MINDEMOYA—It was a challenging project that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, but with the support and kindness of Islanders and staff, the newly renovated and expanded emergency department at Manitoulin Health Centre’s (MHC) Mindemoya site was officially opened last Wednesday.
“We finally made it!” said Paula Fields, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of MHC.
“The senior leadership team at MHC want to express our deepest gratitude to all who made this project come to fruition, including community members, donors, employees, contractors and volunteers,” said Ms. Fields. “MHC’s values of respect, passion and truth were present and resonated at every step of the project.”
The project began in June of 2021, 15 months after the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. The challenges experienced during the project, mainly related to the pandemic, were faced with “kindness and care by all who were involved including employees, contractors and the public,” Ms. Fields said.
She thanked the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary for continuing to advocate for and facilitate donations to ensure the success of the project, regardless of the pandemic.
The Smith family foundation propelled the campaign forward with a million-dollar donation, Ms. Fields said. “We are ever so grateful for your generosity and passion to give back to the communities of Manitoulin. I believe I speak for Manitoulin when I say that we are blessed to have you as part of our community.”
The Bank of Montreal and many other businesses, organizations, families and community members also supported the campaign by raising or donating funds. “We are humbled by your generosity and giving spirit. For this, we thank you,” said Ms. Fields. “To the community: thank you for supporting this project, and for your patience and kindness to our team.”
She also thanked the team at Belanger Selach for their dedication to the project, “especially Louis, Taylor and Tony.”
Ms. Fields acknowledged and thanked the board of directors and fundraising committee for their support and perseverance, as well as employees and physicians for their “patience and understanding” throughout the many phases of the expansion. “You trusted in us, were creative and understanding and continued to provide the exceptional care that we are well known for while staying true to your community and our values,” she said.
Geraldine Ense McGregor provided an opening prayer and smudging ceremony for the opening, and was joined by hand drummers Samantha Corbiere and Robin Ense in an opening song.
Ms. Ense McGregor works at MHC and sits as a member of MHC’s Aboriginal Inclusion Committee. “On this special day, we want to open the doorways to invite spirit helpers, and ask the Creator and all our relations to be with us to take care of everyone: staff, everyone here, the Board,” she said.
Dennis McGregor, chair of the MHC board said the project was initiated more than five years ago, recalling during the midst of the Little Current site renovation project when the board said ‘Let’s think of how we can help the Mindemoya Hospital.’
“On June 14, 2021, we had the groundbreaking for this project, a five-million-dollar project,” he said. “We acknowledge all fundraising activities, and I am proud to say we (MHC) used our own funds for about 50 percent of the fundraising, through portfolio funds provided by families in memory of loved ones.”
He thanked the fundraising committee for all their efforts over the past two-and-a-half to three years. The committee was first chaired by Angela Becks, followed by Debby Turner last year and Michelle Hart in 2023.
He acknowledged Kelly Timmermans for keeping the team “informed and online,” and the Douglas A. Smith Family Foundation for their contribution. “You will notice the family room has their name prominently displayed for the wonderful donation they have made, while the waiting room has been named in memory of the Bank of Montreal for their contributions,” said Mr. McGregor.
He noted the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary made a substantial contribution to the fundraising campaign. The MHC also had support of municipalities, First Nations, corporations, service clubs, organizations, businesses and many others.
department at the Mindemoya Hospital site.
Despite a few “quirks” over the term of the project, the project stayed relatively on track budget-wise and scheduled timelines, although some equipment (from Europe) had been delayed. The board takes pride in the completion of the project, Mr. McGregor said.
“There is a saying that I hold to this project,” said Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha. “Where there is a will, there is a way. The architects have brought poetry to light.”
Also on hand was France Gélinas, NDP MPP for Nickel Belt and health critic for the past 16 years. She recalled the first email she received on this project back in 2015. “Seven-and-a-half to eight years ago, MHC leadership already was thinking of bringing the emergency department up to specs, so everyone would have top quality care. For eight years, the MHC worked through the approval process, noise, money, to today’s success story we all should be proud of. The emergency room is top notch and something for all (of us) to be proud of.”
Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes said, “It takes a community to build a community project,” noting that donors, families who appreciate care and municipalities all want to make sure the infrastructure is in the community. She noted the “precious care given to the facility there” and congratulated everyone involved in the project. “The addition and equipment will make a huge difference through the community.”
The upgrade was greatly needed. Mindemoya Emergency Department experiences more than 10,000 patient visits a year, said Dr. Maurianne Reade, president of professional staff at MHC. MHC nurses and nurse practitioners can now treat fractures, heart attacks, fainting and other health issues in a bigger and more private space for care. She noted that MHC continues to advocate for an increase in doctors and nurses; as mentioned recently in The Expositor, the number has not changed even as the Island’s population and tourism visitors have increased over the past 25 years.
The end result is something to be proud of and will have a substantial positive impact on patient care, staff comfort and safety, and infection control, while offering a solid base for continued service for years to come, said Duane Deschamps, MHC facilities, maintenance and operations manager.
“It truly does take a team to effectively produce a positive outcome. (Over) the past few years, COVID has helped teach us this,” he said.
He thanked some of the key team members from the construction side of the project, including general contractor Northern Construction Technology Inc., as well sub-contractors JAC’s Mechanical, C&M Electric, T&B Doors, Mike Demore, E. Corbiere and Sons Contracting, Dan Stevens Painting, YBS Architects, engineers and others. He offered special thanks to MHC’s own team, including maintenance, IT and nursing management. “We could not have reached this goal without your continued support,” he said.
Mr. Deschamps said the patience and understanding of doctors and nurses throughout the past two years has “truly been second to none. Your willingness to adapt and work around the various phases of the construction process certainly did not go unnoticed. Your input and suggestions from the preliminary design stages to the rollout phases of the project was a welcome addition to the process,” he said.
The project is just a few weeks away from total completion.
At the start, Ms. Fields did not think this day would come, Ms. Fields shared. “It wouldn’t, without all of your support,” she said.
The official ribbon cutting followed a closing prayer.
MHC’s next fundraising campaign for green spaces for our patients will launch over the summer and this fall, a campaign to support the implementation of a new health information system known as the ‘one initiative’ that will enhance patient safety and improve quality of care at MHC.
