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CELEBRATING HEALTHCARE

Preparations going well for P.A.’s prestigious Med Gala

Mar 28, 2024 | 12:00 PM

Time is running out if you wish to take part in a prestigious event to honour the best in healthcare in Prince Albert.

The Boreal Healthcare Foundation’s Med Gala is now 85 per cent sold out with the extravagant event happening on April 27th at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre.

CEO of the Healthcare Foundation Cody Barnett told paNOW that preparations have been going well for the gala. Aside from raising funds and acknowledging the work of the Foundation, Barnett said they will be honouring local trailblazers in the industry.

“We will be honouring 3 award recipients, first being the Outstanding Achievement in Healthcare award where we’re honouring doctors Lalita and Tilak Malhotra for their decades of service that they’ve provided the community in all of northern Saskatchewan,” he said.

Other honours being presented include the Nursing Excellence Award to Tammy Gillis, Nursing Unit Manager for the Victoria Hospital emergency room.

A Collaborative Care Award will also be given to Parkland Ambulance Service in recognition of 50 years of serving the community.

READ MORE: Over $464K raised for P.A.’s Victoria Hospital through Give a Little Life Day Radiothon

Last year, the Victoria Hospital Foundation rebranded to the Boreal Healthcare Foundation to better represent its mandate to serve all of north central and northern Saskatchewan.

“Rather than looking at Victoria Hospital and Herb Bassit and Pine View Terrace Care Homes, we’re also looking at ways to help communities like Kinistino and Creighton, Beauval, Buffalo Narrows, Ile-a-la-Crosse,” said Barnett. “It’s an expansion with the name change, that we’re adding capacity to be able to help other communities improve their health care close to home.”

Barnett said they will be working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority on priority needs for facilities in the north and reaching out to communities to hear their needs.

One of the biggest projects for the Foundation is the expansion to the Victoria Hospital, with work already underway.

Earlier this year, PCL Construction was awarded the design-build agreement, with a contract worth $898 million.

The expansion project will include a new tower to increase acute care beds by 40 per cent, increase the number of mental health beds and expand the square footage of the emergency department. The tower, which will be connected to, and directly north of the existing facility, will feature a heliport on the roof and a First Nations and Métis Cultural space that the Prince Albert Grand Council is offering input on.

contributions by the Boreal Healthcare Foundation, including an MRI and a second CT scanner, will improve access and allow for highly complex diagnostics closer to home for residents in northern communities.

Going back to the Med Gala, Barnett said that tickets are still available on the Boreal Healthcare Foundation website. He adds he can’t wait for the event to begin.

“It is incredible to see everyone get dressed up and really celebrate our healthcare service providers and really just have an amazing night out.”

panews@pattisonmedia.com

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