Islanders Raise $970,470 for Urgent Equipment at QEH During Big Day of Giving
MAY 22, 2025
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Islanders came together in an incredible show of support for healthcare during the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Foundation’s Big Day of Giving on May 21, raising an outstanding $970,470 for urgently needed medical equipment and technology.
Over 24 hours, donations poured in online, by phone, and in person, helping the QEH Foundation address critical priorities such as MRI technology, an ortho c-arm for orthopedic procedures, a portable x-ray unit for bedside imaging, ultrasound machines, and bililux lights for newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“This total is a reflection of the deep generosity and compassion of Islanders,” says John Scales, Chair of the QEH Foundation Board. “Every dollar raised is helping equip healthcare teams with the tools they need to care for all of us — our families, friends, and neighbours.”
From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Ocean 100 and Hot 105.5 broadcast live from the QEH lobby, sharing moving stories of care and resilience. Listeners heard firsthand from patients like Penny Walsh-McGuire, Chad McCormack, and parents Alex & Felicia Pratt — each one highlighting the life-changing impact of care at the QEH.
“A special gift of $88,000, combined with phone calls well into the evening and overnight on-line giving, was certainly beyond our expectations,” said Tracey Comeau, CEO, QEH Foundation. “As a result, the Foundation is able to commit to funding additional specialized equipment for the Provincial Stroke Unit, Provincial Mental Health Emergency Department, and PEI Cancer Treatment Centre.”
The QEH Foundation thanks all donors, volunteers, staff, and media partners for making this year’s Big Day of Giving such a success. Donations can still be made by visiting www.QEHBigDay.ca or calling 902-894-2425.
QEH Big Day of Giving returns May 21 to Support Urgent Equipment Needs
MAY 16, 2025
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — On Wednesday, May 21, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Foundation invites Islanders to take part in the Big Day of Giving — a 24-hour celebration and fundraising event to support urgently needed medical equipment at the QEH.
This year, the Big Day of Giving aims to raise over $500,000 for urgent equipment needs, including support for MRI technology upgrades. Funding priorities include a software upgrade for the hospital’s MRI machine to help reduce wait times and improve diagnosis, an Ortho C-Arm for orthopedic procedures, portable X-ray units for bedside imaging, and BiliLux lights for newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“Your donation helps equip the hospital with the tools healthcare teams need to care for the people you love — our family, your neighbours, your friends,” says John Scales, chair of the QEH Foundation board. “Every dollar stays right here on the Island, strengthening care close to home for all of us.”
From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Ocean 100 and Hot 105.5 will broadcast live from the QEH lobby, sharing inspiring stories from patients, staff and donors. Islanders can tune in, donate online or by phone, and follow along on social media as donations roll in from across the province.
Throughout the day, Islanders will hear powerful stories from patients whose lives were transformed through care at the QEH:
- You’ll meet Penny Walsh-McGuire — a breast cancer survivor and proud mom to her son, Rowan. Penny says her most difficult days came not during treatment, but after. With help from the QEH team, she found strength she didn’t know she had.
- You’ll hear about Everett Pratt, whose life began with a medical emergency. A split-second diagnosis and quick action from the NICU team helped him recover from a brain injury. Thanks to donors, the QEH now has a CritiCool device to protect future newborns in crisis.
- There’s Chad McCormack, a roofer who was left paralyzed after a fall. Thanks to the exceptional care he received at the QEH, he’s back doing the things he loves, including working on cars and training for the Paralympics in archery.
- And you’ll meet Lucas Arsenault, a professional kiteboarder who was attacked by a shark while vacationing in the Turks and Caicos. Less than a year later, he was back on the water with help from QEH’s physical medicine and rehabilitation team, who built him a custom prosthetic made for the waves.
“These stories are powerful reminders of what’s possible when the QEH has the generosity of community behind them,” says Scales. “With your help, we can turn even more moments of crisis into stories of recovery.”
To learn more or donate to the QEH Big Day of Giving, visit www.QEHBigDay.ca, call toll-free 1-833-335-0545, visit the QEH Foundation office, or mail your cheque to: QEH Foundation, P.O. Box 6600, Charlottetown, P.E.I., C1A 8T5.
