Dedicated Sundre and area pioneers who decades ago laid the groundwork for the town's hospital are no doubt proud, as would be those who are no longer with us.
Residents and business owners recently outshone the Sundre Hospital Futures Committee's expectations for its inaugural gala, held Saturday, Nov. 12 at the community centre. The event, which organizers plan to make annual, raised funds not only for physician recruitment and retention, but also to start building a substantial reserve to show the provincial government just how serious this community is about eventually getting a brand new facility.
“We thought we'd start small, see if we could sell a few tickets, round up a few small items for a silent auction,” said Gerald Ingeveld, committee chair and event MC, addressing a large crowd of more than 250.
But local business owners and residents responded with “small nothing!” and offered a sea of support, he said, adding the contributors who made the evening so successful were too numerous to mention.
At least $15,000 was raised through ticket sales as well as silent and live auctions, although a final tally had as of last week not yet been compiled. Although Ingeveld is familiar with Sundre's reputation for generosity, the sea of support nevertheless overwhelmed him.
“This community is still full of people willing to do what it takes to keep our community safe, prosperous and proud,” he told the crowd.
Recollecting the existing hospital's tale, he reminisced about the Sundre residents who half a century ago rallied under a unifying call to build the facility.
“They were aware of the social and economic impacts to a growing community, and knew that their future had to have a hospital in it. The stories of the lengths that these citizens went to to make this happen are epic, and are worthy of a place in our local history.”
Now, history is poised to repeat itself, he said.
“The future of Sundre still needs a hospital in it, but now this once proud building is middle aged and in need of replacement. The future of our hospital is not clear, and once again it's time for action.”
If the turnout for the inaugural gala served as any kind of litmus test for the years to come, this community will certainly have well within its grasp the potential to build a brand new, state-of-the-art hospital that will continue to serve Sundre for the better part of the next century.
— Simon Ducatel, editor
