Physician retention and settlement work underway by the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore has received a boost in provincial funding.

The government’s new Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment Community Fund will give $75,200 to the charity’s initiatives, which focus on the retention, recruitment and promotion of the South Shore to physicians and health care professionals.

“This funding will allow us to put into place recruitment, settlement and retention strategies that will showcase the South Shore as a desirable place for physicians and their families to come, practice and build a life,” says Martha Marchand, the Foundation’s first Physician Settlement & Retention Coordinator. “We believe that retention happens when people feel connected to their community, supported, and valued for their contributions.  With this funding we aim to accomplish all three!”

Health Services Foundation’s Chairman Nick Saunders echoes those thoughts. “As a Foundation, we are passionate about elevating the health care experience for our communities. Having recently hired someone full-time to focus on physician recruitment and retention, this funding will enable us to action some of the great initiatives we have been planning. We don’t want to just bring health care professionals here; we want them to stay!”

Some of the upcoming initiatives include community welcome events for new physicians, attending physician recruitment conferences and job fairs and connecting with medical learners on the South Shore.

The holiday spirit is alive and well on the South Shore, as BMO Financial Group is making a large gift to the Health Services Foundation’s Brighter Days Capital Campaign.

The $200,000 donation will support the redevelopment of South Shore Regional Hospital, wherever is needed, including purchasing new equipment for the expanded and new Emergency, Dialysis, Diagnostic Imaging, Endoscopy and Day Surgery departments.

“BMO’s donation will play a large role in redeveloping the hospital and enhancing the experience for both medical professionals and patients within many different departments,” said Justin Scully, Regional President, Personal Banking Atlantic, BMO. “Investing in local healthcare embodies our Purpose to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life, as it promotes the progress and innovation of medicine in Atlantic Canada.

David Himmelman, Co-Chair of the Brighter Days capital campaign, echoes the importance of this once-in-a-generation redevelopment of South Shore Regional, which serves residents of Lunenburg and Queens Counties.

 “Both the Brighter Days volunteers and the Health Services Foundation staff are thrilled with this generous investment in local health care by BMO Financial Group. As one of the financial institution leaders in our area, Justin and his colleagues really understand the important role South Shore Regional plays in the lives of their customers and their employees. This project is going to revamp health care in our region and we are thankful BMO Financial Group is helping make this goal possible.”

Led by a volunteer Campaign Cabinet committee co-chaired by Tim O’Regan and David Himmelman, the Brighter Days capital campaign is raising $9.5-million, recently committing to raising its goal to secure $2-million in additional medical equipment and technology for the five aforementioned areas of the redevelopment, with any excess funds directed to an Equipment and Technology Legacy fund that will help ensure ongoing upgrades to those areas, as needed, in the years to come.

The Brighter Days capital campaign is an opportunity to help ensure the residents of Nova Scotia’s South Shore have access to the best available health care facilities.  The 48,705 sq. ft. expansion and redevelopment of the hospital is expected to be completed in 2025.

The Health Services Foundation team and BMO welcome inquiries and may be reached directly at:

Alison Clements

Manager, Strategic Engagement, Health Services Foundation of the South Shore

Alison.clements@nshealth.ca

902.521.9522

For Media Relations Enquiries: Hannah Webster, Toronto, Hannah.webster@bmo.com, (416) 867-3996

The Board of Directors of the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore is delighted to announce that the Brighter Days Capital Campaign has established a stretch goal fundraising target of $9.5M. 

Led by a volunteer Campaign Cabinet committee co-chaired by Tim O’Regan and David Himmelman, the fundraising campaign has already exceeded its initial $6.6M target, which was set at the outset of the pandemic. 

As of November 1, funds raised and pledged by donors have surpassed the $7.3M mark, demonstrating the high priority that the community places on securing the latest in medical technology and equipment as part of the Province’s $115.7M expansion and redevelopment of the South Shore Regional Hospital. 

Since last year, Cabinet, Foundation and Committee volunteers have been actively canvassing for donations in support of new equipment for Emergency, Dialysis, Diagnostic Imaging, Endoscopy and Day Surgery components of the redevelopment. The response has been overwhelming, and the Campaign has secured three separated donor commitments of $1M, including the recently announced investment by the J & W Murphy Foundation aimed at encouraging donations by the community at large. 

