I retired to Nanaimo in 2003. Having spent my career of 38 years in medical imaging it was natural to seek out an opportunity to volunteer and give something back to the field of health care. With my background in a field heavily based on technology, Nanaimo Lifeline was a natural. That was when I…
“We will grieve the loss of Briar for the rest of our lives — helping others in her name is how we have chosen to make our little girl proud.” In the fall of 2022, Erin and Cameron were overjoyed to be expecting their first child. They eagerly anticipated their little one’s arrival, decorated the…
“We paddle for fun, for fitness, and to provide a better future for our community. That’s just the Welly way.” Originally formed by a group of teachers from Wellington Secondary School, the Welly’s, as they’re affectionately known, have grown into a dynamic and diverse team of paddlers. Some still work in education, others come from…
“What began as a way to honour a friend has become a force for good in our community. That’s the kind of legacy Pat deserves.” In 2014, what began as a casual round of golf among friends became something extraordinary. Friends Wes Zannet, Don Slaughter and Ed Neave, gathered that summer for the simple joy…
“Giving connects me to my community, and it’s how I keep Larry’s legacy moving forward.” You’ll find Cynthia Crawford at nearly every Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation event with a smile, a story, and a helping hand. Whether she’s welcoming guests at Soirée by the Sea or handing out sweet treats at the candy hole…
Photo: Dr. Cobus Smith, The Classen Preoperative Centre, Nanaimo Hip and Knee Centre. For decades, getting orthopaedic care in Nanaimo was a challenge. Long wait times, fragmented services, and travel outside the region were the norm for patients needing hip or knee surgery. That is, until a transformational legacy gift changed everything. Eldred and Joyce…
Our local Royal Canadian Legion branches have long exemplified what it means to serve—with courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment. Their enduring support for healthcare on Central Vancouver Island is a testament to the values they hold dear: community, responsibility, and well-being. This year, we are proud to recognize two remarkable gifts from Mt. Benson #256…
Earlier this month, a team of nurses from Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) attended the 3rd Annual Trauma Conference in Sooke, BC, thanks to generous donors to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation. The conference, focused on trauma patient care, was invaluable as NRGH now has the capacity to stabilize and treat trauma patients onsite….
For over a century, the Ladysmith Health Care Auxiliary has exemplified what it means to be rooted in community and driven by compassion. Since 1912, this vibrant organization has grown from a small group of determined women to a powerhouse of over 250 dedicated volunteers. Each year, they tirelessly give their time, talents, and hearts—raising…
This is a series to celebrate the community and individual donors who are making the Critical Care Building at NRGH possible. A Gift in Loving Memory of Linda Dianne Cowling At Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH), the new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is more than a medical facility—it is a testament to the generosity and…
Planning for the future is an important part of what we do, and planned gifts from our generous, visionary donors help ensure better healthcare for generations to come. Planned gifts we accept include Charitable Bequests through Wills, Charitable Remainder Trusts, Charitable Gift Annuities, Gifts of Stock and more. For more information about making a planned gift to the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation, please click the link below.
As a monthly giving donor, you will help build a future of healthcare excellence over time, benefiting the ones you care for most. Together, monthly donors enable long-term, sustainable planning to support the delivery of better healthcare in our community.
Making a donation in memory of a family, friend or other loved one is a wonderful way to honour their memory, while also making a gift that will keep on giving back to the community through better healthcare. Donations are also a great way to celebrate life’s important milestones such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, retirements and more.
To make a gift of securities in kind, please download this fillable form and instruct your broker to initiate the transfer on your behalf. We sell the shares immediately upon receipt, and send you a charitable tax receipt for the fair market value at the date of transfer.
Cancer Care
Our work continues to support local cancer care in Nanaimo, including specialized pathology equipment to examine tissue biopsies for suspected cases of cancer. We’re also helping to move forward the project around a regional cancer center, keeping patients closer to their support networks. This essential area of care is long overdue, and has affected so many families on the island.
Community and Family Health
This area gives focus to children’s health, family doctor recruitment support with the Division of Family Practice, occupational health, palliative care, senior’s care, and education as well as other support for our nurses. We have already had excellent success in this area, with the recruitment of new doctors, and more on the way. Several key partnerships are already in place, and we continue to pursue additional alliances to expand our circle of impact.
Critical Care
Critical Care includes all acute care – emergency, ICU and HAU, and surgery. In June 2023, the new ICU opened with all the required critical equipment funded by
community donors and has been operating at full capacity since then. We are excited to share that the HAU is on track for expected completion by summer 2025, ensuring that our community has access to the highest standard of care.
Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of our community, and a transformational gift from the Windsor Plywood Foundation, we have almost achieved our fundraising goal.
Heart and Stroke Care
This area of care includes a new cath lab and equipment, as well as several recent equipment purchases such as echocardiology machine & TEE probe, cardiac ultrasound, a cardiac stress test system, two wireless ECG machines, an echo stretcher, power chairs for our pacemaker clinic, and a Holter scanning system. Costs were also covered for additional staff training on advanced cardiac life support, and heart dysrhythmia.
Innovation
It is only through innovation that we can ensure we maintain the highest standards of care for our community. “We have always done it that way” is not an acceptable answer for our team. We know that to be a driving force in improving healthcare in Central and North Vancouver Island, we must constantly seek new and innovative ways to pursue our vision.
We continue to press for innovation in the areas of advocacy, laboratory services, medical imaging, medical professional education, and pharmacy, among others.
And once again, mutually beneficial partnerships grounded in the desire to improve healthcare outcomes are key to the Foundation having an impact well beyond our traditional resources.
Mental Health
We continue to seek out ways to improve and expand medical detox, VI scan (Vancouver Island Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect program), and youth wellness outreach. These essential areas are interwoven with other areas of care, and we seek ways to innovate and create greater impact.
