of dry retail. Contact 705730-2635.

Death Notice

BOAKE, John Wilfrid, passed away peacefully on Monday January 31, 2023, at the General & Marine Hospital in Collingwood surrounded by his loving family, at the age of 86. John, son of Victor Erysll Boake and Ivadell Mills Boake (nee Donald) is the youngest of four siblings, survived by Donald and predeceased by sisters Barbara and Nancy. Deeply loved and missed by his wife of 62 years, Mae (nee Bagley), his two children Jennifer Anne and John Gregory, his daughter-in-law Diane, grandchildren Jacob (and Sarah), Sam, Rachel and Matthew, his great grandchildren Breylin, Reiley, Atlynn and Cayden. A service of remembrance will be held at Fawcett Funeral Home – Creemore Chapel at 2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 6, 2023 with visitation one hour prior. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Cardiac Care Unit at Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) in Barrie, Ontario would be greatly appreciated. Friends may visit John’s online Book of Memories at www.fawcettfuneralhomes.com.

Everyone at Water First Education & Training is very grateful for our time working with Ted Stableforth. He showed incredible dedication and passion for our work and always came to the office with a grin and a friendly word.

Our hearts go out to his loving wife, Bev, and their children and grandchildren on his passing. Ted was a true inspiration, and we are thankful his journey crossed with that of Water First.