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June 2020

Fundraising Fridays for Charity

By Thank You!

Thank you to Coastal Community employees for their $450 donation! The donation will help purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment for the new Intensive Care Unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Through their Fundraising Fridays, employees across all of Coastal Community’s divisions raise funds for charities including the Hospital Foundation. To date, Coastal Community has donated almost $200,000 in support of our hospital!

Top left to right: Colin Duncanson, Kaitlyn McCorkell, Greg Scott Bottom left to right: Laina McLean, Katherine Evans, Ronitah Lunkuse

Shields Foundation Donates $100,000 to new ICU

By News, Thank You!

Recognizing the importance of critical care for central Vancouver Island residents, the Shields Foundation has made a $100,000 donation in support of the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation’s $5 million campaign for the new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH).

Bob Shields, founder of The Shields Foundation, learned of the ICU project through his Nanaimo based company, Coastland Wood Industries. Coastland Wood Industries has been a strong supporter of the Hospital Foundation for well over a decade and their leadership team and employees alike have seen first-hand the impact large projects have on the delivery of healthcare in their community.

“In addition to our initial $100,000 gift, we are also going to put out an employee challenge to our Coastland group with every dollar donated to be matched by the Shields Foundation,” said Bob Shields.

The need for a first class ICU has never been more critical than through the on-going struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic, which, in one way or another, has touched every community and every home. “At the heart of every healthy community is a strong, well equipped hospital and we are very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of this project.” Bob added.

“We are so grateful,” said Janice Krall, Chief Development Officer at the Hospital Foundation. “Support from community leaders such as the Shields Family and the Coastland Wood team allows us to provide our exceptional healthcare professionals with state-of-the-art medical equipment to care for the most critically ill in our region.”

The current ICU at NRGH is 50 years old and serves over 400,000 residents who live north of the Malahat. The total cost to build the new ICU is more than $33 million and is a partnership between the Provincial Government through Island Health, the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District and the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation.

About Coastland Wood Industries

The Shields family has been involved in the marine and forest industry on the coast and, in particular, the Nanaimo area for over 50 years. Coastland Wood Industries has been a part of the Shields Family since 1998 when Bob’s father, Peter Shields, bought into the Company and helped it grow. They have built a strong foundation of community partnerships through their relationships with the Snuneymuxw First Nation, the South End Community and the City of Nanaimo.

Congratulations Dr. Kenyon

By Congratulations!

Congratulations to Dr. Michael Kenyon for receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine. The award honors a rural physician who has dedicated his/her/their career to serving one or more rural communities and has significantly impacted and/or influenced rural health provincially, nationally and/or internationally.

In addition to his outreach work in rural and remote communities, Dr. Kenyon’s dedication, passion, and hard work is regularly demonstrated through his roles as the lead physician in the ICU at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and as a Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC. Among his many accolades, he received the 2019 Clinical Faculty Award for Career Excellence in Clinical Teaching.

From patient care to teaching and inspiring the next generation of physicians, Dr. Kenyon has an indelible impact on healthcare in our communities. We are very grateful for his incredible work and commitment.

Watch the video to learn more about the award and why Dr. Kenyon is the much deserving recipient of the Achievement Award of Excellence in Rural Medicine.

More Hats for Babies

By Thank You!

Thank you to the Parksville Qualicum Retired Teacher’s Association for the 86 knitted baby hats which are handmade by the members. The babies look just adorable in them and the parents enjoy receiving such a lovely and thoughtful gift.

Photo: Janice Perrino, CEO, Hospital Foundation and Barbara Brett, Association member

Nanaimo Lions Club Donation

By Thank You!

Thank you to the Nanaimo Lions Club for their generous $5,000 donation towards the new Intensive Care Unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. This gift, along with their recent $1,000 contribution, brings their support of healthcare in our community to a total of $37,000!

We are so grateful to the Nanaimo Lions Club and all service clubs from Ladysmith to Bowser who give so generously so that central Vancouver Island residents have access to more healthcare services right here at home.

Photo: Leslie Smith, Past President, Nanaimo Lions Club and Janice Krall, Chief Development Officer, Hospital Foundation

Walmart Staff Support Frontline

By Thank You!

Thank you to the Walmart Nanaimo staff who donated these wonderful treats for frontline workers at Oceanside Health Centre and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital! These treats will help keep them energized through their long shifts.

Photo: Alice, Store Associate & Eleanor Baxter, Operations Manager

Lions Support Palliative Care

By Thank You!

Thank you to the Nanaimo Lions Club for their generous $1,000 donation towards Palliative Care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. The Club has been a longtime supporter of healthcare in our community and have donated an incredible $32,000 to date!

Photo: Janice Perrino, CEO, Hospital Foundation and Leslie Smith, Past President, Nanaimo Lions Club