The Fort Frances Lions Club delivered the final cheque in its $50,000 pledge to local health care during the club’s annual dinner here Friday.
“We realize how much $50,000 is. We do appreciate it. We do thank you,” said Larry Cousineau, chair of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care, who was on hand at the dinner at the Columbus Hall.
“I realize just how much work that involves,” he added, accepting the final cheque for $7,500 from Lions Club president Sandy Hill.
Cousineau talked about some of the new items the funds may go towards, including a CT scan.
“The one thing we’re very excited about is the [CT] scan,” he remarked. “It’s going to be sooner rather than later. It is coming.”
The cost for that one piece of equipment is about $1.5 million, Cousineau noted.
Foundation director Teresa Hazel also attended Friday night’s dinner and noted other changes coming soon to La Verendrye hospital here.
For example, with the high demand for dialysis treatment, the hospital soon will begin an evening shift to accommodate all the patients who need the service.
The funds provided by service groups like the Lions Club is “providing the space to provide these needed services to people in the district,” Hazel said.
Meanwhile, with negotiations going on between Riverside, Rainycrest Home for the Aged, and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the long-term care facility soon may come under the auspices of Riverside.
“I’m excited about the Foundation being able to do fundraising for Rainycrest,” Hazel said, though stressing the agreement is “not a done deal.”
The evening also featured a piano performance by Annelise Hawrylak, treasurer of Fort Frances High School’s Leo Club, as well as a performance on drum and bag pipes by the Fort Frances Air Cadets.
Hill and the Lions Club treasurer Jeannie Fiset also handed out awards for 10 years of service to Flora Danylchuk, Rose Bird, and George Bartlett.
Dick Bird received an award for 15 years of service while John Pohanka, Luke Schill, and Joe Gervais received awards for 25 years of service.
Bird and Pohanka also received the Melvin Jones Fellowship, named after the founder of Lions International.
“It is the highest form of recognition conferred by the foundation,” said club member Bud Danylchuk.
“Thank you so much for this. I’m honoured,” Bird said upon receiving his plaque and pin.
“It’s quite a surprise. I thought I didn’t deserve this, but I’ll accept it, though,” Pohanka said to laughter from the audience.
The evening concluded with a recitation of the Lions Code of Ethics.
Fort Frances Times
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