BRHC Foundation launches new campaign

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This article was published 20/06/2024 (724 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation launched its latest capital campaign on Wednesday aimed at providing a funding boost for ongoing expansion work at the hospital.

Titled “A Foundation for Care,” the campaign aims to raise $2 million to support the construction of the new critical care building and furnish it with needed equipment.

Construction on the expansion started in the fall of 2022.

The fundraiser runs from now through the end of 2025, the foundation said in a release issued Wednesday. Any funds received beyond the goal will be directed to areas of greatest need as determined by the foundation’s board of directors.

In the release, Prairie Mountain Health CEO Treena Slate expressed appreciation for the foundation’s efforts.

“We are extremely fortunate to have such a strong, supportive health stakeholder like the BRHC Foundation, which has a well-established and highly regarded history of supporting projects that benefit Westman and the entire health region,” Slate said.

“On behalf of our board of directors, staff, physicians and volunteers, we sincerely thank you for this generous contribution.”

Foundation board chair Joanne Campbell said they’re honoured to run a campaign that will benefit Brandon and Westman.

“The new expansion project can only add to the already excellent care and services that are provided by the Brandon Regional Health Centre,” Campbell said.

A spokesperson for the foundation said future fundraising events are being organized for the campaign, with notice to be posted on the campaign’s website at brhcfoundation.ca/a-foundation-for-care.

Though the funds may be used to help with the build costs, the project is not dependent on the fundraising to proceed.

That address is also where visitors can find information on how to donate toward the campaign. Charitable receipts will be issued for all donations exceeding $15.

Tickets for the foundation’s annual gala dinner recently went on sale. Tickets for the Sept. 21 event are $125 a plate and can be purchased by phone, email or by visiting the foundation’s office in person.

Proceeds from the gala go toward purchasing equipment for the Brandon Regional Health Centre.

Later this year, the foundation will also host its annual holiday pancake breakfast and tree of lights fundraisers.

The critical care bed tower project is expected to be substantially complete in June 2025 and turned over to Prairie Mountain Health the following month, a spokesperson for the health region said by email on Wednesday.

This work will add a 16-bed intensive care unit on the main floor, 30 medical beds on the second floor and mechanical space on the third floor. The fourth floor will remain open for future expansions.

Currently, the health centre’s main entrance and traffic loop are closed until Aug. 31 to facilitate the construction.

From 6 a.m. until 8 p.m., visitors can enter through the front doors of the Assiniboine Centre. Patients can be picked up at the ramp outside of the emergency department, but drivers are asked not to park there or wait for extended periods of time.

Dialysis patients can access can enter from the laneway off of Frederick Street when being picked up or dropped off by a medical transport van or handivan.

Another project happening separately near the hospital is the expansion and renovation for the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre. The spokesperson said work on the centre expected to be substantially complete by July 24 this year and fully complete by Sept. 2.

The revised centre includes the addition of 7,000 square feet, a second medical linear accelerator used for radiation treatments and a “Centre for Hope” for helping patients through counselling and recovery.

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