printable version of media release

MEDIA RELEASE
Hotel Dieu Hospital volunteers mark 110 years of service
(Kingston, ON, Oct. 19, 2015) At its annual general meeting on Oct. 19, Volunteer Services to Hotel
Dieu Hospital, Inc. wrapped up 110 years of giving to the hospital, putting on record yet another year
of generosity, commitment and compassion towards the patients and families in our region.
Over the last year, Volunteer Services has contributed $50,000 towards a major relocation project for
the Ear, Nose and Throat clinic (a donation that will be matched by the Larry Gibson Estate); $20,000
to the new Mohs microsurgery clinic for patients with skin cancer; and close to $70,000 for medical
equipment, including a $15,000 device used to cut away potentially cancerous colon polyps and
$35,000 worth of recovery beds for the hospital’s overnight surgical stay unit.
In addition, the organization’s strong retail performers—the hospital’s cafe and gift shop—raised
$148,500 this past year. And the volunteers have committed another $50,000 to patient equipment
and programs in the coming year, said Sharon Suddergaard, President of Volunteer Services.
“The best patient care possible demands the best equipment possible,” said Suddergaard, who
handed over the reins of Volunteer Services to incoming President Carol Hazell at the AGM. “Our
volunteers are working hard to make sure such equipment is available. We’re grateful to everyone
who supports our retail operations or special events such as our Elvis tribute show—which brought in
$18,000—because every dollar translates into top-quality equipment and services at Hotel Dieu.”
At the AGM, the hospital’s 227 volunteers were also applauded for donating 17,710 hours of service
over the past year, and a group of 23 volunteers received service pins for anywhere from 5 to 30
years of service; in total, the group represented 240 years of dedicated service to the hospital.
“We’re very grateful to our volunteers for their generous financial gifts, which support our hospital in
leading the way in ambulatory care,” says Dr. David Pichora, HDH Chief Executive Officer. “Even
more, we deeply appreciate the care and compassion they bring to Hotel Dieu every single day.”
Hotel Dieu Hospital is the ambulatory care teaching and research hospital for Kingston and Southeastern Ontario,
affiliated with Queen’s University. We provide expert care to more than 500,000 people in the region through specialized
programs including pediatrics, medicine, ophthalmology, cardiology, urology, surgery, mental health, oncology and urgent
care. We deliver quality, safe health care, while advancing innovative research and educating the health care
professionals of the future. Leading the transformation of ambulatory care
L'Hôpital Hôtel-Dieu est l'établissement de soins ambulatoires universitaire pour Kingston et le Sud-Est de l'Ontario affilié
à l’Université Queen's. Il fournit des soins spécialisés à plus de 500 000 personnes de la région. Parmi ses services
spécialisés, mentionnons les services de pédiatrie, de médecine, d’ophtalmologie, de cardiologie, d’urologie, de
chirurgies, de santé mentale, d’oncologie et de soins d'urgence. L'hôpital fournit des services de soins de santé sûrs et de
qualité tout en menant des recherches novatrices et en formant les professionnels de la santé de demain.
Chef de file pour la transformation des soins ambulatoires
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Media contact: Anne Rutherford, Public Relations, 613-544-3400, ext. 3380, [email protected]