Peter retired in 1979 and moved back to the Okanagan Valley to be with his ailing Mother in Vernon.

Peter loved to travel and was able to make several trips to the Ukraine as well as many throughout Canada and the U.S.A.  Peter was a strong Church supporter and supported the Ukrainian College in Winnipeg.  He was a very generous man especially if he knew your birthday.

Peter was very thankful for the good care that he received in the Kelowna General Hospital and later in Three Links Manor.

Peter passed away on August 23, 2011 at the age of 87 and will always be remembered for his kindness and generosity.

The Board of Directors is accepting expressions of interest from individuals who feel they can provide a significant contribution to the Foundation.

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation has been supporting the activities of our local hospital for over 33 years, contributing more than $40 million to healthcare in our community.  Current developments underway at the Hospital and throughout supported facilities make this an exciting time to become involved with the Foundation.

The work of the Board and its Committees is rewarding and provides an excellent way to support our community.  The Board is composed of a wide variety of individuals who contribute their time, knowledge and expertise to ensure the citizens of the Okanagan can benefit from the best healthcare available.

If you are interested in healthcare in the Okanagan, feel you have skills and resources that may benefit the Foundation and feel you can help the KGH Foundation move forward with its objectives; please forward a brief bio with an expression of your interest to Marilyn.Hedman@interiorhealth.ca.

KELOWNA, BC – The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation is pleased to announce the return of its signature fundraising gala, Heart of Gold, to take place on Saturday, May 5, 2012 sponsored by the Thomas Allan Budd Foundation. 

The Heart of Gold GALA 2012 will feature all of the elegance of previous Galas while embracing the ‘Once in a Lifetime’ opportunity to host the evening in the new Centennial Building three weeks prior to its official opening as an operating hospital. This extraordinary black-tie gala will feature sneak peeks of the new facility, a gourmet 5-course meal, outstanding live auction items and an urban lounge after-party.

“We are excited to be Title Sponsor of this event once again”, says Tom Budd.  “The 2012 Gala looks to be the most innovative and exciting ever – truly a night not to be missed!”.

In September 2010, the KGH Foundation launched its “Take Care, Take Part” campaign in support of the new Centennial Building. This $6 million campaign will purchase much needed medical equipment, will provide support services needed to enhance the quality of patient care and will support the transition of the Kelown General Hospital to a full teaching hospital. Funds raised during the Heart of Gold GALA 2012 will mark the campaign’s completion.

“To host the Heart of Gold GALA 2012 in Kelowna General Hospital’s new Centennial Building is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity”, says Natalie Walstrom, Chair of the Heart of Gold GALA 2012. “On behalf of the entire planning committee, our goal is to ensure the spectular tradition of Kelowna’s most successful fundraising gala continues to raise impressive proceeds for our new hospital.”

Save the date – Heart of Gold GALA 2012 tickets go on sale in the new year.

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation is an independent, volunteer-driven charitable organization committed to enhancing the delivery of healthcare to the patients of Kelowna General Hospital and its associated facilities.

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For more information, please contact:

Senior Development Officer – Campaigns/Major Gifts

Kelowna General Hospital is a tertiary hospital and is in the middle of its largest capital expansion project ending in 2017.  There has never been a more exciting or opportune time to be a development professional in the Okanagan Valley.

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation is dedicated to growing our capacity and our ability to engage the people living in the Okanagan – and as the Senior Development Officer responsible for  capital campaigns and major gift development, you will play a strong role in making that happen.

If you are an experienced, ambitious and highly skilled individual, looking to grow into a significant position of leadership, have 5 years experience in the development field, and are excited about working within our community, we welcome your expression of interest in this position.

A CFRE designation is a definite asset to this role.

Kelowna is a dynamic city with incomparable four season outdoor recreation.  If you like to ski, golf, play on the lake and enjoy world class wineries – all in the same day, Kelowna is the place for you.  If the position and the lifestyle pique your interest please send a resume and cover letter to the contact below by Friday, December 23^rd.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR A CHANCE TO WIN ONE OF TWO WESTJET TRAVEL VOUCHERS!

Tickets $5.00 each

DRAW DATE: December 21, 2011, 3:00 p.m.

Tickets can be purchased in the KGH Foundation office or from the volunteer in the KGH lobby.

Prize vouchers are for two return tickets to anywhere that WestJet flies (value $2,200 each)

Proceeds to the Kelowna General Hospital Children’s Ward

KELOWNA, BC – The Hotel Eldorado and the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation invite the community to attend the 22^nd Annual Innkeeper’s Seasonal Celebration to be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011.

Start off the holiday season with a spectacular evening out on the town.  Hosted by the Nixon Family and the staff of the Hotel Eldorado, the Innkeeper’s event offers an amazing array of incredible food and a variety of beverage stations, generously supported by local vendors.  New this year, join us upstairs in the new Eldorado Great Room and Terrace Bar and keep the Inn rockin’ to local Doc’s band Reχ! 

Tickets are $200 each and funds raised will support the KGH Foundation’s Take Care, Take Part campaign to purchase equipment for the new Centennial Building, scheduled to open in May of 2012.

“The Innkeeper’s event has raised over $500,000 for the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.  We are pleased that this year’s event will support the Take Care, Take Part campaign” said Karen Borring-Olsen, Campaign Chair.  “Attending Innkeeper’s is just one way that the members of our community can support the Foundation and our mission to help improve patient care.”

Tickets go on sale Monday, November 7^th at 8:00am.  To purchase yours, contact the KGH Foundation at 250-862-4438 or stop by the Foundation Office in the lobby of the Kelowna General Hospital.

Grace Campbell was born in Southey, Saskatchewan, April 9, 1930.  She attended Regina Elementary and Balfour Technical School.  Grace worked for Saskatchewan Provincial Government offices. 

Together they lived in Regina, SK., Edmonton, AB. and Kelowna, BC.  They were fortunate to travel to England, Scotland, the Canadian Maritimes, Mexico, Arizona, California and Hawaii.

Ken enjoyed building houses and doing woodwork and Grace kept busy with cooking, knitting, bowling, and volunteer work.  She visited with breast cancer survivors and canvassed for both the Cancer Foundation and the Heart & Stroke Foundation.  They both attended the Lutheran Church and enjoyed entertaining family and friends.

They were most proud of their two wonderful children, son, Grant and daughter, Brenda.  They were blessed with 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

The Kelowna General Hospital has always been important to the Campbell’s and especially so as they have gotten older. 

Sadly, Ken passed away February 20, 2010.  Grace has left a bequest in her will to the KGH Foundation to show appreciation for the care that she and Ken received whenever it was needed.

‘Take Care, Take Part’ gets cash

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation’s Take Care, Take Part campaign is receiving a $50,000 boost from RBC.

This campaign is raising $6 million to support the purchase of equipment to provide the support services needed to enhance the quality of patient care in the new Centennial Building, and to support the transition of the Kelowna General Hospital to a full teaching hospital.

With one of it’s focus areas being Health & Wellness and over $12.2 million donated to hospitals in 2010, the expansion of KGH provided a great opportunity for the RBC Foundation to make a difference in our community.

“RBC is committed to helping improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities, and applauds the efforts of everyone involved in the campaign,” says Karen Borring-Olsen, Regional VP of RBC and Chair of the KGH Foundation Board.

“This campaign is not just about new equipment, it’s about patient access and services, we’re very proud to be a part of this. Together, we have contributed to the vital work of Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.”

The Centennial Building is scheduled to open for operation in May of 2012 and will include an Emergency Department four times the current size and an expanded Ambulatory Care Department which will streamline day surgery procedures.

The Take Care, Take Part campaign will support the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment needed to advance the quality of patient care at KGH.

