2024 in Review: A Year of Growth and Generosity at BRH
Reflecting on a Year of Progress, Partnerships, and Community Impact
This year has been transformative for Blanche River Health (BRH). From welcoming talented new recruits and celebrating incredible community generosity to our Blanche River Health Foundation (BRHF) to fostering partnerships that strengthen local healthcare, 2024 has been filled with milestones worth celebrating.
Let’s take a look at some of the highlights!
January 10, 2024
Blanche River Health clinicians are recognized for the second year in a row for their contributions to help increase organ and tissue donations in Ontario by Trillium Gift of Life Network.
January 17, 2024
BRH Foundations announces the Split-the-Pot lottery will replace the monthly 50/50 draw.
The new lottery features multiple early bird draws each and a guaranteed jackpot of at least $500,000. Ticket sales have raised over $15,000 so far this year! The next lottery campaign starts January 30th, 2025. Get your tickets at splitthepot.ca.
March 1, 2024
Two brand new patient transfer vehicles hit the road to take Blanche River Health patients to medical appointments out of town, thanks to the largest donation by an individual in Blanche River Health Foundation’s history.
The purchase of the new vehicles was made possible thanks to the late Olga Jackson, a former Kirkland Lake resident who left a $962,500 gift to Blanche River Health (BRH) Foundation in her will.
Thank you!
March 14, 2024
A $10,930 donation by McDonald’s Kirkland Lake owner Darrell Doucet helps equip local clinicians with modern, new cardiac equipment at Blanche River Health.
Ten per cent of sales from the last Wednesday of every month are set aside for an annual donation to Blanche River Health Foundation.
Thank you!
April 1, 2024
Parking is now free for patients, visitors and employees at both the Kirkland Lake and Englehart sites of BRH.
Eliminating the parking fee will help remove a barrier to care for those with limited incomes, and help with recruitment and retention of employees.
May 15
The electronic medical records of Blanche River Health patients are now available to authorized clinicians at 23 partner hospitals throughout Northeastern Ontario.
The digital health upgrade will help make health care delivery more efficient, reduce the need for repeat testing and going over patients’ medical histories, and help prevent medical errors by providing clinicians with the information they need to make informed care decisions.
May 23, 2024
Blanche River Health is closer to its goal of purchasing new cardiac equipment for the Englehart and Kirkland Lake sites, thanks to a $25,000 donation by the Hospital Auxiliary.
Thank you!
May 30, 2024
A $10,000 donation to BRH Foundation by Dr. Nathan Ek and his wife Elizabeth Benitez-Ek benefits local cardiac and surgical patients.
The generous gift is made in the memory of the late Conrado Benitez Sr. and Dr. Daniel Ek. It will be split evenly between the cardiac fund, and new equipment for the Operating Room, where Dr. Nathan Ek is the anesthesiologist.
Thank you!
June 27, 2024
Recruiting health care professionals to the Kirkland Lake and Englehart areas is the goal of a new partnership between the Kirkland Lake Multicultural Group (KLMG) and Blanche River Health (BRH).
As part of the agreement, KLMG will embrace our welcoming community spirit and support the transition for newcomers and their families who are considering a move to the Kirkland Lake and Englehart areas.
July 2, 2024
After more than 20 years of service as Chief of Staff at BRH, Dr. Mark Spiller passes the role onto Dr. Brian McPherson.
The Chief of Staff oversees the overall quality of patient care at the Kirkland Lake and Englehart hospital sites and is accountable to the hospital’s Board of Directors.
July 3, 2024
Welcomed Cassandra James as the Foundation's inaugural full-time Executive Coordinator, bringing dedicated expertise to enhance community support and fundraising efforts.
July 11, 2024
A $2,000 incentive is offered to anyone who helps recruit health care workers to hard to fill positions.
The new community incentive program is part of Blanche River Health’s efforts to recruit doctors, nurses and other health care workers.
July 18, 2024
Dr. Graze Zheng becomes the second physician in less than a year to join BRH.
Dr. Zheng, who grew up in Vancouver, British Columbia and is a graduate of the University of British Columbia Medical School, works at both the Englehart and Kirkland Lake sites of BRH.
July 22, 2024
Introduced the new Wellness and Volunteer Coordinator position, filled by Chelsea Price, to enhance staff morale, retention, and recognition through a restructured wellness program with events tied to awareness campaigns and staff appreciation initiatives.
July 25, 2024
The delivery of new planter boxes at the Englehart and Kirkland Lake sites of Blanche River Health mark the completion of the new healing gardens.
The planter boxes, built by students from Kirkland Lake District Composite School (KLDCS) and Englehart High School (EHS), are part of the new healing gardens at both hospital sites, supported by the BRH Foundation.
Thank you!
August 1, 2024
Ninety per cent of the Cardiac Fund’s $146,000 goal has been raised, thanks to a $36,930 donation from The Temiskaming Foundation.