Media Contact:
Erin MacDonald
Director, Communications
QEH Foundation
erinmacdonald@ihis.org
902-894-2956
QEH Foundation Announces New MRI Technology Upgrade as Part of Big Day of Giving Campaign
APRIL 25, 2025
CHARLOTTETOWN, PE — The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Foundation is proud to announce a new fundraising initiative as part of its upcoming Big Day of Giving on May 21. The foundation is launching a $95,000 campaign to fund advanced MRI technology at QEH, the only hospital in Prince Edward Island that offers MRI services.
This new campaign builds on several urgently needed equipment priorities highlighted in the foundation’s spring mail appeal. It is part of a larger effort to ensure QEH continues to provide exceptional care for Islanders across the province.
Identified as a priority by the QEH, the upgraded MRI technology will cut scan times in half for some types of imaging, allowing for approximately 20 additional patient scans each week. This means shorter wait times and faster access to important diagnoses.
“This is an exciting and impactful addition to our Big Day of Giving campaign,” said Tracey Comeau, CEO of the QEH Foundation. “We’re proud to support our provincial referral hospital with investments that have a direct impact on patient care. With the community’s support, we can make this enhancement to MRI technology a reality.”
The new MRI software will deliver faster imaging, improved image quality and enhanced patient comfort, all of which will help QEH deliver timely and accurate care.
“We’re thrilled to see this upgrade moving forward,” said Gailyne MacPherson, director of hospital services at QEH. “It will allow our team to serve more patients, more efficiently, and ultimately support better health outcomes for Islanders.”
The Big Day of Giving is an important opportunity for Islanders to show their support for local healthcare. Every donation made on May 21 will go directly toward vital medical equipment, such as the MRI upgrade, and will help make a real difference for patients across P.E.I.
Visit www.qehbigday.ca for more information.
Media Contact:
Erin MacDonald
Communications Director, QEH Foundation
erinmacdonald@ihis.org
(902) 894-2956
Friends for Life Campaign Fully Funds Critical Urology Equipment at QEH
MARCH 31, 2025
Charlottetown, PE – The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Foundation is celebrating an exciting donor achievement: the successful completion of the Friends for Life campaign, which raised $1.3 million, fully funding the replacement of a fluoroscopic operating table and critical urology equipment.
This campaign was not just about replacing aging equipment—it was about ensuring that QEH’s surgical teams have state-of-the-art tools they need to continue performing more than 700 life-saving procedures each year for Islanders facing kidney stones, bladder cancer, and prostate disease.
“This equipment is vital to the work we do every day,” said Dr. Daniel Costa, QEH urologist. “Having the right tools means we can focus on delivering the best possible care to our patients. With this new equipment, we can provide care to our full scope, and that’s thanks to the generosity of this community.”
“To every donor who made this possible—thank you. You’ve ensured that QEH medical teams have the resources they need to provide life-saving treatment right here at home,” said John Scales, QEH Foundation Board Chair. “Generous contributions of all sizes made this possible and are a tremendous example of the impact of our collective efforts.”
With this success behind us, the need to invest in medical equipment remains as important as ever. Each year, QEH has approximately $6-7 million in priority equipment needs, ensuring that equipment and related technology is never a barrier to quality care at QEH.
With your continued support, more Islanders can stay close to home for their care. Learn more about how you can be part of what’s next at www.qehfoundation.pe.ca
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation Launches “Friends for Life” Campaign with $150,000 Gift from QEH Auxiliary
DECEMBER 3, 2024
Charlottetown, PE – The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Foundation has officially launched its annual Friends for Life Campaign, aiming to raise $1.5 million to fund the replacement of critical medical equipment in the Urology department. The campaign received a strong start with a $150,000 leadership gift from QEH Auxiliary, contributing 10 per cent of the goal.
Funds raised will go towards a specialized operating room table and advanced equipment that enable urological surgical teams to diagnose and treat patients with conditions such as kidney stones, bladder cancer, and prostate disease. As PEI’s main referral hospital, QEH specialists perform more than 700 of these surgeries annually. The current equipment has reached its end of life, making its replacement critical to continuing top-quality, local care.
