Bruce Power is giving the local health-care system a shot in the arm with an injection of $450,000 in funding to help support Emergency Room availability and its continuing partnership with the hospitals in its host communities.
The company will provide the municipalities of Kincardine and Saugeen Shores with $150,000 over each of the next three years (2024-2026), with $25,000 going to each hospital annually in support of their ER support programs. The remaining funding will be used to support activities such as physician recruitment and retention to help ensure stable access to physicians and services in the area.
“Our employees and our communities rely on the Kincardine and Saugeen Shores hospitals and the excellent services provided by the health-care professionals who staff these facilities,” said James Scongack, Chief Development Officer and Executive Vice-President, Bruce Power. “Access to these services is crucial as our communities continue to grow and we’re pleased to continue to partner with local municipalities in helping to keep emergency rooms open and to make sure everyone has access to the health care they require.”
With strong growth in the area expected to continue, Bruce Power is working together with the municipalities to meet increasing demand.
“Together, we need to form a health-care system that is robust and resilient,” said Kincardine Mayor Kenneth Craig. “Our partnership will help us to prepare for the predicted population growth and to make sure our hospitals and staff can continue to serve everyone.”
“Our goal is that our local emergency departments are open and staffed around the clock and never at risk of closure, and that every resident has access to a physician,” said Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau. “Working together, we can build a sustainable health-care framework.”
Bruce Power has long been a strong supporter of health care, including almost $2 million in funding over the past five years for hospital foundations in Grey, Bruce and Huron Counties. Bruce Power and its supplier partners previously donated $2 million to the Kincardine Hospital Redevelopment Capital Campaign and another $1 million toward the hospital’s CT scanner.