Photo: Contributed

Employees of the Orchard Plaza RBC join (from left at front): Doug Rankmore, CEO of the KGH Foundation; Karen Borring, Regional VP of RBC and Chair of the KGH Foundation; Patrick Wensley, Branch Manager; and Kimberly Deagnon, Assistant Branch Manager; in presenting a cheque for $50,000 to the KGH Foundation’s Take Care, Take Part campaign.

The couch potato may be shedding its negative connotation.

Geoff Webb and a group of friends raised $2,235 for the Kelowna General Hospital Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, from the comfort of Webb’s basement.

From Sept. 1 to 4, the young adults exercised their thumbs playing various versions of the Zelda video game series.

After 96 hours of mental endurance and the completion of nine versions of the game, the group was worn out.

“We were pretty exhausted by the end, but everyone had a fantastic time,” said Webb.

The money will likely go towards updating the video game equipment for the benefit of youth who stay in the psychiatric unit. Webb said that the group is still debating the best way to distribute the funds.

“That money can go really far. We will decide what needs to be purchased when we see what they have.”

Webb gave an example of how far the money could go.

“That could be a new TV, a new system, all new controllers and a whole library of games. We can basically provide a whole multimedia setup for them with this money.”

According to Webb, the United Church donated $750 to the cause, while the other funds came from friends, family and people who encountered the cause on the Internet.

The entire marathon was streamed online. Half of the screen was focused on the video game and the other half was a live web cam that peered into Webb’s basement.

“We got a very international audience. We had Canadians, Americans, people in England, people from South Australia, people from Holland.

“It was very wide-ranged. A highlight for me was being able to talk with people on the chat and making new friends.”

Webb said that, after seeing the success of this event, many of his other friends want to participate in future game marathons.

The group is planning another gaming fundraiser, which Webb hopes will take place this winter.

 http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/kelownacapitalnews/community/130147118.html

Ninety-six hours in front of the tube! But before we guffaw at their time wasted, we need to hear why they’re doing it. One of the gaming marathoners, Geoff Webb, joined Marion Barschel in studio.

http://www.cbc.ca/daybreaksouth/interviews/2011/08/30/zelda-marathon-for-kelowna-hospital/

Ed spent 50 years of his life in Montreal and moved to the Okanagan in 1969.  He opened a trailer sales business on Highway 97 facing Duck Lake which was a success.

He served in the in the R.C.A.F. during the 2^nd World War.  He was a member of the Legion in both Montreal and Lake Country.  He wrote various articles on behalf of seniors in the local Winfield newspaper.

Ed was required to be in the Kelowna General Hospital on a number of occasions and felt each time that he was very well taken care of.  He also appreciated the work that the Hospital does for the Community in general and made the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Funds raised by golfers for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Kelowna General Hospital later this month will be doubled.

This August 19 to 21, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation is teaming up with a local committee to raise funds for the Kelowna General Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

This two-round golf tournament weekend will take place at Shadow Ridge Golf Course.

On Saturday night, Rusty’s Steakhouse and Grill will feature an impressive silent auction, BBQ dinner, and a live band.

“This event is being organized to raise $40,000 for the KGH NICU”, says Norm Allen, coordinator for the tournament.

“The Sandra Schmirler Foundation will partner with the organizing committee and will match funds raised through cash donations to a maximum of $20,000”.

The Foundation is a Canadian Registered Charity dedicated to helping hospitals to care for premature and critically ill babies.

It is named for Olympic gold medalist and three-time world champion curler Sandra Schmirler and has been helping NICUs for over ten years.

“The Kelowna General Hospital is very fortunate to have such significant support from the Sandra Schmirler Foundation. Matching programs are a great way to encourage donations. For every dollar given, two dollars benefit local families in need,” says Doug Rankmore, CEO for the KGH Foundation.

Entry fees for the Sandra Schmirler Charity Golf Tournament are $250 per player – register online at www.schmirlergolfkelowna.squarespace.com.

Donations can be made by calling the KGH Foundation at (250) 862-4438 or online at www.kghfoundation.com (select ‘NICU/Sandra Schmirler Foundation’ under the Fund drop-down menu). To find out more about the tournament and how you can get involved, contact Norm Allen at norm.allen@shaw.ca.

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation is an independent, volunteer-driven charitable organization committed to enhancing the delivery of healthcare to the patients of Kelowna General Hospital and its associated facilities.

The Metke’s took great care to eat healthy and take their vitamins!  They spent very little time being sick but they understood how important it was to have good care available for everyone.  They chose to support the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation through a gift in their wills.

Ella May Metke passed away April 10, 2011 at the age of 95.

Ella May Gifford Metke was born October 09, 1915 in Glenside, Sask. Canada.  She was the third oldest child of Jim and Lizzie Gifford in a family of seven girls and three boys.  She attended school in Glenside, Saskatchewan.  Ella graduated from school in Glenside and studied in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan at “Normal” School in preparation for teaching.  She taught school in Saskatchewan  for five years.  She always thought of herself as a teacher and was proud of her profession.  She met her husband, Henry, when he hired her to come to the village of Cadillac to teach at a rural school.  After farming in Saskatchewan Ella and Henry moved to Kelowna in 1958.  They spent many years travelling south for the winter hunting for rocks and warmer weather.  Summers were spent gardening and volunteering in the community.

Ella was a member of Rebekah Lodge Lodge Chapter No.36 where she held many offices including the Noble Grand.  She received the Decoration of Chivalry for her many duties to her lodge and community.  Both Henry and Ella worked for many years to raise funds to build the Three Links Manor.

As a member of Eastern Star Chapter 62, she served in several offices including Worthy Matron.

Ella was an active member of the First United Church, taking on many leadership roles within the womens’ groups.

She was given a life member of New Democratic Party for the many years of work for the NDP.  She was an honorary life member of both  the Kelowna 1120 Rock Club and the Kelowna Garden Club..  She joined the retired teachers association in Kelowna and was an active member for many years.

Ella filled her yard and her life with flowers which she loved to share with others. Throughout many summers she would spend her Friday picking, arranging and delivering her flower arrangements to care homes in Kelowna.  The home and yard on Golfview Road was a gathering spot for the many garden parties put on for the organizations she belonged to.

Henry Edward Metke passed away on March 10, 2003 at the age of 90.

Henry Edward Metke was born on September 8, 1912 in a log house built by his father at Moosehorn, Manitoba. He was the fourth child in a family of seven.  The family moved to Cadillac, Saskatchewan about 1918.  He became a farmer at the age of 16 in that area of southern Saskatchewan.  In 1937 Henry, then local school board secretary, was instrumental in hiring a school teacher by the name of Ella Gifford who became his wife two years later.  They had two daughters, Shirley and Myrna.

In 1958 Henry “retired” at the age of 46 and moved to Kelowna in order to give his two daughters an opportunity for a better education.  He continued to own and lease out the farmland in Saskatchewan.

Henry and Ella soon developed friendships while taking part in many community endeavors.  As avid gardeners, Henry and Ella grew flowers, fruit and vegetables on their property on Bowes Street from 1959 until 1972 and then on Golfview Road from 1972 until 2006.  They became honorary life members of the Kelowna Garden Club.

Henry loved music and it became his most rewarding hobby.  Born with a great talent yet having very little instruction, he and his two brothers and friends formed a dance orchestra in the thirties and forties and played for dances and other functions on the prairies.  When he was sixty years old he learned to read music and play by note.  He and his friends formed their own band in Kelowna called The Prairie Pals and they played in nursing homes and community facilities for many years, bringing back memories of the old songs for many of their audience.

Lapidary was another great interest for both Henry and Ella.  They travelled widely through the deserts and mountains of the southern USA and Mexico hunting for rocks and gems to fashion jewelry.  They were named honorary life members of the 1120 Rock and Gem Club.

Henry was acutely aware of the fragility of our environment and for that reason he supported a number of organizations that seek to save and keep pure our water, air and soil.  He was a member of the Council of Canadians and both Henry and Ella were named honorary life members of the New Democratic Party.

Henry’s commitment to preserving the western bluebird led him to build and distribute 2,666 nesting boxes throughout the Okanagan Valley.

