Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation

Located at the BRHC 150 McTavish Avenue East Brandon, MB R7A 2B3 E-Mail: brhcf@brandonrha.mb.ca Ph:    (204) 578-4227 Fax: (204) 578-4967 Cindy Buizer - Executive Director Val Lindenberg - Secretary II
2009/2010 Board of Directors Cheryl Holmes, Chair Gerry Walker, Vice Chair Judy Collyer, Treasurer Val Karton Jim Hardy Larry Hogue Dave Hughes John Loregio Brenda Smith Cyndi Solon  Ray Tomiak Charles Cuerrier - Brandon RHA Representative The Brandon RHA Financial Services Administrator also attends board meetings to review the financial statements

About the Foundation 

In 1980, the Brandon General Hospital was fortunate to have a very concerned group of interested Board members who could envision the inevitable. John E. Harrison, the driving force behind the committee, along with Edward Shultz, Kenneth Bicknell and Myron Magee, set out to establish the Brandon General Hospital Foundation, a nonprofit registered charity, whose purpose was to augment funding for quality health care that would benefit everyone served by the Brandon General Hospital.

The steering committee, complemented by Zella Mills and Herman Nikkel, filed a petition for the enactment of a private bill (Bill 11) of the Manitoba Legislature for the incorporation of the Brandon General Hospital Foundation. After the customary three readings, Bill 11 received Royal Assent on July 9, 1980.

A substantial bequest, received at about the same time, initiated the concept of creating a separate fund to hold money in perpetuity and to distribute investment income in the form of grants.

Today, more than $6 million is retained in capital reserves to earn interest to support the Foundation’s projects. Interest income is supplemented by donations and by ongoing events like the Annual Spring Campaign, the Gala Evening, the Rise ‘n Shine Breakfast and the Tree of Lights Campaign.

The Foundation grants funds for equipment, education, program development within the hospital and health related programs in the community and research. The Foundation also supports patient education by way of pamphlets, books and audiovisual materials and community education.

The Foundation’s first elected Board of Directors was installed in September 1998. All persons, 18 years and over, who attend the Annual Meeting, are eligible to let their name stand for nomination. This elected Board governs the investment of capital funds and grants financial assistance.

Health care reform measures by the provincial government changed the name of the Hospital to the Brandon Regional Health Centre, and we are now quite used to that as the name of our community hospital. To avoid confusion in the name, the Board of Directors of the Foundation determined it was time to change the name of the Foundation to coincide with the Health Centre. In March 2002, the board passed a motion to change the name from the Brandon General Hospital Foundation to the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation.

The purpose of the Foundation has not changed from its initial aim, which is to support education, research, program development, special equipment and health programs within the community for the benefit of all who are served by the Brandon Regional Health Centre.

In March of 2004, the “ A bed for you... a bed for me!” campaign was launched by the Foundation. Strong community support contributed to the success of this campaign as we reached the goal of $1.5 million. to replace 242 beds in the existing facility at BRHC and Assiniboine Centre with new electric beds.  

In September 2008 and 2009 the Westman Cares! Cancer lottery was held with proceeds designated to the Western Manitoba Cancer Care Centre. The new cancer treatment centre is under construction with completion expected late in 2010.. This new state-of-the-art facility will forgo the need for many western Manitoba residents to travel to Winnipeg for cancer treatment. Cancer treatment will be available closer to home, closer to family and friends.