We are just five days away from the biggest celebration Bonnyville has ever seen. Unfortunately, we're not yet talking about a Jr. A Pontiacs' provincial championship, we're referring to the Bonnyville Health Foundation's highly anticipated 18th annual ‘Distinctly Diamond' hospital gala.
On Feb. 21, close to a thousand local residents will flock to the Centennial Centre to continue a yearly tradition the local community quite simply can no longer do without – raising money for much needed specialist equipment for the Bonnyville Health Centre.
This year, the local facility is bracing itself for a record total, with donations expected to cover the purchase of a new $250,000 C-Arm imaging machine, top of the range ultrasound system and specialized bariatric bed.
Speaking to the Nouvelle last week alongside several other members of the local health foundation, hospital administrator Alex Smyl said he was excited to celebrate another year of giving in Bonnyville.
“Bonnyville itself is a unique community. Bonnyville is not like any other community – whenever it comes to the hospital gala and whenever it comes to stepping up (for the hospital) the local (community and business sector) has deep pockets,” Smyl said. “This is a community that stands behind its hospital. I'm sure (this year's gala) is going to be fantastic (and with just five days to go) I'm excited.”
This year's gala will include a full meal catered by C'est La Vie and complimentary wine supplied by B&R Eckels before residents will have the opportunity to win a variety of items in the live and silent auctions. Canadian band Side One out of Calgary will provide some live entertainment for the crowd later in the evening.
While much of the immediate focus will be on what is expected to be a dazzling night on Saturday, Smyl, along with several other longtime foundation members, looked back on the past 18 years with some fondness, remembering exactly how this stellar event came to start.
“18 years ago, we realized there was a definite need for equipment here at the hospital, but we had no formal mechanism with which to bring that equipment in,” Smyl said. “That led to us setting up the Bonnyville Health Foundation.”
While Smyl and the rest of the Foundation had a vision for what they hoped the organization would do for the hospital, nobody could predict the overwhelming success of the annual gala. Since it's inception in 1997, local businesses and residents have plowed more than $1.7 million into the local hospital.
“I remember when we were leading up to that first event, we asked the community to come together and raise $2,000 for us,” Smyl said. “I can't remember the exact number, but the amount we received (was over 10 times that amount). It was just an incredible (gesture) and that first event really set the tone (for what the annual gala is all about).”
Born under humble beginnings, the first few galas took place at the Bonnyville Agriplex. According to one of the event's founding members Sister Mary Ellen O'Neill, there was only enough room for roughly 300 residents to attend – a far cry from the 800 plus that regularly attend today.
“It's incredible looking back at where we once were (and how we did things)…we used to have our ‘bees' who would spend months making the décor for the event, and we only had room for 300 or so people, so (the move to the C2 field house) really helped (us grow).”
The Foundation pushed through the move upon the completion of the Centennial Centre in 2007 and according to Smyl it was that move that really allowed the gala to evolve into the type of event we can all expect to enjoy this weekend.
“That first night (in the field house) was really special – we were all a little worried before hand wondering how it was going to go (having more than doubled the size of the event), but the buzz we saw and the responses we received were excellent,” Smyl said. “People were asking us why we hadn't looked for a larger venue sooner.”
With close to 50 ‘full-time' volunteers involved today, including physicians, staff spouses, other community members and organizations such as the Bonnyville Pontiacs pitching in, Smyl said the gala has developed a real “family feel.”
“The Foundation, and in turn the gala itself, has really grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years and that is all down to the volunteers who come out and get involved, no ifs, buts or maybes about it,” Smyl said. “We have physicians, their husbands and wives, nurses, environmental services, management, the community – everyone is involved. It's really just like a big family now. Everyone has a piece of ownership in this thing. Everyone makes it happen.”
One of those individuals who gives his time more than most is retired teacher Vic Sadlowski, who has been volunteering with the organization since 2003.
“I enjoy it,” Sadlowski said. “I do this as my way of paying the hospital back for everything they do for our community. I saw first hand the care that my parents and in-laws received here, and while they can't pay back (that kindness and excellent care), I certainly can.”
Larissa de Freitas got involved with the foundation back in 2008 when the gala's organizing committee decided on an African theme.
“Coming from South Africa, when I heard (the committee) was running with an African theme seven or eight years ago, I decided to get involved,” said de Freitas. “My husband is a doctor at the hospital, and I had so much fun helping that first time, that I just never looked back.”
Having moved to the community four years ago, Raylayn Van Duyn was looking for something positive she could give her time to and speaking to the Nouvelle last week, she firmly believes she found it with the Bonnyville Health Foundation.
“I'm one of the newer girls with this. I'm not from this area, so don't have my friends or family out here with me, so when I arrived in Bonnyville I wanted to find something I could enjoy,” Van Duyn said. “I started helping out with the gala and spending more and more time with this group of people and it's really provided me with that sense of friends and family.”
Having spent the best part of 20 years benefiting from the generosity of the community, Smyl admitted he couldn't imagine a scenario where the facility had to survive without the assistance of the annual gala.
“Without the gala, without the funds we receive, without this community, we just wouldn't be the facility we are today,” Smyl said.
“We certainly wouldn't be able to run any of our specialty programs – orthopedics, pathology, the (cancer centre). We wouldn't have any of it,” O'Neill added.
With the hospital already making preparations for its new arrivals, Smyl said he simply had one thing he wanted to say to the local community.
“From the committee and everyone (with the Health Foundation) we just want to say a huge thank. Thank you to the community, thank you to our volunteers and thank you to all of those who generously (donate their money) every single year,” Smyl said. “Without you guys, without the community, none of this would be possible.
The 18th annual ‘Distinctly Diamond' hospital gala will take place at the Centennial Centre field house this Saturday. Cocktails will start at 5 p.m. with a full dinner served at 6 p.m.
