• Providence Farm recently received Island Ford’s generous donation of $5,000 to be used in support of therapeutic community. On hand from Island Ford were Sara S., from Island Ford Human Resources, Tracy Parow, Providence Farm’s executive director, Justin Pambrun, Island Ford’s general manager, Mitchell James, Island Ford’s sales manager and Leah Boisvert, Providence Farm’s finance and fund development manager.
• The best of the best are always showcased at the Canadian Legion’s Literary and Poster contest, and this year’s contest commemorating Remembrance Day, Nov. 11, 2019 was no different.
Winners at the branch level were announced Sunday, Feb. 23 and presented with a cash prize.
Four winners advanced to provincials.
Monies awarded in the zone came from the Cowichan Legion Branch 53 poppy funds.
Winners, first place: black and white poster, intermediate, Kennedy Wipplinger; black and white poster, junior, Greyson Robertson; black and white poster, primary, Logan Anderson; colour poster, senior, Sierrah Borjea; colour poster, intermediate, Kaleena Smith; colour poster, junior, Greyson Robertson; colour poster, primary, Josh Vanderputten; essay, intermediate, Julia Ross; essay, junior, Stella Katiina Garside; poem, senior, Celeste Borjeau; poem, intermediate, Lauren La Croix; poem, junior, Mistia Price.
Winners, second place: black and white poster, intermediate, Aviana Audenart; black and white poster, junior, Brayden Finlay; black and white poster, primary, Makayla Crook; colour poster, intermediate, Jordan He; colour poster, junior, Kylie Tiemer; colour poster, primary, Charlotte Irving; essay, intermediate, Dashani Deck; essay, junior, Savanna Sharp; poem, senior, Katia Bannister; poem, intermediate, Joshua Schofield.
Winners, third place: black and white poster, intermediate, Otis Parker-Gale; black and white poster, junior, Declan Winter; black and white poster, primary, Kael Geist; colour poster, senior, Jasper Mottershead; colour poster, junior, Geordi Lavigne; colour poster, primary, Isabel Jeglum; essay, intermediate, Nevaeh Harry; poem, intermediate, Paisley Kovacs.
• In January, the Auxiliary to Cowichan District Hospital and the Cowichan District Hospital Foundation again collaborated to jointly pay for some hysteroscopy equipment for Cowichan District Hospital. Each contributed almost $26,000 after having the need for and value of this upgrade to modern equipment standards brought to their attention by Dr. Fiona Liston.
Liston made a presentation at a recent general meeting of the Auxiliary, showing that the new equipment offers safer and more efficient methods for removing growths that might be encountered in the uterus (fibroids or polyps). In some instances, this can reduce the need for a second, more invasive, procedure. It also saves in operating time, which translates to better outcomes for the patient and less cost for the hospital. Part of the package includes a new fluid management system which offers a simplified and efficient set up, again saving operating time and money.
All of this will benefit the patients that need hysteroscopy, one of the most commonly performed gynecology procedure at CDH. This brings Cowichan District Hospital above and beyond the standard of several other hospitals which are already using some components of this new technology.
This is not the first time that the Foundation and the Auxiliary have cooperated for the benefit of patients and the community. Both organizations felt the need to support development of the Hospice House which is currently under construction. The Auxiliary contributed $176,500 toward Hospice House construction, and the Foundation spearheaded a campaign that raised $2,075,690.50. The two groups share the costs of public WiFi service in the hospital, and the Auxiliary has contributed funds amounting to approximately $56,000 in recent years toward several Foundation campaigns.
Since the Auxiliary’s mandate is care and comfort of patients, they can advise that the comfort part of that includes such ongoing services and supplies for the hospital and Cairnsmore Place as grocery voucher cards and layettes for struggling families, tuques for every baby born in the hospital, emergency toiletry kits, surgical sponges for pre-admission preparation, tea and visiting services at the hospital and Cairnsmore, and holiday cheer in the form of tray favours. The Auxiliary budgets $31,000 annually for those and related actions. In 2019 they also authorized payment for special dental surgery equipment, a bladder scanner, Doppler wound care equipment, and a myriad of smaller items all of that totalled approximately $70,100.
The Auxiliary does need more volunteers, especially for Cairnsmore Place services like tea and visiting, so if the above information convinces you that they benefit the community and you’d like to become a member and help out, please get an application form at HATS, 79 Station St., or the Gift Shop at the hospital.