Introducing ‘The Hub:’ Our Hospital’s Newly Renovated Staff Room

While the COVID-19 pandemic has been far from easy, it has certainly offered a lot of valuable perspectives. For one, it has re-centred our health care workers in our minds and hearts, shedding light on how invaluable and inspirational they genuinely are. We hope that moving into post-pandemic life, however that may look, we can maintain this revived narrative of heroism when thinking about the folks who are the heartbeat of our hospital and our community at large.

The Canmore & Area Health Care Foundation (now the Canmore Hospital Foundation) is a non-profit organization that raises funds for the Canmore General Hospital. Our primary funding pillars are programs, equipment purchases, and facility upgrades. We have funded several programs for staff appreciation, including the staff meals program and the mindfulness program that is free for hospital staff. We are incredibly passionate about supporting the remarkable people who work at Canmore General. We are able to do so thanks to the generosity of our donors. 

Recently, we were elated to receive a significant donation that was made with the intention of celebrating our local hospital staff. This enormously generous gift came from the Doyon Family, valued members of our community. The Doyon's contribution was provided to support the renovation of the staff rooms at the Canmore General Hospital.

"Our family has received exceptional healthcare and medical attention over the 20+ years we've been living in the Bow Valley," said Pierre Doyon, "Our donation to enhance the staff room is one way to say thank you to the people directly responsible for all the good they have done and continue to do in delivering compassionate and competent health care in the Bow Valley." 

The Project: An Overview 

With this, the Foundation embarked upon the enriching journey of assembling a team to bring this ambitious project to fruition. With that, we would like to thank Jessie Ashton of Nest Design and Drafting Studio and Aleks Zablotni-Schantz of Compass Design Co for their hard work on this project. We'd also like to thank Castle Mountain Home Furnishings, who offered significantly discounted furniture for the staff rooms.

Our hospital has three staff rooms; the renovation project began with the Main Staff room. We are delighted to announce that the Main Staff room has officially been renovated, and our local health care heroes now have somewhere comfortable and inviting to unwind and relax. 

The renovation included brand new furniture, lighting, paint, wallpaper, cabinets, countertops, and more. The rejuvenated staff room, named by hospital staff, is truly breathtaking. It is our pleasure to introduce The Hub. 

Introducing The Hub

"I just wanted to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation on behalf of the surgical services staff for all the work that went into the new staff room. The new space is beautiful, and we feel so fortunate to have such considerate and generous donors who have made it a priority to transform our break space into something more functional and inviting. Once again, please convey our sincere gratitude to the donors, the Foundation and the administration who helped make this gift possible!"

- Eva Jankowski, Head Nurse – Surgical Services Canmore Hospital

This gorgeous space is everything we envisioned and more. Our donors are delighted with the results, and our hospital staff could not be more grateful. Supporting the Foundation has a profound impact on both a personal and a community level. 

A Heartfelt Thank You

We are overwhelmed with joy to have been able to push this project forward; for that, we cannot thank the Doyon family enough.

"Working in health care is hard but also rewarding, it can take a toll on nurses physically and emotionally so it is very important that staff have an opportunity for breaks during their shifts to recharge and relax. Our staff rooms have always been an afterthought – mostly shabby with a secondhand vibe. And then came the Doyon Family … they knew the importance and value of a restful environment and they made it happen for us! "Thank you" does not seem to adequately express our sincere gratitude for this incredible gift – supporting our staff and in turn supporting the patients and families in our care,"

- Barb Shellian, Director of Rural Health

Thank you, Pierre, Sylvie and the entire Doyon family. Thank you, Canmore General Hospital staff. We are so proud of this community.