The Huntsville Hospital Foundation realized a decade-long dream this week of moving its office closer to Huntsville Hospital, when the new module office structure literally landed on the hospital grounds overlooking the Garden of Honour.
“We’re thrilled to strengthen our relationship with patients and donors by relocating closer to the hospital with enhanced visibility and ease of access for our donors,” says Katherine Craine, Huntsville Hospital Foundation Executive Director. “The idea isn’t new – staff here have been working on a move that makes financial sense and helps support our mission for over ten years now, but the costs, the available space and the opportunities never quite meshed. What’s happened now is the opposite; the community and the opportunity have come together perfectly.”
The struggle has always been finding a way to pay for the new space. “It was a matter of us having the right idea that the community would buy into and wouldn’t cost us a ton of money,” Craine told Doppler. “We don’t want to use people’s donations. That’s not what our mandate it. We buy equipment for the hospital.”
While Board members and staff put their heads together and came up with the modular style “bunkie” as a means to have enough space to improve staff efficiency and be closer to the hospital, businesses and other donors in the community stepped up and offset costs by offering labour and materials toward the project. (See the list at the end of this article).
The ‘bunkie’ is being lifted to its final resting spot beside the hospital and overlooking the Garden of Honour.(Photo by Cheryl Perry)
“This has turned into such a great success story about our community coming together for our hospital”, says Pat Dubé, Greystone Development, Foundation Board Director and project lead for the Foundation office initiative. “And the cost of the building is completely recoverable as it can be sold in the future if needed.”
The view from the backside of the ‘bunkie’, overlooking the Garden of Honour.
Still to be completed is the siding and the outside deck as well as the inside trim and painting. When spring arrives, additional landscaping, gardening and rock work will be completed.
“Our focus this year and for many years to come is to build the capacity of this hospital for a changing world,” says Craine. “Part of that process is ensuring we’re closely connected to the hospital, our health care team and the patients we all serve. Our partners and donors stepped up wonderfully, and we can’t thank them enough for making this positive change possible.”
Green Terra Homes created the building and additional local businesses that helped with the project include:
Greystone Project Management Inc. – Project Lead
Axiom Audio
Roger & Dana Beaman
Bob Torella Plumbing and Heating
Duncan Ross Architect
Express Crane Services Inc.
Garden of Honour donors
Green Terra Homes
HLD Contracting
Hunt House Fine & Custom Jewellery
J & F Enterprise
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare
Muskoka Crane
Muskoka Lumber
Office Source
Sarjeant Co. Inc.
Allan & Margaret Skinner
Stinson Electrical
Tasso Lake Heating
Titanium Transport
Wilson’s The Paint Store
The location in the Garden of Honour is right beside the hospital and a new entrance to the garden will be created to allow better access. The Foundation thanks current honour garden donors, and Mary Sinclair, Alberta Beaman and Roger Beaman for their kind understanding during these changes.
The Huntsville Hospital Foundation raises funds throughout the community to purchase technology and equipment that is not covered by tax dollars or the provincial ministry. The Foundation goal is to raise $3 Million annually through partnerships, community fundraising events and, primarily, through the generosity of individual donors.
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