Henry was a member of St.George Masonic Lodge No. 59, the Kelowna Eastern Star Chapter 62 and Kelowna Rebekah Lodge No.36.

The Sandra Schmirler Foundation is a Canadian Registered Charity dedicated to helping hospitals to care for premature and critically ill babies.  It is named for Olympic gold medalist and three time world champion curler Sandra Schmirler and has been helping NICUs for over ten years.

This August 19^th to 21^st, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation is teaming up with a local committee to raise funds for the Kelowna General Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  This two round golf tournament weekend will take place at Shadow Ridge Golf Course.  On Saturday night, Rusty’s Steakhouse and Grill will feature an impressive silent auction, BBQ dinner, and a live band. 

“This event is being organized to raise $40,000 for the KGH NICU”, says Norm Allen, coordinator for the tournament.  “The Sandra Schmirler Foundation will partner with the organizing committee and will match funds raised through cash donations to a maximum of $20,000”.

Doug Rankmore, CEO for the KGH Foundation says “the Kelowna General Hospital is very fortunate to have such significant support from the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.  Matching programs are a great way to encourage donations.  For every dollar given, two dollars benefit local families in need”. 

Entry fees for the Sandra Schmirler Charity Golf Tournament are $250 per player – register online at www.schmirlergolfkelowna.squarespace.com.   Donations can be made by calling the KGH Foundation at (250) 862-4438, online at www.kghfoundation.com, or directly to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation’s website at www.sandraschmirler.org .   To find out more about the tournament and how you can get involved, contact Norm Allen at norm.allen@shaw.ca or visit www.schmirlergolfkelowna.squarespace.com.

People’s Choice Award

Kris Ponto

Art has forever been a passion for Kris. Graduating from Red Deer College in Performance Arts and later at the U of A (Education with a minor in Fine Arts), she has always loved the visual aspect of art.

Working as a teacher from 2001-2007, Kris enjoyed taking art classes through different professional development opportunities as well as community classes. In May 2010, Kris began her career as a professional artist with her debut at ArtWalk 2010. She has also exhibited work at Art on the Farm in Chilliwack, BC; Merchants Coffee Shop in Camrose, AB and Sticky Fingers Daycare in Vernon, BC.

Kris has done a number of commissions for private individuals as well. She is also looking forward to having her painting ‘August Vines’ on display for Little Straw Vineyard in June 2011. Kris is a member of the Vernon Art Gallery, Vernon Community Arts Center and Lake Country Art Gallery.

Jury Showcase Selection

Leanne Spanza

Leanne’s piece was selected by a panel of jurors as the 2011 KGHF Monthly Donors Reproduction.  A minimum donation of $20/month gets you a print of this painting at the end of the calendar year!

Growing up in North Vancouver, Leanne was surrounded by the natural beauty of the coastal mountains and Pacific Ocean. She had always loved to paint and create art but never took more than a high school art class. It wasn’t until she moved away to Grande Prairie, Alberta in the winter of 2003, where the sudden change of her surroundings inspired her to create a signature style of bold and simplistic landscapes.

In September of 2006 Carl and Leanne moved to sunny Kelowna where she was inspired once again to pick up the paintbrush, this time to capture the beauty of the Okanagan and British Columbia. In 2010 Leanne participated in Artwalk, which initiated her professional career with great enthusiasm. Since then she has showcased her work in galleries, local businesses and will be participating in an Artist Residency celebrating Glacier National Park this July.

Today Leanne paints as much as she can, creating bold and colourful landscapes while raising her daughter with her husband Carl. Her art is currently displayed in Kelowna, Summerland, Vancouver and on the Sunshine Coast.

Kelowna May 4^th 2011 – 99.9 Sun FM, AM 1150 and 101-5 EZ Rock will be hosts of the one-day “Have a Heart” Radiothon event for Kelowna General Hospital TOMORROW May 5^th!

Organized as a part of Astral Media’s National Day of Caring for Kids Radiothon taking place simulatenously across Canada, this live broadcast calls upon listeners to help raise much-needed funds to support care for young patients, enable the acquisition of new specialized pediatrics equipment and provide parents with support services.

The “Have A Heart” Radiothon will run from 6am to 6pm tomorrow, Thursday May 5^th from Orchard Park Shopping Centre in the Sky Court. This year, the focus is on raising funds for specialized equipment for the new pediatric trauma and waiting rooms at Kelowna General Hospital. One hundred percent of the money raised during this one-day, 12 hour event will stay in our community to help babies and kids.

When:  Thursday, May 5^th, 2011 – Media representatives are welcome from 2-6 p.m.

Where: Orchard Park Shopping Centre in the Sky Court – 2271 Harvey Ave. Kelowna, BC

The Astral Media National Day of Caring for Kids Radiothon will be held simultaneously on 60 radio stations across Canada, in support of children’s hospitals and health care facilities. Visit radiothon.astral.com for all details on participating stations and beneficiaries.

Donations are currently being accepted online at www.thesun.net, www.am1150.ca and www.1015ezrock.com .

Sun FM, AM 1150 and 101-5 EZ Rock are members of the Astral family. Astral is one of Canada’s largest media companies. It operates over 100 of the country’s most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and digital media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.

Cyclists benefited from a gorgeous day on Sunday, and the Kelowna General Hospital benefited from them getting together for a fundraiser.

The 6th Annual Bike for Braai began in Strathcona Park in Kelowna’s North End.

Braai is the Afrikaans word for barbeque, which is what the cyclists enjoyed at the end of the 65 km cycle from Kelowna to Winfield. 

Participant Dr. Mike Shepherd says the event is important because it generates extra money for the hospital, which he believes is classically underfunded.

All money raised by the cyclists goes towards the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.

Operating since 1963, the Rutland Hospital Auxiliary has donated over $3.6 Million to the KGH Foundation in the last 3 decades alone. The mandate of the Auxiliary is to provide support to enhance the comfort and care of patients at the Kelowna General Hospital. This donation will help furnish the Medical Device Reprocessing Department in the new Centennial Tower. Outfitted with the newest technology and equipment, this department is responsible to ensure every medical instrument and piece of equipment is sterilized, assembled, and sorted appropriately for all procedures performed at KGH.

“This is an outstanding commitment from the Rutland Hospital Auxiliary,” commented Karen Borring-Olsen, Campaign Chair. “The volunteers in the Rutland Hospital Auxiliary are committed to improving patient care. Through this donation, they will make a direct and meaningful impact in the care of every patient at KGH”.

The Centennial Tower is a six-storey patient care tower that will consist of a new Emergency Department four times the current size. It will also include an expanded Ambulatory Care Department where day surgery procedures will be streamlined to increase efficiencies and patient comfort. With the addition of 360,000 square feet, Kelowna General Hospital will be able to provide modern, efficient care now, and will continue to meet the needs of our growing population in the future.

“At some point in life, every person in our community will require services at KGH. That is why we think it’s so important to ask everyone to be part of the “Take Care, Take Part” campaign. Borring-Olsen commented. “The KGH Foundation has raised $4.5 Million towards its $6 Million campaign goal. We are grateful for the extraordinary support and commitment of our donors and volunteers. We look forward to reaching our goal within the next 12 months.”

• 99.9 Sun FM
• 101.5 EZ Rock
• AM 1150

Contentment with life can be seen in her face

And happiness shines in her eyes

She’ll share what she has with someone in need

Find time to help those in distress….

She may not be famous, she may not be rich,

But at living this woman is a success.

Esther’s story begins with her parents – her father William Burnell and her mother Esther.  The young pair met in Barnsley, England where they married and started a family.  The newlyweds were blessed with 3 boys and a daughter.  Mary Esther Burnell was born on December 13, 1925.

