The Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation and the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club are pleased to announce that the Virtual Walk to Fight All Cancers ended on Wednesday, November 2nd. Thanks to all the participants, donors and sponsors, the Virtual Walk raised the magnificent sum of more than $76,000! THANK YOU!

A virtual walk for everyone’s safety

Once again, this year, the Walk to Fight All Cancers was held virtually for one month, from October 2nd to November 2nd, 2022. For the safety of all walkers, the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club organizers decided to maintain this format which allows all participants to walk where, when and with whom they want. This flexibility is greatly appreciated by the walkers who take advantage of it to transform the event into an individual or group challenge. This is the case of Friends For Life who get together every year for this occasion! With the support of their community, these three friends raised $9,580 for the Walk to Fight All Cancers!

LJH Transport and Distribution also contributed by organizing a two-week health challenge for its employees who had the opportunity to choose their personal challenge: many chose to walk; others did push-ups and sit-ups and one employee even decided to quit smoking! LJH Transport decided to offer $10 per day for each employee who completed a challenge. Thanks to this great initiative and the motivation of the employees, LJH Transport donated $2,530 to the Walk to Fight All Cancers 2022!

Thank you to them and thank all donors, past, present, and future, who are mobilizing and walking for their hospital’s health care!

We would also like to thank Dr. Christine Cadrin, gynecologist at the BMP Hospital, who has accepted the honorary presidency of the event for another year. Thank you also to Ms. Johanne Coiteux and Ms. Louisa Gelinas, organizers of the Walk, as well as the president of the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club, Mrs. Judy Henderson.

Finaly, thank you to the sponsors of the Virtual Walk to Fight All Cancers: Julie Coderre Jean Coutu Pharmacy and the Team McGale-Charpentier-Côté of National Bank Financial for their commitment to the cause.

Several pieces of equipment to improve health care

The Walk to Fight All Cancers will help to finance the acquisition of several pieces of equipment for the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital for a total value of nearly $100,000: a new Novasure machine ($14,000), vital signs monitors ($33,000) and $50,000 worth of equipment for the Operating Room to improve the quality and access of care and increase patient comfort. The Novasure device is essential to treat women diagnosed with cancer. This system allows the ablation of the endometrium by radio frequency emission. This technique offers a safer and more comfortable procedure for patients. During treatment in the oncology department, vital signs monitors are an important addition to track patient health and allow for quick response in case of emergency. With 10 new devices installed on the walls near each treatment chair, caregivers will have quick and easy access to them.

Here are some pictures of the press conference and the walkers:

This past Saturday, the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation was excited to host its first live BMP Oktoberfest since 2019. We are pleased to report that the turnout was great and the event was a success! Under the honorary presidency of Mrs. Solène Robitaille, Real Estate Broker at Remax Bromont, the event raised a magnificent $40,000 in net proceeds! Since launching this event in 2016, we have accumulated over $250,000 in profits! A heartfelt thank you to all the sponsors and participants who support the improvement of health care in Brome-Missisquoi!

An enchanting new location

At the Domaine de l’Artisan, the maple sugar shack, the atmosphere was magical. Twinkling lights, lanterns, Bavarian flags and beer bocks ensured an exceptional evening. The Bavarian group The Wanderers were back to share their traditional German music. They even hosted a yodelling contest that surprised many.

Of course, the three local microbrewery bars were the center of attention, but by the end of the evening, the dance floor was still full. Many participants had decided to come dressed in traditional Bavarian style, which contributed to give the impression, for one evening, that we were not in Brigham but in the heart of Munich.

Delights and surprises

Of course, the participants enjoyed the delicious sauerkraut made by Marcel Picard du Saucisson Vaudois, the fresh pretzels of the day and the desserts prepared by the Domaine de l’Artisan. During the evening, they could also go to a photobooth and leave with a small souvenir photo! In short, it was a wonderful event, and the BMP Foundation is already looking forward to the 2023 event!

Medical Imaging Needs

Proceeds from this year’s event will be directed to a special fund to address growing medical imaging needs. These projects will focus on improving functionality for staff and the patient experience during examinations.

Generous Partners

Thank you to BMP Oktoberfest 2022 presenter Desjardins for supporting us year after year. The BMP Foundation would also like to extend a warm thank you to all of our event sponsors: Au Coeur des Saisons, Barnes Home Hardware, le Bouquet de Knowlton, Bousada, the City of Bromont, CANAC, DJL, Eurovia, Familiprix Judith and François Marziali, LA-TELIER, Lebel Objet, Luminaire Authentik, Placements Jalfi inc, St-Pierre Tremblay Excavation and VOLTA Électrique

Thanks also to the collaborators of the meal who make this event a true gastronomic and gourmet meeting: Saucisson Vaudois, Domaine de l’Artisan, Bretzel & Cie, À l’Abordage, Knowlton Co. and Brouemont. Finally, thanks to our media partner M105.

