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BTHC Foundation Executive Director Shannon Samatte-Folkett

While non-profits have seen a decline in charitable giving across Canada, the Pembina Valley remains a strong community supporter, as evidenced at the Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation.

“We had a phenomenal year,” Foundation Executive Director Shannon Samatte-Folkett says.

The support is in contrast to national reports by CanadaHelps which notes donations are down from 24.6 percent of all Canadians giving to charity in 2006, to 20.4 percent in 2015.

Their golf tournament last year raised $37,000 after expenses, while their October banquet saw record sponsorship, bringing in close to $80,000 after expenses. “That’s our best year,” she says.

Year-end donations reached record numbers Samatte-Folkett adds.

The Foundation uses those funds to purchase additional medical equipment like a bladder scanner ($14,300) and an ultrasound probe ($14,000), as well as an infant stabilization warmer ($38,200).

Funds also support the Palliative Care Program services that go above and beyond what MB Healthcare covers such as additional palliative care nurses and the spiritual care coordinator.

The outpouring of support bodes well, Samatte-Folkett says, with the major Building For The Future campaign. Currently, the proposal has been submitted to the government and the committee is working on responding to their questions. The foundation has been working on the expansion plans for the past two years. Plans include building a service centre and moving office space out of the hospital to free up room for medical services.

“We’re pretty optimistic for 2019… we don’t have anything concrete but we’re hoping to announce a fundraising campaign.”

While the campaign has yet to be announced, the Foundation already has a growing fund. The Morden Thrift Store has committed a total of $500,000 to the project.

“We feel the community is behind us, they really want this, and we need it,” Samatte-Folkett says.

She notes the hospital supports approximately 60,000 people in the region, “we are helping not just Morden, Winkler and Plum Coulee, but everyone in the region.”

Written by Steven Sukkau

Many this morning walked the path often travelled by the late Dr. Menzies.

Travelling from the Agassiz Medical Centre (AMC) to the Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) and back, staff from the clinic, friends and family of Menzies pushed a modified old Morden Hospital ER bed collecting donations in support of the cancer care unit at BTHC.

Daughters of Menzies Heather and Kate say their father would have enjoyed seeing the community and clinic coming together.

For Heather, the journey from AMC to BTHC was very nostalgic.

“Dad and I have done a lot of canoe trips and hiking trips and just the walking part, it just kind of reminded me of hiking with my dad, thinking of the path he came every day and all the walks we did together.”

Dr. Menzies spent his career working with the cancer care unit, says nurse practitioner Brent Gouthro; the dedication Dr. Menzies gave to the centre inspired the group to create this fundraiser.

The bed had its first test drive during the Corn and Apple festival parade, carrying bedpans for donations raising almost $6,000.

This money goes a long way shares Manager of the Cancer Care Department at BTHC Tina Bueckert.

“It was great to see this bed push; it was great to see that the funds are going to cancer care. There’s always a need for it in cancer care, for both the patients and the staff.”

Bueckert explains they’re always looking for the little things to comfort the patients and their families while they’re loved one is receiving chemotherapy, like coffee and treats. For the staff, this money can help provide equipment and supplies.

Creating a fundraiser in Menzies name is very fitting says Beuckert, “Dr. Bob has touched so many hearts and mine personally as well, I worked with Dr. Bob for so long. It’s been a great thing, and it’s been very touching. ”

Rough estimates calculate today’s bed push raised around $7,000.

BTHC Foundation Executive Director Shannon Samatte-Folkett

The Morden Thrift Store donated $500,000 back to the community last week as part of their annual dispersal of funds.

Store representatives explain the board of directors look for ways to benefit the entire community. One of the largest donations, $250,000, was made to Boundary Trails Health Centre Foundation for their expansion project.

“This is awesome, this is a great first step, it just shows that we have our communities behind us,” says BTHC Foundation Executive Director Shannon Samatte-Folkett. “They understand that we’re full here and we need to expand. They believe in our vision so it’s been awesome already to have that ready.”

The $250,000 was the second Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) given to the foundation for their future expansion. The money is contingent on the approval of the project.

The foundation has been working on expansion plans for the past two years in response to the region’s population growth. Plans include creating a service centre, moving office space out of the hospital to free up room for medical services.

The three-phase expansion is still in the planning stage, awaiting government approval.

In addition to the GIC, $88,500 was given to the foundation for the palliative care program for new equipment, and other equipment in the hospital.

Other recipients included Habitat for Humanity which received $50,000, Pembina Counselling Centre saw $20,000, Pregnancy Care Centre $30,000 and Morden Fire Department received $18,000.

Rock Lake United Church Camp – $7,500 for campership funds.
Pembina Valley Bible Camp – $7,500 for campership funds.
Morden Collegiate – $6,000 for bursaries.
Morden Christian Program Committee – $6,000 for its programs.
Healthy Minds – $5,000 for the Western School Division breakfast program.
Darlingford fire department – $5,000 for truck upgrades.
Morden minor baseball – $4,000 for upkeep of ball diamonds.
Agassiz Medical Centre – $2,240 for a new scale and blood pressure cuffs.
Boundary Trails Health Centre – $500 for its flower committee.

The BTHC held its Annual General Meeting on Monday

Plans for the expansion to Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) between Morden and Winkler are expected to be released this summer.

Incoming BTHC Foundation Board Chair Grant Thiessen explains the Regional Health Agency (RHA) will be presenting the plan to government in the coming months. Last year, the Foundation hired a project manager to coordinate phase one of the expansion.

“Getting a favourable response there, we’ll be able to move into high-gear for fundraising,” Thiessen says, adding in the meantime they are continuously receiving donations from the general public.

“The Foundation is keenly aware that BTHC is bursting at its seams and is in desperate need of an expansion,” outgoing Chair Debra Enns says, adding the community has thrown their support behind the vision for the project.

For the year ending March 31, BTHC Foundation saw $567,736 in donations. In her report, outgoing Chair Debra Enns says the Foundation was able to purchase $57,000 in new equipment including an Infant Cardiac Monitor for Obstetrics and a Cardiac Probe for the ER.

The Foundation also ensures the Spiritual Care and Palliative Care program budgets are met each year, totalling $200,000. Enns notes it’s only possible with the help of donors and surrounding communities. “BTHC is no longer a community hospital but a regional hospital, considered one of the finest in Manitoba.”

During the Foundation’s AGM on Monday, four board members stepped down, including Moira Porte, the representative of Plum Coulee, Linda Pearce, the representative for the RM of Pembina/Manitou, Bev Williment, the representative for the RM of Thompson and, Debra Enns, from the RM of Rhineland, who stepped down from her position as Chairperson of the Board. The retirement of Carol Worms, the Foundation Administrator was also announced. Thiessen, from the city of Winkler, stepped up from his Vice-Chair position to take the role of Chairperson.

Margaret Gluck, from the RM of Roland, Paul Peters, from the Municipality of Rhineland, Tanya Chateauneuf, from the City of Winkler, and Deb Weir, from the RM of Thompson will be joining the board.

BTHC Foundation will be holding their annual golf tournament in August which is already filled up with players. Thiessen says there’s always a need for sponsors in the tournament.

The only other fundraiser being held this year is the upcoming Annual Dinner.

Outgoing Chair Debra Enns