Not much is known about Esther’s early childhood for although her older brother Stephen was present, he was busy being a boy and not paying a whole bunch of attention to a baby sister.  His one comment about Esther however was that she was a terrible nuisance.  It seems that everywhere her older brothers went Esther was forever trailing along.  The boys tried everything to get rid of her but she was not to be deterred.  This trait of extreme persistence and determination would characterize much of Esther’s life.

In the mid 1920’s British coal miners went on strike.  William Burnell, Esther’s father and a miner himself was one of the many men affected.  It was a bitter strike that left many families in dire straights.  What little money the striking miners got went toward food leaving no money for things like clothing or fuel to heat their homes.  Looking for some way to get relief from this desperate situation, the Burnell’s examined some alternatives.  Esther senior had relatives in the United States so she sent word to them that her family was contemplating immigrating to the new world.  Esther’s uncle rose to the occasion sending money for the boat passage.  The year was 1927 and Esther was two years old.  Stephen remembered the trip well for being at sea was a glorious adventure!  He and his brothers virtually took over the ship leaving no nook or cranny unexplored.  Esther meanwhile was trying to look after a toddler, a very seasick husband, and keep tabs on 3 rambunctious boys.  The boat mercifully docked in Quebec City and the family boarded a train for Republic, Washington where they settled for a time. Living in the US was not to the Burnell’s liking for as British subjects, they felt they would feel more at home in Canada.  In 1931, Esther Senior’s uncle loaded up the vehicle and moved the Burnell’s across the border to Penticton, BC.

The family stayed in Penticton for only one year but it was an adventurous one. The Burnell’s rented a house and in behind it ran a little creek.  One spring, the creek began to swell with run off from the mountains.  The water rose and rose eventually flooding its banks.  Esther senior looked out the window at the rising water and noticed something floating rapidly downstream.  It looked like doll’s clothing.  Esther screamed for her husband and William raced into the water reached down and pulled out his very soggy daughter from the swirling currents.  Fortunately Esther was no worse for wear.  In another water related mishap, the boys took a stroll down to the beloved beach.  A huge log was found floating in the lake so the boys clambered aboard. Son Arthur started to show off by walking along the log backwards. Unaware that he was close to the end of the log, he stepped off falling into the shallow water.  His brothers looked on waiting for him to surface.  Moments passed and no Arthur.  Stephen began screaming a blue streak.  Some nearby workers heard the commotion and came running.  They pulled Arthur from the knee deep water saving his young life.

Esther Senior’s health began to deteriorate and her physician recommended that she move to the coast.  However this was unrealistic for the family was barely getting by in Penticton so they compromised and moved to Kelowna.  Fort whatever reason something in the Kelowna air agreed with Esther and her health improved. 

When Esther junior was around 8, her family noticed that one leg was larger than the other. She was diagnosed with a condition called lymphadema, a condition that would plague Esther in varying degrees all her life.  Doctors could not agree on how to treat Esther’s malady and one physician even suggested amputation.  Mama Esther flatly refused that idea and eventually they found doctors who were able to help Esther without any drastic surgeries.

The family rented a house and William found what work he could.  But this was the early 1930’s and the country was plunged into the Great Depression.  Thousands of men drifted across the nation looking for work.  The Burnell’s lived hand to mouth often not knowing where the next bit of money might come from…but for the kids, Kelowna was just another big adventure. The 3 sons often spent countless hours on the lake where they would dive off a raft in search of coins tossed toward them from passing passenger boats.  Summer days were spent in and around the water, turning nut brown in the sun lost in the sheer joy of being a kid.  The lake was not to Esther’s liking quite possibly because of the lymphadema so she spent time with family’s German Shepherd or with her nose buried in a book.  She made friends easily for she was not shy.  Her brother lovingly teased that she was not a great listener but she was a great talker.

Everyone tried to pull his or her own weight.  Esther senior took seasonal work at the fruit packing plant.  In winter the boys would wander downtown with a snow shovel offering to clear sidewalks for the local merchants.  Sometimes they would get a few coins, often they would receive some day old bunds which Esther rejuvenated with a damp tea towel and a warm oven.  When Esther junior wanted to learn to cook at around age 14, Esther senior hastily said no for she simply didn’t have the time between trying to work, pay bills, feed her family and more. Esther was left to learn how to cook on her own when she got older.

The family’s lot in life improved when William began to get work with the City of Kelowna.  It started out as piece meal work, often hard manual labour but it eventually turned into a full time job with the City where he would stay for about 30 years.

There was some debate where Esther met her husband to be.  It might have been at school or it might have been at a local dance but somewhere Esther met a devilishly handsome boy named Charlie Bean from an old time Kelowna family.  Charlie was kind, considerate, charming and nice and Esther fell head over heels in love.  The pair courted and married in 1946 when Esther was just 21 years old.  Charlie, employed by the air Force at the time was sent to Sydney, BC and Esther accompanied him.  However with the Second World War now over, his Vancouver Island posting was short lived and the couple returned to Kelowna.  Charlie built a house on Lakeshore for him and his bride, and in 1948 the pair was blessed with a son whom they named in the family tradition – Charles Junior.

Charlie Senior worked in construction when he could and also brought in additional income from the steam laundry.  The economy in Kelowna was slow compared to other parts of BC.  At that time Golden was experiencing a boom so Charlie, Esther and the baby moved.  There Charlie found lots of employment building houses and bridges as well as constructing a home for his family.

Esther loved being a mother and doted on her only son. She was also able to give her love so some much adored Cocker Spaniels.  These were happy and productive years for the family, but it was to be short lived for tragedy struck.  Charlie senior then just in his late forties died in a car crash after a skiing trip to Banff. It is believed that he fell asleep at the wheel.  RCMP officers arrived at the Bean home to deliver the grim news. Esther however thought the RCMP must be mistaken. She was convinced that it was Charles Junior, then aged 17 who had died in an accident for he had left that day on a motorcycle.  The truth and reality finally sank in and Esther was devastated at the loss of her beloved husband.

Charlie junior and Esther remained in Golden for a time after Charles Senior’s death but Esther finally decided to return home to Kelowna where she had family and friends.  Charlie Jr. remained in Golden, Always close, mother and son stayed in almost daily contact by phone after Esther moved.

Esther went back to work at the fruit packing house where she would stay for around 18 years. She became very independent after the loss of her husband. She had an active social calendar loving to spend time with friends and co-workers.  Years passed and it came for her to retire.  Then in 2007, another tragedy rocked her world. Her son Charlie passed away at the age of 57. Another horrible loss, yet in time, Esther was able to find her smile again and carry on.

Esther occupied her days with books and friends.  She had a nimble mind and a brain that craved knowledge.  She was a quick study wanting to gain as much information as she could about whatever topic caught her interest.  While not a gambler in the traditional sense, she loved her scratch and win tickets and she seemed to have angels on her side for she won often. She also liked to play 6/49 and as her friend Terry will attest she had a very specific way that she wanted it to be played.

As she aged she began to experience some health issues. That troublesome leg continued to plague her. Despite her troubles, Esther could always be counted on for a good belly laugh for she had a wild sense of humour.  Her friend Terry says often the two of them would laugh until their sides ached.

Esther was feisty and determined. She liked to stay on top of everything and it might even be said that she liked very much to be in control. Esther was bright and it was impossible to pull the wool over her eyes.  She was a lifelong learner and a no nonsense kind of woman. She had a marvelous sense of humour and was quick to share a smile. Her generosity didn’t end with just a smile for she could be giving almost to a fault.  She donated regularly to the Gospel Mission and she felt compelled to help the less fortunate. While not deeply religious, Ether was spiritual and very much enjoyed gospel music.

KGH Foundation and TELUS Create Exciting Opportunity for Customers to Support Local Hospital.

TELUS announced this week its year-long promotion to support the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation’s “Take Care, Take Part” Capital Campaign in support of equipment for the new Centennial Tower.

TELUS will donate $100 on behalf of every new customer signing up for Internet-based Optik TV and TELUS satellite TV. TELUS will also donate $100 for each new cellular hand-held device purchased during the next 12 months. TELUS hopes this promotion will raise $600,000 for the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.

