FORT FRANCES—With the fundraising total for the “Just Imagine” campaign to purchase a CT Scanner at La Verendrye Hospital now over $1 million, the campaign chair asked Fort Frances town council Monday night to help reach its $1.5 million goal.
Deane Cunningham suggested the town give $25,000 to the campaign, with a pledge to give another $25,000 each year for the next three years.
Teresa Hazel, director of the Riverside Foundation for Health Care, noted the town gave $400,000 to the previous “Care Close to Home” campaign, which was to raise money for hospital renovations.
Cunningham said the need for a CT Scanner here is evident, with about 500 district people needing scans for various conditions.
He added having a CT Scanner at La Verendrye would eliminate travel time for patients, who would have little wait time to get in and use it.
Cunningham stressed this not only is very convenient, but it also keeps money in the area as people won’t be travelling elsewhere, eating at restaurants, and paying for motel rooms.
Having a CT Scanner here also would further increase the overall level of service the state-of-the-art hospital here could provide—something to consider when attracting new doctors to Fort Frances.
Hazel said the campaign so far has raised more than $1 million, but nearly all of that has come from individuals and not corporate sponsors.
“The public is 100 percent behind it,” she remarked.
Cunningham noted the “Just Imagine” campaign will be making a plea to all district municipalities during the Rainy River District Municipal Association’s annual meeting this Saturday in Emo.
“We’re asking you to put [us] over the top,” he remarked, referring collectively to the district municipalities, all of whom would benefit from having a CT Scanner at La Verendrye.
Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig asked if the hospital has the proper staff to run the scanner, to which Cunningham noted the current diagnostic staff is getting training to do so.
Mayor Roy Avis asked what the life cycle of a CT Scanner was, to which Cunningham answered probably between seven and 10 years, adding that like any other piece of medical equipment, they eventually have to be replaced.
Cunningham clarified that while donations are good, pledges are just as important.
“We just need $1.5 million in pledges, and the hospital will bridge finance the Foundation to buy the CT Scanner,” he explained.
Hazel noted an excellent way for people to give is through payroll deduction,
For instance, the hospital staff has contributed nearly $100,000 through payroll deduction while the Town of Fort Frances staff already has been contributing this way “to the tune of $15,000.”
Both Hazel and Cunningham reminded council, and the public, to drop by La Verendrye Hospital tomorrow (Jan. 24) for the “Just Imagine” radio-a-thon and free pancake breakfast between 6-10 a.m.
Residents are encouraged to bring in their donations/pledges or call them in, live on B93•FM, by phoning 274-4803 or 274-4826.
Council referred the donation request to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation.
Also at Monday night’s meeting, town council:
•passed an amendment to the current business licensing bylaw to require parental consent for people under the age of 15 to operate amusement machines in businesses operating within the municipality;
•referred a financial request from Georges Blanc regarding the Fort Frances “Community Chest” benefit dinner on Feb. 18 to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a financial request from the Riverside Foundation for Health Care regarding its “Oscar Party 2007” on Feb. 25 to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation;
•referred a request for financial support from the Rainy River Future Development Corp. regarding per capita funding for 2007 to the Administration and Finance executive committee for its recommendation, with input from the other executive committees and the Economic Development Advisory Committee;
•passed a bylaw to authorize entering into certain contracts with respect to the provision of janitorial services;
•passed a bylaw to provide for an interim tax levy for 2007;
•referred a request from Walleye Trailer Park Ltd. and Raymond and Jackie Gustafson regarding Bylaw 16/06 (water management bylaw) to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation; and
•referred a financial request from the Fort Frances Curling Club to next Monday’s committee of the whole budget meeting.
Fort Frances Times
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