The Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation has been waiting a long time to share exciting news about a significant gift to the new hospital and the donor has deep roots in Prince Edward County. On Thursday, the Foundation thanked this donor and its Board of Directors for being the first company to come forward with a major gift in support of the Back the Build hospital campaign.

In commemoration of their 146^th anniversary on October 31, Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. is announcing their $1.5 million gift to help build Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital’s new home.

“Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital is a pillar of the community. Supporting and investing in our local communities is important to Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. As this community continues to grow, the need for access to health care is more important than ever,” said Steve Raymond, board chair of the Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.

From left: Nancy Michaud, medical radiation technologist at QHC PECMH; Leo Finnegan, PECMHF board member; Barbara McConnell, PECMHF board chairperson; Kerri Choffe, director of Diagnostic Imaging at QHC; Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chair; Shannon Coull, executive director of the PECMH Foundation; Jeff Hohenkerk, vice president and chief transformation officer at QHC; Steve Raymond, chair of the Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Board; Art Wiersma; director on the Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance board; Jeff Howell, president of Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.; and Chrissy Poitras, director on the Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance board. (Briar Boyce photo)

The transformational gift has been designated to help build the diagnostic imaging department inside Quinte Health Care’s (QHC) new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. The department will house services currently offered in the present hospital such as X-Ray, ultrasound and mammography and will be named in recognition of Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co.

“It’s a great day when an esteemed business like Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance expands their charitable giving and chooses to give back to a once-in-a-lifetime project like this,” stated Shannon Coull, Executive Director of the PECMH Foundation. “Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance has been a member of our donor family for over 11 years and were the first major corporation to step forward with a significant commitment to help Back the Build. We are grateful for their board’s leadership and investment in continuing to support exceptional health care in our community.”

On October 31, 1874, the Bay of Quinte Mutual Agricultural Fire Insurance Company commenced business in rented office space in the Jamieson Block in Picton. It wasn’t until the 1920s that Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. expanded to insure properties in Northumberland and Hastings Counties. In 1978, the company moved into its current location on Loyalist Parkway in Picton.

“Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. takes pride in being part of the rural communities in South Eastern Ontario, but Picton is where we got our start. It’s the reason our board felt strongly about giving back to the community where we had our beginnings 146 years ago. Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance and Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital are similar in that they have been deeply rooted in this community for over 100 years. A new hospital is not something that happens often and some may never see one in their lifetime. If ever there was an opportunity for our board to support a new hospital with a meaningful gift, now is the time to do so to ensure there’s a hospital here for many years to come,” added Raymond.

Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. is a long-time supporter of our local hospital and a key partner in advancing the construction of the new Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital. Many of Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. board and staff members live in the County and have exceptional pride in helping to build the first new hospital in Prince Edward County in more than 60 years.

“It’s inspiring to see the community come together to support a new hospital. Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. has shown great dedication and generosity, in both equipping the current hospital and now building the new one. This gift will have a significant impact on our growing community for years to come,” said Nancy Parks, Back the Build campaign co-chair.

This gift has been a huge help in PECMH Foundation’s ability to raise $11.3 million of its $16.5 million goal, which represents the community share of the estimated $100 million project.

“We are grateful to the Board of Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. for this $1.5 million contribution and their community leadership,” added Dennis Darby, Back the Build campaign co-chair.

PECMH’s new build provides a number of opportunities for individuals and families to leave a lasting legacy by naming a room, like Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. has, in the state-of-the-art facility.

Naming opportunities within the new hospital are based on giving levels, starting with a commitment of $25,000, pending availability.

“Honouring and recognizing our donors is a priority for the PECMH Foundation and the Back the Build Campaign Cabinet,” said Coull. “It is a proud moment when we successfully assist our donors to find a naming opportunity that holds special meaning to them. We look forward to cutting the ribbon on the newly named diagnostic imaging department with Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Co. representatives when our new hospital is built.”

“Our board members take great pride in helping to build this much-needed hospital for our community. It is an honour for us to be able to give back and make a difference, both as a board and as donors. We’re proud to be supporting Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation’s Back the Build campaign to ensure quality care, close to home, continues to be delivered in Prince Edward County,” said Raymond.

-Staff