Campaign Chair, Karen Borring-Olsen is thrilled with the announcement of this exciting new partnership. “The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation is pleased to work with TELUS on this incredible partnership opportunity for the “Take Care, Take Part” campaign. This commitment will make tremendous impact in helping us reach our goal of $6 Million. TELUS is truly committed to the growth of our community and we are grateful to the staff and customers of TELUS for their support. This donation will enable the doctors and staff at KGH to provide even better patient care, and enhance the experiences for patients, family and caregivers, physicians and staff”.

The Centennial Tower is a 6-storey patient care tower that will consist of a new Emergency Department 4 times the current size. It will also include an expanded Ambulatory Care Department where day surgery procedures will be streamlined to increase efficiencies and patient comfort. With the addition of 360,000 square feet, the Kelowna General Hospital will be able to provide modern, efficient care now, and will continue to meet the needs of our growing population in the future.

Residents of the Okanagan Valley who are interested in learning more about this promotion, or who would like to support the “Take Care, Take Part” Capital Campaign can visit a TELUS authorized dealer in their community.

 The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation is an independent, volunteer-driven charitable organization committed to enhancing the delivery of healthcare to the patients of Kelowna General Hospital and its associated facilities.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer of the KGH Foundation, the Campaign Director is responsible for the on-going planning and implementation of campaign strategies, including the current $6 million capital campaign.  The Campaign Director ensures all elements of the fund development strategy (campaign plan) are mobilized, implemented and followed through to successful completion.

As an ideal candidate, you have recent experience in fund development and donor engagement capacities at a senior level.  Your demonstrated success in a leadership role within the not-for-profit sector, relevant post-secondary education, proven relationship building skills, management abilities, and well-developed planning skills will contribute to your success.  A professional designation such as CFRE will be a definite asset for this role; however it is not required. 

For over 100 years, the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation has been there for us, to take care of us in our time of need. As the Campaign Director, you will assume the lead role of making sure that the medical services needed to support our growing community are available for generations to come.

If you are interested in leading this process and working daily with passionate team members and volunteers, please forward a detailed resume to Tanja Halsall at thalsall@grantthornton.ca by April 4^th, 2011.

The KGH Foundation offers a competitive salary and benefits package. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Click the links below to check out some YouTube videos of the artist’s renderings.

Animated Flyover of Kelowna General Hospital

Artist’s Conception of Kelowna General Hospital in 2016

While you’re there, why not subscribe to KGHVJHProject’s YouTube Channel?

Dominic Petraroia, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation said, “We are confident that Mr. Rankmore is the ideal individual for this position. He has demonstrated success with Braintrust Canada, in addition to over 15 years experience as a management consultant. Doug’s management, technical and public relations skills will lead our team to an even more successful future.”

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation is an independent, volunteer-driven charitable organization committed to enhancing the delivery of healthcare to the patients of Kelowna General Hospital and its associated facilities. Raising $5 Million annually through its fundraising efforts, the Foundation recently launched a $6 Million capital campaign in support of the new Centennial Tower.  This is the most ambitious campaign goal in its history.  The Foundation is well on its way to successfully reaching the goal with $4.5 Million raised to date.

Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors, Petraroia said, “We are honored to have Doug on board with us. We have great expectations and look forward to working closely with him to achieve our fundraising and organizational goals.”

Mr. Rankmore holds BA and MA degrees in Community Psychology. He is a published author and is an experienced speaker, presenting in his areas of expertise to groups nationwide.  Doug has called Kelowna home for almost 20 years.

For more information, please contact:

Dominic Petraroia, Chairman, Board of Directors

Kelowna General Hospital Foundation

p| (250) 861-5332

e| dpetraroia@farris.com           

“Five years ago my beautiful and amazing little girl was born and needed neo natal care” says Soergel.  “That experience has forever changed me and since then it has been my passion to give back to this amazing cause”.

Elizabeth, of Aviva Studios, will be waiving her standard sitting fee and for a donation of only $100 your child’s photograph will be featured on one full page of this book.  All money raised benefits children’s care at KGH.  Anyone 0-12 is welcome!

For more information, visit www.avivaphotostudios.com or call 250.317.4395.

Space is limited so reserve your page now!

Alice (Seveta in Ukranian) Makowichuk was born at Soda Lake Alberta on July 1, 1921, and was the oldest of 8 children. Her father died leaving her family little means of support while they were all very young. Alice had a hard childhood, as her mother Alexsandra  Makowichuk, was mentally challenged and illiterate, and, as she was unable to raise her family by herself, had all of her children taken away, and put up for adoption, other than Alice, and the youngest  daughter, Rosie, (who was also mildly mentally challenged), who she was able to keep, with Alice helping to raise her.  Although it was not apparent to those who knew her well, Alice had only a few grades of formal schooling, going to work at a very early age to support her mother and her sister. She worked in a hospital in Edmonton, either in housekeeping or in the kitchen, and subsequently married John Soja, a veteran, and they lived in several places during their marriage, among them, Edmonton, Vernon, Kelowna, Chilliwack, then back to Kelowna again.

Rosie, Alice’s sister, had a son Jim, who was also mentally challenged, and shortly afterwards Rosie was abandoned by her husband, after he learned that their son was handicapped.  Alice was a very kind and giving person, who convinced John to adopt Jim, and raise him as their own, with Rosie living with them for a good part of the time.  John was not an easy man to get along with, he was fond of his liquor, and they often argued, often about the added responsibility of Jim and Rosie, and eventually Rosie moved out. After a while John also moved out, allowing Alice only $80 per month for her and Jim to live on, and then filed for divorce. Before the divorce was finalized, John died, leaving Alice the amount of one dollar in his will. She was able to get assistance from welfare to look after Jim, and again took Rosie in under her wing, so managed to pull things together and provide for her family.  As a single woman, with no credit history, nobody was willing to let her have a charge account, except Bennett’s Hardware Store, and that helped her to establish a good credit history. Eventually she got her Old Age pension, and with Rosie and Jim’s monthly assistance cheques, was able to finish paying the mortgage on her house.  Once a year, in the spring, the whole family would take a trip to Edmonton to visit her mother, and some friends that she knew since childhood, and would stay there, between a couple of weeks, to over a month.  One cold November day, Alice called her mother in Edmonton, who was living in a sub-standard rooming house. Her Mother was crying and told Alice that there were rats living in her room, that the roof leaked and it was cold, and that her landlord would do nothing to improve her surroundings, and was finding it difficult to cope with getting her groceries because she was having back problems and having difficulty walking far. Without a second thought, Alice hired a friend immediately to drive her to Alberta to collect her Mother and all of her belongings and bring her back to Kelowna to live with her.  Those were likely the best five years of her Mother’s life! Alice tried to contact the siblings that had been adopted out, but was disappointed to learn that most of them wanted nothing to do with either her, or their Mother. One sister, Lena did come and see her Mother before she died, and kept in touch with Alice ever since then.  Around 1990, Alice decided to sell her house and bought another house  closer to downtown, which was her home until the day that she died.

As mentioned above, Alice, (as she preferred to be called), was an extremely generous person, and was always very good to those that she thought of as friends.  She would often think up home renovation projects, as much to help out friends who were out of work than something that really had to be done. She would buy a new piece of furniture just so she had an excuse to pass the old one on to a friend, even though there was nothing wrong with the one that she was replacing! Every year she would put on a lavish Christmas dinner, to which her closest friends were always invited, and she loved to play cards, so every Friday evening she would host  a couple of games of “Hand and Foot” Canasta, with a lunch break in between. In some ways Alice was old fashioned, as she would call her older friends by Mr. or Mrs. and their last name. When asked, “Why don’t you use their first name?”  She would reply that she never called her elders by their first name!  But some of Alice’s friends were much younger than she was and she didn’t mind them calling her Alice.  “That is different!” She would say.

