Organizers are over the moon as the 19th annual hospital gala saw hundreds of residents come together and generously donate funds in an attempt to re-establish gynecology and obstetrics services at the Bonnyville Covenant Health Centre.
Locals entered the Centennial Centre field house through a rocket ship and were taken “To the Moon and Back” on Saturday night. Residents combined to raise $150,000.
Alex Smyl, administrator at the local hospital, spoke to the Nouvelle following the gala and expressed extreme gratitude towards the community for stepping up again and helping provide funds for much-needed equipment.
“This community is unbelievable. I have never in my whole career worked in a community that gives and gives and gives. They give from the heart and they know the purpose it is for,” said Smyl. “We live in the best community in Alberta.”
The money raised at this year's gala will be going towards equipment for the obstetrician/gynecology department, with the main purchase being a $30,000 Colposcope. Other items on the wish list include birthing beds, infant care centres, lights and a small ultrasound unit.
“Our main aim is to improve women's health in the Bonnyville area and surrounding community. I would like to help strengthen the hand of an amazing bunch of physicians at the Bonnyville Health Centre,” said Dr. Marli Du Toit, an obstetrician/gynaecologist at the local hospital.
Du Toit, who is from South Africa, was successfully recruited this past summer and brings over the skills and experience needed to help re-establish the obstetrics department Bonnyville once had.
Her goal is to help cut down on the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the Lakeland. In order to do this she will need the help of a colposcopy unit, which the department will be purchasing with the funds raised at the gala.
“This screening test identifies abnormal cells and then I get the opportunity to treat these women and to try prevent them from contracting cervical cancer,” said Du Toit.
Once again, long time health foundation member Vic Sadlowksi served as the evening's Master of Ceremonies and kicked off the event by passing the microphone off to several other members of the community who announced large donations to the hospital.
Imperial Oil donated $15,000, Cenovus Energy chipped in with $10,000, Telus and Interpipeline each added $5,000 to the pot, the Bonnyville Jr. A Pontiacs handed over $6,500, the Beaver River Beef 4-H club tossed in $5,900 and a ton of other businesses and residents also opened up their wallets and generously added to the cause.
Local auctioneer Marc Jubinville conducted the live auction, which saw 12 items get sold for a combined $52,600, with the two biggest items being a Panama cruise selling for $11,000 and trip to the San Antonio Fiesta going for $6,000.
The silent auction, which included items like an autographed Connor McDavid Oilers jersey and an R2D2 cake, also brought in a sizeable amount of funding.
Emotions ran high when Anne and Tim Chislett took the stage and gave a heartfelt speech about the need for a change in the mindset and a need for more services when it comes to mental health. Their son Tyler died by suicide in early 2015, ending his life at just 20-years-old.
Recently his parents have started to become a voice for Tyler and others that are struggling with mental health related problems. They announced a donation of $2,100 to kick off a Tyler Chislett scholarship fund. This act seemed to touch many people in attendance including Jubinville, who offered $500 to the cause and asked others who wanted to match his donation to join him in front of the stage. Over 70 people came up and offered support, quickly raising over $40,000 in Tyler Chislett's name.
“What was most moving for me was the support for mental health in this community and the scholarship that is being developed at the hospital,” said Cindy Mulherin, a senior director of operations for Covenant Health.
“I am absolutely shocked of the support from the oil and gas companies and the local communities and businesses. Everybody stepped up tonight.”
Having brought in $150,000 this past weekend, the hospital gala came close to matching the $205,000 that was raised during the 2015 gala, something organizers didn't expect.
“Considering the downturn in the economy we had lowered our expectations. Tonight the community proved me wrong and I am so happy I am wrong,” said Smyl.
He added, “This gala is extremely important. We are able to give to the people of Bonnyville top-notch equipment that our physicians are trained to utilize. Without this kind of funding we would not be able to offer any of these services.”
