Walker Aggregates donates to ER renovation campaign
Walker Aggregates has committed $60,000 towards a $1-million renovation project, to improve the efficiency and maximize space at the Collingwood G&M Hospital’s emergency department.
The demand for emergency medical treatment in Collingwood has grown exponentially over the past 10 years, yet the modestly sized emergency department has remained the same size and layout since 1999. According to Ministry of Health and Long Term Care standards, the Emergency Department in Collingwood is less than half the size it should be to treat over 33,000 patients annually. Although a re-development project is part of future plans, there is a need to invest in the current facility.
Dr. Kylie Bosman, chief of the emergency department, explains that the most efficient solution is to renovate the department to better utilize space and to best meet the community’s medical needs.
“Almost 350,000 patients will be treated in our emergency department over the next 10 years. We are grateful to Walker Aggregates for its vision in recognizing the importance of initiating this project. It certainly is a forward thinking company and we are very fortunate to have the support of this organization as a Hospital and as a community,” she said.
According to Walker Aggregates executive vice-president Ken Lucyshyn, the company’s donation was prompted by its concern that people in and around the Collingwood area have access to quality local health care.
“After a tour of the emergency department, we knew right away that investing in this project would ensure that our community has access to the best medical care when they need it most urgently,” he said.
Hospital Foundation board chair, Ernie Purkis extended a sincere thank you to Walker Aggregates on behalf of the Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors. “We appreciate that the people of Walker Aggregates have been investing in the right tools at our Hospital for the past 20 years. Your support continues to be outstanding and our Hospital is able to evolve to meet the demands of our community because of you.”
Crushed stone from Walker’s local Duntroon Quarry, and sand and gravel from its Anten Mills Pit, are used to build roads, bridges, sidewalks, schools, homes and many other facilities in Simcoe County and the GTA. Walker Aggregates has been generously supporting CGMH for the past 20 years. Its parent company, family-owned Walker Industries, has for generations made significant contributions to support important projects in all of the communities in which it operates.
Photo: Walker Aggregates Executive Vice-president Ken Lucyshyn, Walker Industries President John Fisher, Dr. Kylie Bosman and Ernie Purkis.