Alice always had a beautiful yard, lots of flowers and ornaments, and many people would drive down her road just to admire her place. Even after she moved downtown, she always managed to have so many flowers, that her friends used to joke that she was Burnett Nursery ‘s best customer! She also did a lot of crocheting, as did her sister Rosie, and I am sure there are still many blankets etc. at KGH that they made, and donated to the hospital over the years.

Alice enjoyed her TV, and used to watch “Another World” faithfully, crocheting all the while, to make the most of time spent. She enjoyed the Christmas specials, and would never miss “The Ten Commandments” which usually would be aired every spring.  The night that she died, she stayed up late to watch a movie, then went to bed, and slipped away during early morning of Mother’s Day, May 9, 2004 just short of 83 years of age.

Alice had it arranged in her will that Rosie would get a portion of her estate in trust, as long as she would need it, and the remainder  would be in Trust for Jim’s needs, and, as neither would have heirs, it was stipulated that the residual of the estate upon their passing would go to KGHF.  Rosie passed away in June 2008. Jim is doing well and has thrived with the help of a couple of very good care-givers.

Lena passed away on August 27, 2008 at the age of 92. She was one of twelve children. She married her husband Pete in 1935 and they were blessed to have celebrated their 50th anniversary together.

Lena and Pete farmed in Mantario, Saskatchewan and their love of farming was evident in the pride they had in their land. Every year Lena and her husband were excited to seed in the spring, anticipate the fall harvest and dream of the next year’s crop through the winter months. She spent many hours tending her garden, raising chickens, cooking, baking, canning and sewing.

After leaving the farm, Lena and her husband spent 7 years in Medicine Hat before moving to Kelowna where she lived for 41 years. Lena was proud of her Ukrainian heritage and had a full and busy life dedicated to her church. She was very loyal to her position as Treasurer of St. Peter & St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Kelowna for 36 years.

She was fortunate to have travelled to many parts of the world and considered herself young at heart. She often commented on how lucky she was to have lived a full and long life in good health.

Lena was a good, kind and true person.

His family inheritance was generously shared with a wide variety of charitable organizations including the KGH Foundation.

Pat, as he was known, was born August 15, 1932 in Kelowna, BC. He attended Kelowna High School and after graduation worked at CKOV, set up his own Insurance Adjustment office, worked as office manager for Wightman’s Plumbing and then established a private accounting business.

He lived his entire life in Kelowna with the exception of a few years in Kamloops. Quebec City was a favourite place that he visited, enjoying the ties with cousins there.

Pat was a bachelor and had one sister (Sheila). His mother, Elizabeth Moss (Conroy) was born in Ellison in 1900 and worked for many years as bookkeeper at Fumerton’s Department Store.

His hobbies included playing golf and curling and he enjoyed watching hockey. He was a staunch and faithful member of the Liberal Party of Canada and took great interest in political events.

He dedicated many years of service to the Chamber of Commerce as well as the Elks. He served as a treasurer and business advisor for the Elks for many years.

Pat chose to support the Kelowna General Hospital as he recognized the ongoing need in health care and the constant shortage of funds. He was cared for at Three Links Manor in his last years of life.

The Kelowna General Hospital Foundation gratefully acknowledges the generous support of John Patrick Moss and the family inheritance he shared with so many worthwhile organizations that were important to him.

Their parents were from England & Scotland and were very hard working people who never complained.

Ken & Dorothy had four children – two girls and two boys and 3 grandchildren – two girls and one boy. They would agree that their children and grandchildren are their greatest accomplishments as well as having the ability to build their dream home in 1993.

They had a passion for square dancing and would encourage young people to try it. They also enjoyed travelling with Europe and Australia being their favourite destinations.

Dorothy chose to make a gift to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation to show appreciation for the care that was given to her husband as well as the care that her son Bruce received through dealing with a heart attack and later a stroke.

In Dorothy’s words “The Kelowna General Hospital was there for our family and I feel the need to help to care for future generations”.

I was born October 14th, 1932 at the family homestead in Saskatchewan. (Birth Certificate reads – Sec 20-TSP40-Range13-West of the 2nd). This is near Archerwill.

I went to school in Archerwill and went on to Air Traffic Control School in Winnipeg. I also completed Business Administration at Red River Community College.

I worked in a furniture store in Melfort, SK for 3 years, worked as an air traffic controller for 32 years and from 1988 to the present I have worked for Mulder Construction in Winnipeg, MB on a part-time basis.

I have lived in Archerwill, Melfort, Regina and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan, Winnipeg in Manitoba, Thunder Bay in Ontario and I currently live in Kelowna.

My favourite places that I have visited are Hawaii, Panama Canal, Japan and Alaska and Yukon.

I have done a lot of travel over the years and have enjoyed many new experiences in so many different countries. An experience of a lifetime was as a volunteer in International Client Services during the Olympics in February 2010. I was in Whistler February 9th until March 1st. My clients were from the Norwegian Olympic Committee. Super to work with!!

I am widowed. I lost my wife July 12th, 1996. We did not have any children. I have a sister that lives in Tisdale, Saskatchewan. I have good rapport with her and all her family. I also have family connections in Sweden.

I have my aviation medical and I still fly for pleasure. I enjoy travel. I try to play golf!! I cross-country ski and I also skate in the winter months

What I most proud of is caring for my terminally ill wife as it was her wish to die at home. I also cared for a friend in Saskatoon who was also terminally ill and took responsibility for his 100 year old mother after he passed away.

I am also proud that I have set up this Foundation to support the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.

Kelowna is where I will spend the rest of my life. We have a good health care system which we all will need at some point. I think we all should support!!

My advice to young people is – Do Not Be Afraid of Work!

A story that began decades ago in war-torn Europe and saw two broken hearts find each other in Kelowna has taken on special meaning in the Planned Giving office at the KGH Foundation.

Eugen was born 86 years ago in what was then Czechoslovakia. Surviving a Russian prisoner of war camp at the end of WW II, he eventually made his way to Germany where he reunited with his first wife. In 1956 Eugen emigrated to Canada, landing in Ottawa and worked as a photographer until his retirement to Kelowna in 1979.

Two years earlier in 1954, Johanna had also emigrated to Canada settling in Toronto. She moved to Kelowna in 1972. Eugen and Johanna did not know one other at the time but met some years later when their respective spouses fell ill and were under care in Cottonwoods. It was in Cottonwoods that Johanna & Eugen first met, and shared the joy and struggle of caring for a loved one. Sadly for both their spouses passed away but an enduring friendship had blossomed between Eugen and Johanna. Luckier than most, they married and today share a mischievous, playful enjoyment of one another.

But the story doesn’t end here. Eugen and Johanna Helm have established an Endowment Fund through the KGH Foundation. Their Fund will live on in perpetuity, providing medical assistance to future generations.
“We came to Canada with absolutely nothing” says Eugen, “and this country took us in. Canada has always been good to us; we could live here in peace. Now we can do something good for Canada.”

Johanna says their fund will be used to keep critical equipment up to date, “The Foundation is a safe place to give our money. I know that it will be used help so many patients.”

We honour Eugen and Johanna for their special, meaningful generosity and we can only wish for ourselves what they have found with one another later in life.

When Catherine and Gordon Almond lost their only son in a terrible car accident, a few weeks before Christmas in 2004, they knew that their world would never be the same. Sean was a young man filled with the promise of a very bright future and the apple of his parents’ eyes. His loss shook the Almond family to the core and caused many of his numerous friends to pause for a moment and take stock of their own lives.

As his parents went through the motions of dealing with the many remnants and reminders of Sean’s life, they began to consider what would be left behind to mark Sean’s place in this world. Surely Sean would be carried on in the many happy memories of family, relatives and friends but Catherine and Gordon felt that they wanted to find a more tangible way to memorialize their beautiful son.

