A couple of years after it began, Georgian Bay General Hospital Foundation is celebrating an important fundraising milestone.
The organization has completed its $4-million campaign to bring a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine ot the Midland facility.
The journey has seen many in the community donate to the initiative with the reasoning for trying to get the important diagnostic tool in the first place outlined by GBGH president and CEO Matthew Lawson during an interview with MidlandToday a few years ago.
“Our community is in desperate need of MRI services, with nearly 4,000 individuals having to travel to Barrie, Orillia and beyond each year,” Lawson said.
Lawson said having the machine in-house will greatly aid local residents.
“That is why we have been pushing so hard to have the MRI up and running as quickly as possible," he said. "Adding this program at GBGH is going to reduce wait times across the region, and provide our patients with care close to home."
After the hospital received formal approval from the province for operational funding in early 2023, the foundation began working with the community to provide the capital funding needed to make this important project a reality.
Later that year, the hospital unveiled design details of the 2,500-square-foot expansion designed to house the machine while seamlessly fitting within the front of the hospital’s existing facade, sharing architectural elements with the emergency department, which was redeveloped in 2018, and original main entrance.
Construction of the new MRI suite began in June 2024 and is expected to be completed this month. The addition connects to the existing diagnostic imaging department, and incorporates the MRI, control area, separate waiting room, radiology office and staff break-room.
“I think the importance for our community to have local access to these services is really critical," Lawson said during the official groundbreaking last June.
"It’s not just 90 kilometres to travel for an MRI; it’s the time away from family and loved ones, and the cost of that. I think for our community, it’s a really important advancement, bringing services closer to home."
By last December, more than $3-million had been raised, but it was a special matching gift from FDC Foundation that provided the final $1-million impact. The private family foundation, based in Mississauga, matched all donations to the MRI Fund up to a total of $550,000.
GBGH Foundation CEO Nicole Kraftscik says her organization is very proud of how the community stepped up to ensure the campaign's success.
“The support from the community for the MRI project has been truly inspiring, with more than 1,800 individuals, businesses and organizations making a donation,” Kraftscik said.
“We are incredibly grateful for every single gift, and especially to FDC Foundation for helping us achieve the goal in time for the completion of the new MRI suite later this month.”
The machine itself (seen above) arrived earlier this winter with Lawson sharing his excitement.
“The delivery of our MRI machine brings us one step closer to the day when we can provide MRIs right here in our hospital. This is an exciting time for our community, and we are grateful for everyone’s support as we approach the start of this important service.”
Referrals from physicians for MRI services are already being accepted at GBGH (by fax and email), in anticipation of the opening of the department at the end of March.
More information can be found on the hospital's website.