The QEH Foundation invites Islanders, local businesses and organizations to contribute to the 2024 Friends for Life campaign. To avoid potential delays in tax receipting, with the on-going Canada Post strike, the QEH Foundation recommends donating online or in-person to ensure timely contributions for a 2024 charitable tax receipt.
“We are incredibly grateful to the QEH Auxiliary for their generous support,” said QEH Foundation CEO, Tracey Comeau. “The vast majority of medical equipment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital is funded strictly by donations from groups, businesses, and individuals, which underscores the vital role Islanders play in the delivery of healthcare close to home.”
Online donations can be made securely at www.qehfoundation.pe.ca, by phone at 902-894-2425, or in person at the QEH Foundation office. The QEH Foundation is grateful for the donations received to date. Together, we can ensure QEH remains equipped to meet the needs of Islanders today and in the future.
Yuletide Gala Auction Raises $409,221 for Life-Saving Technology at QEH
November 23, 2024
From left to right: John Scales, Board Chair, QEH Foundation; Mark Cormier, VP of Community Relations, Cavendish Farms; Leigh Read, grateful patient; Dan Whelan, successful bidder can of English Style Beans $5,300; Tracey Comeau, CEO, QEH Foundation at the 2024 QEH Yuletide Gala
Charlottetown, PE — The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) Foundation’s annual Yuletide Gala Auction lit up the Delta Hotels by Marriot Prince Edward on Saturday evening, raising an extraordinary $409,221 to fund the GI Genius, a cutting-edge AI-powered system that enhances the detection of colorectal cancer.
Featuring an incredible array of items and experiences, this year’s auction had something to captivate everyone in the room. From exclusive Island getaways to beautifully crafted artisan pieces, the offerings showcased the generosity and talent of the community while fueling an exciting night of bidding.
The night’s most poignant moment came when grateful patient Leigh Read took the stage. Leigh shared his story of resilience and gratitude for the QEH healthcare team, whom he described as his “Wonderwall” for providing unwavering care and support during his six-year battle with serious health challenges.
“This hospital didn’t just care for my body; it supported my spirit,” said Leigh. “I am not sure I would be here with you today if not for the dedication of this hospital and everyone in it. You are all heroes, and I am eternally thankful I get to be here tonight to celebrate you.”
Leigh then invited all healthcare heroes in the room to stand and be recognized, leading to a heartfelt round of applause that filled the room with emotion.
As a light-hearted gesture to kick off the auction, organizers auctioned a can of English Style Beans after Leigh shared a story about dropping a can of beans on his foot that would not heal, resulting in a hospital visit where tests revealed numerous health issues.
Cavendish Farms, a steadfast supporter of the Yuletide Gala Auction, once again served as the presenting sponsor, underscoring their ongoing commitment to advancing health care on PEI.
“The success of tonight’s event is a testament to our incredible community” said John Scales, Chair of the QEH Foundation Board. “This support ensures that Island patients can continue to receive exceptional care, right here at home.”
The QEH Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to the donors, sponsors, volunteers, and attendees who made this evening unforgettable. Together, we are creating a brighter, healthier future for all Islanders.
“Pine Haven” Luxury Shed Raffle to Support Breast Health Care
JUNE 13, 2024
CHARLOTTETOWN – The Ultimate Shed Giveaway returns with this year’s luxury backyard getaway, Pine Haven. Valued at almost $40,000, Pine Haven is a backyard paradise being raffled off to support breast health care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). Tickets are available now at the QEH Foundation’s office and website, and at Sherwood Timber Mart where the shed can be viewed.
This year’s shed comes insulated, wired, beautifully decorated and fully furnished – complete with a bed to be the perfect guesthouse! The shed includes free delivery, on-site trenching and electrical hook-up within Prince Edward Island.
The Ultimate Shed Giveaway is a passion project for Jillian Sexton of Sherwood Timber Mart, Jennie Arsenault of Arsenault Bros. Construction, and Sara Dykerman of Plank & Pine Interior Design. Together these women have sponsored the project while dedicating their time and construction savvy to bring their vision to life.