After a few months had passed and after spending some time thinking about Sean, and the kind of individual he was, Catherine and Gordon decided to contact the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation to find out if there was something they could do as a memorial tribute for their son. The Almonds had been donating to the KGH Foundation for several years, both personally and through their company, Spider Manufacturing Inc. They both believed that supporting the local hospital and health care system was one of the best ways to give back to the community that had become their home. Now, as they considered their need to establish an on going memorial for their son, the Kelowna General Hospital and the KGH Foundation seemed a natural direction in which to turn.

After discussions with KGH Foundation staff, the Almonds decided to create a named and designated endowment fund as a memorial for Sean. The Sean Almond Memorial Fund has been created as a permanent source of support for each of the areas within KGH dedicated to the care and treatment of children and youth. Income earned by the Sean Almond Memorial Fund will be used, in the future, to purchase medical equipment and patient comforts for the Children’s Health Centre (KGH’s pediatric unit), the newborn nursery, the Adolescent Psychiatric Unit (currently under construction) as well as provide support for community health programs aimed at children’s health. Catherine and Gordon Almond hope that this fund will serve as a permanent reminder of Sean and of the generous and caring person that he was.

The following paragraphs are a little of Sean’s story.

Sean Colin Almond

Sean was born on December 28, 1979 in London, Ontario. The family moved to Sherwood Park, Alberta, when Sean was five years old and it was there that he attended the first few years of school. It was also in Sherwood Park that the family became aware of Sean’s interest in the wonderful world of free enterprise. Whether it was through mowing lawns for neighbours at home, or selling donuts to his parents’ business neighbours, Sean was determined to make his mark in the world at a very young age.

The family moved again and settled in Kelowna, British Columbia, in 1990. Sean attended Dorthea Walker Elementary School and it was there that he began a series of friendships that stayed with him for the remainder of his young life.

Sean’s interest in the business world continued and, in particular, Sean showed a keen interest and aptitude in his parent’s business, Spider Manufacturing Inc. It was not at all unusual to see a Sean, as a young teenager, sitting around a boardroom table discussing plans and projects with senior designers and engineers. Sean worked at Spider on at least a part-time basis for most of his life, even when he was attending school full-time.

Sean graduated from Okanagan Mission Secondary School in 1998 and went on to begin the Commercial Aviation Pilot Program at Okanagan University College. Sean already had his pilot’s license and was working on accreditation to fly float planes at the time of his death. He had a keen interest in all things mechanical from dirt bikes to jet planes. A favorite hobby was rebuilding car and truck engines.

After the events of September 11, 2001 Sean re-evaluated his decision to pursue a career in commercial aviation. Opportunities to obtain time in the air were drying up and it was becoming increasingly difficult to acquire the flight hours that the program required. In addition, opportunities for future employment also seemed to diminish in the post September 11th world.
Sean returned to Spider Manufacturing as a full-time employee and was soon manning the Materials Management and Purchasing desk where he was responsible for a multi-million dollar purchasing budget and the task of purchasing raw materials for the manufacturing plant. After a year in this new role at Spider, Sean discovered that he had a real knack for the negotiations involved in finalizing the large purchasing contracts used to acquire the necessary raw materials for Spider’s manufacturing processes. He decided to return to O.U.C. to obtain a Degree in Materials Management.Sean was approximately half way through completing his course work for his Degree in Materials Management when he died as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Sean Almond passed away on December 2, 2004 at Kelowna, British Columbia, just a few weeks short of his 25th birthday.

Sean’s life, while short, was also a life filled with kindness, friendship and generosity. He had many friends at school and at work and was well known for his willingness to help out whenever a friend or co-worker found himself or herself in a difficult position.

Sean’s generosity of spirit was encouraged early on by his parents who requested that a portion of his allowance be spent, each year, on purchasing food and other necessities of life for those less fortunate than himself. Sean was taken to a grocery store where he could purchase items that would then be donated to food banks and homeless shelters. It soon became part of his nature to seek to help out whenever problems or difficulties arose for those around him.

In the last year of his life Sean also had the opportunity to see a couple of his personal dreams and goals come true. He finally took a long awaited trip to Egypt with Sheri, one of his older sisters, to “see the pyramids” and he was also able to purchase and move into “his own home” for the first time.

Sean was survived by his parents, Gordon and Catherine Almond as well as by his three sisters, Julie, Sheri and Nicole. Sean was a wonderful young man filled with a passion for life and a great sense of humour. Sean was a friend to all who knew him and his presence will be remembered, and missed, by many.

If you would like to contribute to the Sean Almond Memorial Fund please send your cheque, made payable to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, to the Foundation’s office. Please mark “”Sean Almond Memorial Fund” on the bottom left corner of your cheque or enclose a note letting us know that you wish to contribute to that fund. (Please ensure that we have your current mailing address in order that we may forward your tax receipt for your gift.)

This donation will help support the purchase of new equipment for the Centennial Tower, scheduled to open in 2012. Additional space, new technology and services, opportunities for on-site learning for medical students, and a commitment to improving patient care is the focus for this expansion.

“We are thrilled that RBC Royal Bank has made this contribution to the campaign. The corporate community plays an integral part in helping us reach our goal of $6 million,” said Dominic Petraroia, chairman of the board of directors for the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.

Jan McIntosh, the KGH chief of staff, also welcomed the donation from RBC.

“The Centennial Tower is a six-storey patient care tower that will consist of a new Emergency Department four times the current size,” McIntosh said.

“It will also include an expanded Ambulatory Care Department where day surgery procedures will be streamlined to increase efficiencies and patient comfort.

“With the addition of 360,000 square feet, Kelowna General Hospital will be able to provide modern, efficient care now, and will continue to meet the needs of our growing population in the future”.

Led by campaign chair, Karen Borring-Olsen, regional vice-president RBC Royal Bank, this donation has significant meaning to her.

“RBC is committed to the growth of this community. We believe in lending our time to voluntary organizations as well as giving back financially,” said Borring-Olsen.

“This $20,000 contribution will support the purchase of world class equipment for the Centennial Tower.

“As a result, the Kelowna General Hospital will be able to provide even better patient care, and enhance the experiences for patients, family and caregivers, physicians and staff.”

Petraroia said “a vibrant, growing hospital” is an essential part of a healthy community, noting that at some point KGH will help every family in our region.

“We think it’s so important to ask everyone to be part of the Take Care, Take Part campaign. This is a truly exciting time at KGH,” Petraroia said.

The $6-million Take Care, Take Part fundraising campaign is the most ambitious goal the KGH Foundation has undertaken, Petraroia added.

He says it would not be possible without the extraordinary support and commitment of our donors, volunteers and staff.

For more information or to make a donation, please contact the foundation office at 250-862-4438.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/kelownacapitalnews/news/112039354.html

The three million already collected came from a variety of early donors, including Astral Media, Kelowna General Hospital Auxiliary, RBC Dominion Securities and a several special events.

Campaign chair Karen Borring-Olsen says three areas that have been identified as needing the support of this campaign.

“The three that have been identified as really needing our support are the new emergency ward, which is going to be four times the size it is now, the second is ambulatory care or day surgery and the third is a medical school which is also on site,” says Borring-Olsen.

Borring-Olsen says the expansion project is vital for KGH, and she is very confident that the remaining $3 million needed to reach the campaign goal will be committed over the next 18 months.

“A vibrant, growing hospital is an essential part of a healthy community and at one point or another helps every family in the Central Okanagan. Now we’re going to turn to the community and ask everyone to take part in this fundraising campaign.”

The $6 million project is the foundation’s largest capital campaign to date.

PRESS RELEASE

Back in June, the Western Hockey League team pledged to raise $200,000 for the KGH Orthopaedic Unit over the next five years.

Funds are being raised through the team’s annual alumni weekend which includes a golf tournament and alumni hockey game.

On Thursday, Rockets Marketing Manager, Anne-Marie Hamilton announced the club was handing over a record $65,000 to the KGH Foundation.