The photos of the evening were taken by Danny Landry :

This past Monday, the Knowlton Golf Club hosted a golf tournament in support of the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation. The BMP Foundation joins the Knowlton Golf Club in announcing that the William J. Barakett Memorial Tournament was a success, raising $35,460!

Donors were not deterred by the rain

Despite the rain that forced the cancellation of the golf tournament, more than 60 people showed up to participate at the cocktail and dinner organized by the Knowlton Golf Club! Thanks to their active participation in the silent and live auctions, over $35,000 was raised! We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the participants and sponsors who maintained their commitments despite last minute setbacks. Thank you to everyone who gave to improve health care in Brome-Missisquoi!

A Mini C Arm

Thanks to the funds raised last week and the $52,000 raised at the BMP Foundation Golf Tournament, the BMP Foundation is very proud to announce that we can proceed with funding the acquisition of a new Mini C-Arm for the Operating Room.

This mobile medical imaging device will reduce delays during surgery. The Mini C Arm can also be operated by a trained nurse, which is convenient when it is needed outside of regular hours when radiology staff are less available. By facilitating the surgical workflow, this device will help optimize all daytime surgeries, allowing more patients to be treated. In addition, by spreading less radiation, this technology increases the safety of the staff.

The BMP Foundation would like to extend a warm thank you to the members of the Knowlton Golf Club, all the sponsors of this year’s event, the participants, and the entire Knowlton Golf Club team, especially Audrey and Alexandre, for their support of their BMP Hospital!

To share the atmosphere of the evening, here are the photos of Danny Landry :

In the photo of the cheque, from left to right: Elise Barakett, daughter of Dr. Barakett, Francis Laramée, Executive Director of the BMP Foundation, Catharie Béchamp, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the BMP Foundation and Honorary Chair of this year’s tournament, and Mrs. Janie Smith Barakett, wife of the late Dr. Barakett.

Last Wednesday, June 22nd, the very first edition of the Together for Health sporting event was held at the Farnham Golf Club to benefit the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation. Thanks to the participants, donors, sponsors and silent auction attendees, we are proud to announce that this first in-person event raised the sum of $57,500 in total proceeds! THANK YOU to everyone! We would like to especially thank the honorary president of the event, Mr. Jean-Michel Ryan, CEO of Mont Sutton. His active participation as well as that of the members of the Mont Sutton team allowed us to raise funds and contribute to the success of this event. Thank you to all of them. 

The photos of the event have arrived, check out the gallery below!

Together for Health

In keeping with our mission to support health care in our community, the profits from the online silent auction will be shared between two important organizations in Brome-Missisquoi.

Of the total amount, the profits from the silent auction amount to $5,500 and will therefore be split between the community organizations Pleins Rayons and the Maison Gilles-Carle de Brome-Missisquoi.

Pleins Rayons plays an essential role in our community by promoting the social inclusion of young adults with intellectual disabilities. The Maison Gilles-Carle Foundation, on the other hand, prevents and relieves the exhaustion of caregivers by offering them quality temporary housing. It is by being Together for health that we will improve health care in Brome-Missisquoi!

A C-Arm for the Operating Room

The profits from the sporting event totalling $52,000 will be invested in the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital. As explained by Dr. Munger during the event, this money will be used to complete the financing for the purchase of a Mini C Arm machine for the operating room, valued at $100,000. This mobile medical imaging device will reduce delays during surgery. In addition, by spreading less radiation, this technology increases staff safety. The Mini C Arm can also be operated by a trained nurse, which is convenient when it is necessary to use it outside of regular hours when radiology staff is less available. By facilitating the surgical workflow, this device will help optimize all daytime operations, allowing more patients to be treated.

Thank you to our sponsors and partners

Together for Health is an event presented by Desjardins. Thank you to them for getting involved and supporting us year after year. Thank you also to their team for volunteering their time on the course and hosting the event.

Thanks also to all the partners of the silent auction: Rotoplast, Bijouterie Deschamps, Susan Pepler, Auberge Jolivent, Francine Potvin, Il Castello restaurant, L.B. Lawyers, Mont Sutton, Auberge Le Relais, Vignoble Domaine Bresee, Vitalité Sureau, Ursula Kofahl Lampron, Theatre Lac-Brome, Énergie Sud, Théâtre des Tournesols, Cabane du Pic Bois, Au Diable Vert, Robin Badger, Le Gros Nez, John Murphy, Virgin Hill Coffee, Traiteur Buzz, Knowlton Co, Domaine des Côtes d’Ardoise, Dr. Pincott, Dépanneur Carrefour 74 and the Brome Lake Museum.