In just three years the fundraiser has raised over $160,000 to support priority medical equipment needs at the QEH, primarily breast health care. Proceeds have helped to fund a new mammography machine and, just last year, equipment for the Provincial Laboratory that is used to process tissue samples from breast biopsies.
Greg Dobbin, Chief Technologist of the QEH Histology Laboratory says the automated tissue-cassette printer purchased last year with support from the Ultimate Shed is improving patient safety.
“All surgical specimens submitted to the Histology Lab are sampled and processed within these tissue-cassettes,” says Dobbin. “Surgical specimens can include such specimens as breast tissue, gastro-intestinal specimens, skin biopsies and many others. Automated printers eliminate the risk of human error that can occur when items are labelled by hand. Moreover, they provide the ability to print a unique two-dimensional bar-code on each specimen cassette. These new state-of-the-art cassette printers allow us to avoid the risk of potentially catastrophic mis-match errors thus ensuring the highest degree of patient safety for Islanders.”
MaryEllen Hughes, Director of Philanthropy for the QEH Foundation, says the Ultimate Shed Giveaway is a testament to the good that can be done in the community when we work together.
“Every year the shed is incredibly designed and built,” says Hughes. “Thanks to the supporters who purchase tickets, and the incredible construction, design and home furnishing industry for ensuring that 100% of all materials, decor and labour are donated or sponsored. We are so grateful that such generous people are working together each year on this project to support Islanders and advance the exceptional care offered at the QEH.”
Proceeds from the Pine Haven shed will support critical medical equipment needs for the QEH to support breast health. You can view photos of the shed online or in person at Sherwood Timber Mart at 167 Minna Jane Drive in Charlottetown.
Ultimate Shed Giveaway tickets are $25 each or 5 for $100 and can be purchased online until July 2nd at QEHFoundation.pe.ca. You can also purchase tickets in person until July 5th at 10:00 AM at the QEH Foundation office or Sherwood Timber Mart. The draw will be held at Sherwood Timber Mart on July 5th at 12:00pm and will be broadcasted live on the QEH Foundation Facebook page.
For more information and media inquiries, please contact:
Kathleen Murphy
Director, Communications
QEH Foundation
kxmurphy@ihis.org
902-894-2956
Peter & Karen MacDonald Establish Named Endowment with the QEH Foundation
JUNE 13, 2024
CHARLOTTETOWN – Thanks to a $1 million gift from Peter and Karen MacDonald, Islanders can look forward to ongoing advancements in cancer care for years to come.
With this gift, Peter and Karen MacDonald have established an endowment fund from which the annual income will fund advanced equipment, technology, and other initiatives for the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre. In recognition of this inspiring commitment to cancer care in Prince Edward Island, the Centre’s CT Simulator Suite was named in their honour.
The Peter and Karen MacDonald CT Simulator Suite was unveiled today at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital during the public announcement of the couple’s $1 million donation. John Gaudet, chair of the QEH Foundation Board, thanked the MacDonalds for their commitment to the Island’s main referral hospital and home of the provincial cancer treatment centre.
“We are very honored that Peter and Karen recognized the need and made this commitment through action that will help our cancer care teams deliver the very best care to our Island residents. Their generous gift is an inspiration to all Islanders.”
Dr. Colin Brown, Provincial Department Head of Oncology and a Radiation Oncologist at the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre (CTC), noted that the CTC has approximately 20,000 patient visits per year, and the complexity of cancer care increasingly requires advanced technologies.
“Advancements in cancer treatment are helping our patients live longer, more comfortable lives. We are grateful that our Island community is ensuring we have the ability to access technologies required to continue making this a reality,” says Brown. “On behalf of the entire team at the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre and all other QEH departments involved in supporting our work, thank you for this amazing gift.”
Peter and Karen MacDonald have a deep admiration for Prince Edward Island and have been generous supporters of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital for many years. Peter served on the QEH Foundation Board of Directors from 2016 until 2021 and was treasurer for the last two years of his term. Karen spent her entire career in radiology at Charlottetown Hospital, QEH and PCH. She worked in general radiography and angiography at QEH, and then 25 years in mammography at PCH and QEH.
