Written by Robyn Wiebe Saturday, Oct 22 2022, 5:00 AM

On the heels of the Boundary Trails Health Centre expansion project, the BTHC Foundation received a burst of funding towards their $10 million fundraising goal to support it.  

BTHC Foundation Chair Ben Friesen expressed his feelings about the donation from the Morden Community Thrift Store. 

“When we came up with $10 million is what we jointly, as a board, decided to raise for this project, we were working with the Morden Thrift Store prior that already, and we didn’t know exactly what the amount would be, but then we did have a meeting with them, and they informed us they were open to give us that first $1,000,000 cheque. That was just fantastic, that’s 10% of what we start with. Everybody always sees the Thrift Store there, but nobody really knows how huge a part of the community it is and that they contribute such a large amount to the community.”  

Friesen shared the steps going forward towards the remaining portion of the goal.

“We know it’s a big target and we’re obviously also going to a very large community. We’re not just working with the Morden/Winkler/Stanley area. We are approaching some 25-30 different municipalities. We feel like all of them will contribute in some fashion and then, of course, we’re going to some businesses, and then we have specialized people like Colleen and Bill Lyne, who just to come up with $750,000 for the Cardiography Suite, I mean, it’s fantastic. There probably are more people and more businesses around in the community that are looking to do that kind of thing, and we’ll try to find them.” 

MCTS Chairperson Kent Noel said 5 years ago they had planned to build their own building with funds they had set aside, but those plans changed, and they had to decide what to do with that money. 

“With the funds that they had, they sat down and brainstormed the idea, ‘What can we use this money for?’ and then, ‘There’s going to be a hospital expansion.’ and they put that together for when it happens. It’s about five years in the making. We’re very proud to be able to do this. It’s an honour for us.”  

Noel said the announcement has changed that atmosphere in the Thrift Store. 

“From the people that walk through the door from our customers, for everyone that walks through the door for volunteering in the last five years, even prior of that, it’s an uplifting experience for everybody, and then to be able to do this. Since I announced on Tuesday, when we found out that this is actually happening, we’re doing it right now, smiles and the whole mood in the store is so much different than it was. It was good before, but now everybody’s happy that something we’ve planned on, like this, is is finally coming through. It’s five years in the making, and we’re just happier than we can be, to be able to do this right now.” 

Friesen also acknowledged a $750, 000 donation was also given to the fund from the late Bill Lyne and his widow Colleen.  Bill passed away last year, and Colleen was not well enough to attend Thursday’s event. 

The Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation (BTHCF) has reached a major milestone in the BTHC expansion project.

Thursday morning, a crowd of people gathered on the north side of the facility’s parking lot for a ceremonial groundbreaking for a project that has been in the works for 10 years.

Minister of Health, Audrey Gordon, shared the long-awaited news.

“Today, we are here to announce construction will start on an expansion at Boundary Trails Health Center that will add new acute care inpatient beds, and provide larger, more modern space for patient care programs. Construction crews are currently preparing the site for the project’s first phase, a two-story community service building and a two-story inpatient building adjacent to the current facility.”

Minister Gordon described what will be going into the new building.

“This new community services building will house a number of existing programs currently located elsewhere in the community, or in acute care areas of the health care center, including public health, midwifery, a hospital pharmacy, a retail pharmacy and other complementary retail services. Moving existing programs into the new building will provide larger spaces for several departments and programs, such as surgery, cancer services, emergency, medical device processing, ambulatory care and diagnostic services.”

Minister Gordon thanked healthcare providers, and said they are still heroes, providing care on the front lines, thanking the staff at BTHC for their tireless efforts to keep Manitobans safe.  

Southern Health-Santé Sud CEO, Jane Curtis, shared what this announcement means for patient care in the Pembina Valley.

“The expansion of acute care, inpatient capacity and community services will strengthen the network of resources that make Boundary Trails Health Center an important hub of medical services. These projects will bring us one step closer to meeting the long term needs of this growing area by providing access to high quality specialized care, closer to home.”

Curtis mentioned, earlier this month, a ceremonial land blessing had taken place led by Elder Ken McKinney from Swan Lake First Nation, noting this was an important first step in embarking on the construction of the building.

Finance Minister, and MLA for Morden-Winkler, Cameron Friesen said it was incredibly exciting to be at BTHC for this really important step along the way in the expansion of the hospital.

“We know how busy this hospital is and how important to the community it is. It was exciting a year ago when we first announced an almost $70 million expansion. People were pleased, but I think today seeing it really begin to take shape, knowing that construction will be on site in just a few days, and seeing the Foundation is launching their fund-raising campaign, it makes it very real.”

At least $64.4 million will be invested in the project, with the Boundary Trails Health Foundation contributing $10 million towards the initiative. The expansion builds upon a project advanced by the Foundation and other local community leaders.

BTHCF Chairperson Ben Friesen said the expansion is a necessary step toward ensuring they provide high quality, sustainable patient care for many years to come.  He recognized two donors who have made significant donations to kick-off the $10 million fundraising campaign. Morden Thrift Store has donated $1 million, and Morden residents, the late Bill Lyne and his widow Colleen, donated $750,000.

Friesen shared his remarks of gratitude for the regional support they have received since the Foundation started advocating for this expansion project. 

“I cannot say enough about the R.M. of Stanley, the cities of Winkler and Morden, and surrounding communities. Your support shows that all things worthwhile are possible. and that truly good things do happen to vibrant and involved communities. Thank you.” 

“(It is) a day of days,” said Morris Olafson, Reeve for the R.M. of Stanley. “Three to five years from now. when it’s all put together and all working, we will know we did right. We did right by pushing people. and by keeping in everybody’s face that we need this facility, we want this facility, and we can make it work. Now it’s going to come to fruition.”

“To see this thing come together at the end of my term…it’s probably been more than ten years that I’ve sat on that committee trying to design and figure a way in which we can do this,” said Martin Harder, the outgoing Mayor for the City of Winkler. “So, it feels very good to see this come to completion. On a personal note, my previous wife had a lot of health issues. I know the many trips I’ve taken into Winnipeg in order to give her the services required, and I look at the investment as a community, and just to see that those services may be able to be provided here is going to be a huge difference to the economy, and bringing people into the community. So, as municipalities, to get involved – it just makes sense.”

“It’s an absolutely fantastic day,” added Morden Mayor Brandon Burley. “Certainly, we’ve realized over the last number of years, how vulnerable we are to healthcare issues, and we’ve been able to identify our needs. As our population changes and grows, it’s great to be able to see additional services and supports in the region, so people can access care a lot closer to home.”