“The Daily Courier-Scotiabank annual Rockets alumni golf tournament, which brings back many Kelowna Rockets, now NHL superstars, raised a record-breaking $55,000 this summer,” says Hamilton.

Along with the money raised through the golf tournament, former Rockets defenceman Shea Weber made a second donation of $10,000 through the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, bringing the total amount raised to $65,000.

“Our ongoing partnership with the Kelowna Rockets organization and alumni, like Shea Weber, inspires our whole community and most of all our kids – the Rockets are truly our hometown heroes,” says KGH Foundation Executive Director, Sarah Nelems.

Money raised over the next five years will be used to purchase specialized equipment for the orthopaedic unit.

Source:

http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/56701/Rockets-donate-65-000-to-KGHF

The funds will be raised through the Kelowna Rockets Alumni Weekend which takes place each summer and in the past has raised $109,000 for KGH’s pediatric and maternity ward.

Money raised over the next five years will be used to purchase specialized equipment for the orthopedic unit.

“We’re very proud to be able to continue our partnership with Kelowna General Hospital and help raise money for the orthopedic unit,” says Anne-Marie Hamilton, Kelowna Rockets director of marketing.

“Our alumni weekend started with 24 people and has grown so much that it will be oversold.”

Co-sponsored by Scotiabank and the Kelowna Daily Courier, the Rockets Alumni Weekend takes place July 22 to 25 and features a golf tournament and hockey game.

Former Rockets players Josh Gorges, Shea Weber and Duncan Keith are all committed to taking part.

“I think it’s important for us as players to realize that we are very fortunate to be a part of this team, this city and this organization,” says Gorges, now a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

“We owe a lot of our success to the Rockets and this is an opportunity to help out in the best way we can.”

Dr. Jack Oliver is one of seven orthopedic surgeons at KGH. He says the equipment that will be purchased will bring the hospital inline with other major health centres.

“The equipment is going to be state of the art and will bring us right up to the level we need to be,” says Oliver. “We’re thrilled to have this huge boost to the hospital.”

KGH Foundation executive director Sarah Nelems adds the charity support will have a big impact.

“We will be able to buy equipment that Interior Health does not have a budget for,” says Nelems.

“This is high-tech equipment that will have an impact over the whole community. We’re thrilled to be the charity of choice for the Kelowna Rockets Alumni Weekend.”

Scotiabank branches across Kelowna are jumping on board and are raffling Rockets jerseys to raise additional funds.

"Scotiabank Group is pleased to continue its involvement with the Rockets Foundation Alumni Weekend events in support of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation,” says Gladys Fraser, Scotiabank Kelowna main branch manager.

“For the past two years, over 30 Scotiabank Group employees have volunteered their time to fundraise for this cause and through our Team Scotia Program, we are able to match the funds they raise.  Many of our business lines are collaborating to support this event including Scotiabank Branches, ScotiaMcLeod, Scotia Private Client Group, and Scotia Dealer Finance. This has been a great partnership for Scotiabank Group to make a difference in our community.

Source:

http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/54938/Rockets-pledge-200-000-to-KGH

Thanks to the generosity and commitment of thousands of listeners, the Annual “Have A Heart” Radiothon – a part of Astral Media’s National Day of Caring for Kids – has raised $544,949 and is still counting for the various Hospital Foundations in the Okanagan valley, Salmon Arm, Kootenays, Fort St. John and Dawson Creek.

This total was raised during campaigns in various communities.

One hundred percent of the money raised will fill the urgent need to fund children’s, paediatrics’ wards and neo-natal intensive care units.

In Kelowna alone, just over $156,000 was raised for Kelowna General Hospital.

Sarah Nelems, Executive Director of Kelowna General Hospital’s Foundation, says the magic of radio has helped kids and their families right here at home. 

"We are thrilled to announce that Astral Media Radio raised over $156,000 in one day in Kelowna, bringing the total raised against their $1 million pledge to approximately 25%, to build and equip a new pediatric trauma centre in the ER at KGH!"

“For the first time we broadcast over all three of our stations simultaneously on AM 1150, 101.5 Silk FM and 99.9 Sun FM. The power of the three radio stations resulted in the best ever one day Have a Heart Radiothon we've ever done here in Kelowna. We appreciate the generosity of fellow community members in Kelowna helping us help Kelowna General Hospital and kids here at home,” says Mark Burley, Group Program Director BC Interior.

Don Shafer, Vice President and General Manager of the BC Interior Stations for Astral Media says they are overwhelmed and very proud of our communities’ outpouring of generosity and support.

"We can’t wait to do it again next year! Astral Media Radio cares and together with our communities, we will make a difference in the lives of kids in BC.” 

During the “Have a Heart” Radiothon, on-air hosts encouraged the audience to contribute through various avenues such as being Change Bandits, an on-line auction, monthly donor program, text messaging and of course phone in pledges.

Listeners were prompted to make a difference after hearing moving stories told by staff, families and hospital staff whose lives have been touched by experiences at their local hospital.

Source: AstralMedia

Weber, through the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, has donated $10,000 to the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation.

KGH Foundation Executive Director, Sarah Nelems, says Weber was given an opportunity to designate a $10,000 grant to any organization.

"He plays in Nashville and could have donated that money to any charity and he chose our foundation. It shows he hasn't forgotten his roots," says Nelems of Weber, who grew up in Sicamous.

"He also continues to support the KGH Foundation every year by taking part in the annual Kelowna Rockets Charity Golf Tournament."

"Kelowna General Hospital saves lives," says Weber.

"There's no more important organization for this donation to go to."

Source: http://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/53095/Olympian-gives-back-to-community

Doctors, nurses and other health-care workers went on a long-distance bike ride Saturday to raise money for medical equipment. More than 100 people pedalled from Kelowna General Hospital to Coldstream along backcoutry roads in the fourth annual Bike n Braai. "There were 40-kilometre-an-hour headwinds coming from the north, but everynody still had a great time," said Sarah Nelems, executive director of the Kelowna General Hospital Foundation, as riders began arriving in Coldstream. "This event has become a huge hit with the medical community, " Nelems said, noting participation has risen every year. About $50,000 was raised, with that amount matched by the foundation. This year's proceeds will go toward the purchase of a rigid bronchoscopy system, which removes foreign objects from airways. It can also be used for pediatric cases. "Where government funding is limited, the foundation is a vital avenue for raising additional funds for prioritized medical equipment at KGH," said Dr. Michael Humer, who, along with fellow surgeon Dr. Bill Nelems, created the fundraising event. A braai, which means barbecue in the Afrikaans language, took place at Dr. Nelem's property in Coldstream.

 Source:  kelownadailycourier

The planned giving concept draws on the advice of local financial planners and lawyers who help set up estates or craft personal financial plans and include the foundation in discussions with their clients on possible tax breaks, or large-gift plans for their estate. "You either give money to the government or give money to charity. And we like the idea of being the charity of choice in Kelowna," explained Saskia Ages, Director of Planned Giving for the KGH Foundation.

Ages left her job at the University of British Columbia, where she worked in planned giving, to join the small foundation's team last year after discovering what valuable work it does in this community.

This award recognizes the program's donor-centre approach, efficiency and outstanding governance and the positive spin off it has for other philanthropic causes. "This raises the notion of planned giving across the community which helps other organizations as well," said Ages.

The planned giving program was championed by the foundation's vice-chairman, Grant Steven, and has almost achieved its goal of reaching $10 million in present and deferred gifts by 2010. They are now shooting for $20 million.

"This is a high bar to reach," said Foundation Executive Director Sarah Nelems. "The award recognizes excellence in motivating staff and volunteer leadership and meeting the needs of our community. We were compared to exceptional fundraising programs in large hospital foundations across Canada."

Aside from the Planned Giving program, the foundation is currently working on campaigns to raise $3 million for Hospice and $500,000 for a new KGH neonatal unit.

Source: The Capital News, 2006
By Jennifer Smith
Staff Reporter