Together they owned the MacDonald Automotive Group consisting of D. Alex MacDonald Ford for the past 40 years, Fair Isle Ford Charlottetown and Montague for the past 18 years, and Summerside Hyundai for ten years. Their philanthropy is a way to give back to the Island community that has so generously supported their businesses over that time.
Peter spoke at the event thanking staff of these companies, whom many attended the celebration, noting their dedication has contributed to the success of their business, along with their many loyal customers. Peter also thanked his late parents, D. Alex and Kathleen MacDonald, who also created an endowed fund supporting cancer care at the QEH. Peter quoted his father in saying, “If you live in a community and earn your living here, then you have an obligation to put money back into your community.”
This is not Peter and Karen’s first leadership gift to the QEH Foundation. In addition to their annual giving, in 2017 Peter and Karen donated a $250,000 paid-up life insurance policy to the Foundation, becoming part of the QEH Legacy Society – those who have identified as having a planned gift.
“Karen and I are deeply committed to supporting our community, and we believe that quality healthcare is fundamental” says MacDonald. “By contributing to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, we hope to ensure that the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre has the resources it needs to continue the exceptional care that many of our family and friends have benefited from.”
The QEH Foundation raises funds for all services within the Queen Elizabeth Hospital including the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre.
Harry MacLauchlan Memorial Golf Tournament Raises $100,000 for QEH Foundation
JUNE 13, 2024
The 21st annual Harry MacLauchlan ‘Great Day’ Fore Health Memorial Golf Tournament, presented by Fair Isle Ford, took place on June 12th at Belvedere Golf Club. This year’s tournament raised $72,122, an impressive total that was unexpectedly rounded up to $100,000 with a donation from Island Coastal Services.
The tournament is hosted annually by the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty and the QEH Foundation in honour of Harry MacLauchlan, whose outstanding and varied business achievements and community support were bolstered by his positivity, which was evident in his well-known greeting – “It’s a great day!” It was a “great day” indeed, as the sunshine welcomed a full complement of teams, sponsors, and supporters. The winning team of this year’s tournament was RBC Dominion Securities.
Over the past 20 years this tournament has had a big impact on Island healthcare, raising more than $1 million and funding priority medical equipment for departments throughout the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Proceeds from the tournament will be used to support medical equipment needs for the Provincial Laboratory, located at QEH. The laboratory needs cooling equipment to store reagents, a substance or compound that can facilitate a reaction. Chemistry and Hematology tests are routinely ordered by physicians throughout PEI and this equipment will ensure laboratory staff have access to reliable reagents to perform these tests.
The Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty event co-chairs Mike Hennessey and Jamie Currie are grateful for the community support for this year’s tournament including Presenting Sponsor Fair Isle Ford, and Corporate Sponsors Canadian Tire, Island Petroleum, and the Province of PEI, along with Lifeline Sponsors IG Wealth Management, Island Coastal Services, and RBC Dominion Securities.
Community funds CT Scanner for the QEH Emergency Department
January 29, 2024
CHARLOTTETOWN – In the fall of 2023, the QEH Foundation announced a campaign to fund a CT scanner for the QEH emergency department. Following an enthusiastic response from donors, the full $1.3 million cost has been raised in a matter of months. Emergency physician Dr. Nicole Green said it is heartwarming to see the community coming together to advance emergency care at the QEH.
“On behalf of all staff here at the emergency department, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all QEH Foundation donors,” says Dr. Green. “You are who make this possible. This equipment will both make our jobs easier and our patient care safer for years to come.” The CT scanner is used for the diagnosis of critical illness, injuries and trauma, and to assess the extent and severity of a condition. The procurement process for the new CT scanner has begun and it is set to arrive at the QEH later this year.
Foundation Board Chair John Gaudet says donor support is more than just money for new equipment, it is a message to patients and staff that the Island community is behind them. “We’ve received donations from across PEI and beyond,” says Gaudet. “From large gifts to our youngest donors giving their birthday money. We are proud to work with such kind individuals who want to make a difference in health care.”
The QEH Foundation’s Friends for Life campaign continues, raising funds for other priority medical equipment needs throughout the hospital. To donate, click here
For more information:
Kathleen Murphy
Director, Communications
QEH Foundation
kxmurphy@ihis.org
902-894-2956