The additional funds raised as a result of the stretch goal will be directed to securing $2M in additional medical equipment and technology for the five aforementioned areas of the redevelopment, with any excess funds directed to an Equipment and Technology Legacy fund that will help ensure ongoing upgrades to those areas, as needed, in the years to come. 

The Brighter Days Capital Campaign is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help ensure the residents of Nova Scotia’s South Shore have access to the best available health care facilities.  The 48,705 sq. ft. expansion and redevelopment of the hospital is expected to be completed in 2025. Foundation staff welcome inquiries and may be reached directly at:

Alison Clements

Manager, Strategic Engagement, Health Services Foundation of the South Shore

Alison.clements@nshealth.ca

902.521.9522 

Michelin Bridgewater’s gift to the Health Services Foundation’s Brighter Days capital campaign is keeping the initiative rolling forward.

One of the South Shore’s largest employers has donated $100,000 in support of the South Shore Regional Hospital redevelopment project.

Facility Personnel Manager Kirby Nickerson says it’s a great opportunity for Michelin to give back to the community. “The range of services provided by South Shore Regional Hospital has the potential to directly impact each of our employees and their families. Having the opportunity to play a role in enhancing the availability of these services is important not only to us, but to our families and neighbors as well.”

The South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project will also see the 34-year-old facility’s Day Surgery and Endoscopy Departments expand to have more capacity, while bringing a SPECT-CT scanner, twelve-bed Dialysis Unit and a long-awaited MRI scanner to the region.

“It is extremely important to have access to a variety of health care services at South Shore Regional,” adds Kirby. “With the upgrades thanks to the Brighter Days Campaign, it will be a great way to attract more people to the local area, including doctors and other health care professionals”.

“Supporting the Brighter Days Campaign provides an opportunity to feel good about investing in a vital community resource, which will have a positive impact on our employees, their families, and our community. Please support this campaign in any way possible.”

The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore is very excited and committed to raising $6.6-million in support of the South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project through our Brighter Days Capital Campaign. As our community campaign launches, there will be more frequent news to share on its volunteer-led fundraising effort in the coming months.

The Brighter Days Capital Campaign is shining today, with the generous donation by Tim and Anne Freeman; longtime donors to the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore.

While the Freemans knew they wanted to support the redevelopment of South Shore Regional Hospital, it was a friend’s experience that inspired them to donate to the Brighter Days Capital Campaign. “Our friend told us that their family member was saved because of the fast action and expertise of emergency staff at South Shore Regional; that drew us to this commitment,” says Tim.

Anne agrees and notes the donation is specifically for the Emergency Department, which is set to triple in size. “The first experience for most patients with the hospital is the Emergency Department. It usually comes with some anxiety. We have utilized the service a number of times ourselves and were treated well. We are happy to support this project.”

The South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project will also see the 34-year-old facility’s Day Surgery and Endoscopy Departments expand to have more capacity, while bringing a SPECT-CT scanner, twelve-bed Dialysis Unit and a long-awaited MRI scanner to the region.

The couple chose to give their gift via stock donations which Tim says is a smart way to give. “By donating stock, we avoid paying tax on the capital gain of that investment. This enables us to make a larger donation. It’s a win /win for all!”

“All of us will need the hospital at some point in our lives and so it deserves our support.”

The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore is very excited and committed to raising $6.6-million in support of the South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project through our Brighter Days Capital Campaign. As our community campaign launches, there will be more frequent news to share on its volunteer-led fundraising effort in the coming months.

The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore publicly launched its Brighter Days Capital Campaign today, in support of the South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project.

Tremendous financial commitments from residents, businesses and governments in Lunenburg and Queens Counties is how Campaign Co-Chairs David Himmelman and Tim O’Regan say as of August 31st, the Brighter Days Capital Campaign has raised $2.1 million, with additional pledge commitments of $3.5 million.