The Cardiac Fund raises money for the purchase of:
- One automatic compression machine, used to provide patients with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when their heart has stopped beating. The machine would be for the Kirkland Lake site, as Englehart already has one.
- Replacement of seven cardiac monitors used at both sites by clinicians to ensure they are aware of any changes in heart activity.
- Two automatic emergency defibrillators (AEDs) to help restart a patient’s heart when it has suddenly stopped beating.
August 6, 2024
BRH is set to enhance its Physiotherapy (PT) services at the Kirkland Lake site, thanks to a $11,578 donation from the Rotary Club of Kirkland Lake. The funds will be used to purchase a treadmill and a functional trainer.
August 22, 2024
Sharon Eady, a former Kirkland Lake resident and retired healthcare professional, donates $35,000 to BRH Foundation.
After visiting BRH Kirkland Lake site’s emergency department this summer, Eady was moved by the dedication of the staff and the challenges they face in today’s healthcare environment. Inspired to make a difference, Eady decided to contribute a recent tax refund to the hospital.
Thank you!
August 29, 2024
BRH Foundation surpasses its $146,000 cardiac fund goal, raising $150,000!
September 5, 2024
BRH Foundation announces a new fundraiser to purchase and set up an advanced emergency room waiting clock system for both the Kirkland Lake and Englehart sites. The goal is to raise $40,000 to provide a system that enhances transparency and improves the patient experience in the emergency departments.
Learn more, see examples and donate to make this a reality for our communities at brhfoundation.ca.
September 10
Kirkland Lake resident Danielle Genier and her husband, Serge make a generous donation to BRH Foundation following Danielle’s remarkable experience with the hospital’s emergency services.
Thank you!
September 12, 2024
A generous $10,000 donation from Georgia-Pacific will support essential capital upgrades at the BRH Englehart site. Georgia-Pacific’s annual contribution demonstrates their commitment to enhancing healthcare services for residents of Englehart and surrounding communities.
Thank you!
October 3, 2024
Dr. Scott Daley, who has been caring for Blanche River Health (BRH) patients as a locum physician since 2020, joins BRH full time. This brings the number of new staff physicians added in the past 12 months to three.
Dr. Daley, who earned his Doctor of Medicine from Dalhousie University in Halifax, will serve as hospitalist at the Englehart and Kirkland Lake sites.
October 8, 2024
Ontarians can now book mammograms without referrals beginning at age 40, and Blanche River Health (BRH) is ready to accommodate an expected increase in breast cancer screening.
October 15, 2024
Celebrated local Englehart resident Karen Groulx as one of the grand prize winners in the Split-the-Pot Lottery, which continues to raise significant funds for Blanche River Health Foundation.
October 17, 2024
BRH patients will benefit from a language interpretation service through Voyce at both its Englehart and Kirkland Lake hospitals.
Through Voyce's state-of-the-art platform, patients will have access to video and audio interpretation any time of day, seven days a week. Patients and staff can communicate in 240+ languages including indigenous languages such as Ojibway and Cree as well as American Sign Language.
October 31, 2024
Masking requirements for patients, visitors and employees at BRH will be easier to identify during the upcoming influenza season, thanks to the hospital’s colour-coded stop sign system.
The colour-coded system contains the following:
- Green stop sign: Wash your hands. Mask if you are unwell or if you choose to do so.
- Yellow stop sign: Wash your hands. Mask if you are a patient, with a patient, or if you are ill.
- Red stop sign: Wash your hands. Mask required at all times.
November 5, 2024
Welcomed Melissa Lamoureux as Blanche River Health's first organization-wide Professional Development Coordinator, prioritizing workforce growth through coordinated mandatory education and professional development initiatives.
November 30, 2024
BRH Movember team raises $6,379 to donate towards helping fund vital programs for men’s mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer. Later on, Dr. Spiller surprises the team by shaving his historic moustache in a show of support for all their efforts.
December 5, 2024
BRH Foundation received a $10,000 donation from Mike and Suzanne Guimond in honour of Noel and Anita Guimond. This generous contribution will directly support the operating room at Blanche River Health’s Kirkland Lake hospital site, enhancing surgical services for the surrounding communities.
Thank you!
December 13, 2024
The "Magic of Christmas" fundraiser brought the community together in celebration, raising essential funds that will help Blanche River Health Foundation enhance equipment and improve patient services for the Palliative Care Units, with a $20,000 donation.
Thank you!
These are just a few of the incredible moments we’ve celebrated this year. Discover even more heartwarming stories and milestones on our Facebook page: facebook.com/blancheriverhealth.ca.
As we look back on 2024, we’re filled with gratitude for the community’s unwavering support and the progress made together. Here’s to building an even brighter future for healthcare at BRH in the year ahead!
About Blanche River Health
Blanche River Health is a 74-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (26 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas. Our mission is to make health care work for you. BRH values people and continuous improvement and we demonstrate this through accountability, respect, and courage to excel.