“We are certainly hoping that we can count members of our South Shore communities in to give to this wonderful project,” said Tim O’Regan. “The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore has committed to raising funds in support of equipment and technology involved in this huge redevelopment of South Shore Regional. We are proud to say that many members of the business community and members of our own communities who we have talked to regarding this project, have embraced it, mostly due to their respect for the hard work done by our local health care professionals.”

The community at large is now being invited to give to the campaign. The South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project will see the 34-year-old facility’s Emergency, Day Surgery and Endoscopy Departments expand to have more capacity, while bringing a SPECT-CT scanner, twelve-bed Dialysis Unit and a long-awaited MRI scanner to the region.

Emergency Department Physician, Dr. Greg McNally, has been part of the discussions around this project for over a decade and joined the Brighter Days Campaign Cabinet as he knows how much this will mean, not only to patients, but to health care professionals on the South Shore.

“When today’s students (whether medical, nursing, or technology students) finish training,” said Dr. McNally, “they consider many things when they are choosing a place to live and work. What type of support will they have? What type of equipment and technology will be available?”

“This redevelopment project with its new MRI and dialysis services, along with the enhanced and more efficient Endoscopy, Day Care Surgery and Emergency Department facilities, will be exceptionally important when we are bringing new health care providers and physicians into our building and South Shore communities to entice them to live and work here.”

To inspire residents of the South Shore to give, the J & W Murphy Foundation has generously given a $1-million challenge gift to kick off the community campaign.

“There are so many areas of health care our family has interacted with over the years, and you come to realize how fortunate you are to have access to these types of resources,” said Lisa Murphy of the J & W Murphy Foundation. “If you are fortunate enough to have $10 or $100, $10,000 or $1-million to give to important causes that matter to you; and if the modernization of the South Shore Regional Hospital is on your important things list, please make a donation. We will match it. We are grateful for the health care people and resources that exist for us in our communities, and we are proud to do our part to bring Brighter Days to health care on the South Shore.”

Health Services Foundation’s Executive Director Arleen Stevens says there is a plan in place for if the organization is fortunate enough to exceed its fundraising goal. “We on the South Shore appreciate when a project is funded, but we really appreciate when there is a nest egg to continue to invest in these important ventures. Any excess funds raised will be put in the Brighter Days Legacy Fund, which will be there to continue to fund all the departments involved in the South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment. This fund will play an important role to keep these newly redeveloped areas up-to-date and functioning with the best equipment and technologies for many years to come.”

Donations to the Brighter Days Community Campaign will be accepted through to the Foundation’s annual Gift From the Heart Radiothon on CKBW and Country 100.7, February 14, 2023, which will conclude the Brighter Day campaign.

The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore is very excited and committed to raising $6.6-million in support of the South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project through our Brighter Days Capital Campaign. As our community campaign launches, there will be more frequent news to share on its volunteer-led fundraising effort in the coming months.

Media Contact:

Alison Clements

Manager, Strategic Engagement

Health Services Foundation of the South Shore

902-521-9522

South Shore Regional Hospital is soon to benefit from one of the municipalities it serves.

Council members of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg voted unanimously to donate $200,000 in support of the Health Services Foundation of the South Shore’s Brighter Days campaign; a campaign raising funds for the redevelopment of South Shore Regional Hospital.

“This was an easy ask for us,” said MODL Mayor Carolyn Bolivar-Getson. “South Shore Regional serves all the residents in our municipality and when we are talking about equipment such as an MRI, dialysis treatments, a revamp of the emergency department… these are all so important to our residents and to everyone on the South Shore.”

“It will alleviate some of the (appointment) time for our residents. Some can go to Liverpool for dialysis treatments, others have to go to Halifax. Keeping our residents closer to home is so important when they are dealing with these health issues.”

The donation is made on behalf of the residents and staff of MODL.

Mayor Bolivar-Getson notes the donation isn’t just about the new equipment and services the redevelopment of the 34-year-old hospital will bring.

“As we look at the doctor crisis that we have throughout the province, any investment in healthcare is an investment worth making. This is something that is going to benefit all residents of the South Shore.”

“I would encourage each and every municipality to donate to this worthwhile cause, and residents who are able to, by all means.”

The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore is very excited and committed to raising $6.6-million in support of the South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project. It will have more news to share on its volunteer-led fundraising efforts this September.