Thank you all for making this event a success!

Take a look at the beautiful pictures of the event taken by Mr Danny Landry

All BMP scholarships for the year 2022 have been awarded! The Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation was pleased to see that students continue to be motivated and involved in our community, while at the same time having the desire to improve health care systems in Brome-Missisquoi. The BMP Foundation offers several scholarships for students in the region, totalling an amount of $26,000 in scholarships per year.

To select the winners of the BMP Scholarships and of the Margaret Côté Effie Scholarship, we have created a selection committee which includes Mr. François Riendeau, former Director of Schools, Ms. Julie Coderre, pharmacist-owner and Vice-Chair of the BMP Foundation Board of Directors, and Mr. Francis Laramée, Executive Director of the BMP Foundation.

Each year, the BMP Foundation also supports local high schools in awarding $1,000 scholarships for excellence to students who wish to continue their studies in the field of health. These students from the Massey-Vanier English and French schools in Cowansville, Jean-Jacques Bertrand in Farnham, and Wilfrid-Léger in Waterloo are selected by their schools.

BMP 2022 Scholarships

The BMP Scholarship – Health Care is open to graduating students from Brome-Missisquoi high schools who are pursuing studies in health care. The BMP Scholarship – Nursing targets future nursing students only and encourages young people to get involved in this environment that is currently in need of workers. Both scholarships offer $6,000, spread over the students’ college journey.

This year, three scholarships were awarded to future Cégep students. The BMP Scholarship – Nursing was awarded to Charlotte Hivon. The committee was impressed with her commitment to supporting her fellow students and her strong motivation.

For her extensive involvement in community projects, the BMP Scholarship – Health Care was awarded to Charlie Lottinville.

Finally, there are times when we come across a unique candidate whose talent we wish to recognize. In this case, we offer a BMP Scholarship – Coup de Coeur of a one-time amount of $1,000. For her personal story and what she decided to do with it by getting involved with the Terry Fox Committee, the BMP Scholarship – Coup de Coeur was offered to Mia Tétreault.

Effie Margaret Côté Scholarship 2022

The Effie Margaret Côté Scholarship provides $10,000 to a current nursing student or health care worker who chooses to continue their education at the university level.

This year, the BMP Foundation is pleased to wish Mrs. Effie Margaret Côté a wonderful 100th birthday! A long-time volunteer, Mrs. Côté has been involved with the BMP Hospital for over 30 years. Passionate and dedicated to her community, she inspired this scholarship in honour of her ongoing support of the BMP Hospital. Throughout her life, Mrs. Côté has dedicated herself to volunteer work.

There were 8 amazing nominations to choose from. Ms. Côté’s values and passion for helping and alleviating the pain of others were highlighted in the selection of the recipient. The 2022 Effie Margaret Coté Scholarship goes to Élodie Couture. An outstanding student, she received the BMP – Nursing Scholarship in 2019. Wishing to continue her studies at the university level, Élodie applied for our university scholarship. Her good humor and professionalism won over the selection committee.

Congratulations to all the BMP scholarship winners!

The Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation is pleased to recognize the commitment of its volunteers. Despite these past difficult years, and as many events were cancelled and others created, the BMP Foundation volunteers have remained present and always ready to give their time and assistance. Without them, these new events would not have been possible, and they are an essential part of our fundraising success. Over 30 volunteers are actively involved in a number of activities, representing more than 400 volunteer hours over the past two years of the pandemic. The BMP Foundation felt it was important to take the time to thank them and recognize their work.

George Bristol 2022 Award

Traditionally presented at the BMP Brunch since 2016, the George Bristol Volunteer Award is designed to promote and recognize the outstanding dedication of men and women who are committed to the well-being of the BMP Foundation and the Hospital community. This year, the BMP Foundation and its team have chosen to present this award to two volunteers who have been dedicated to the Brome-Missisquoi community for many years: Ms. Eileen and Mr. Winston Mason.

Active members of the Brome Lake Lion’s Club, this friendly couple has also taken the time to solicit, collect and organize the BMP Brunch draw since its inception over 30 years ago. Always available and smiling, they do their utmost to make this event a success. It is an honour to present them with this award this year and to recognize their selflessness and involvement for the citizens of Brome-Missisquoi. At last night’s award presentation, their emotion was contagious and greatly inspired the volunteers present to continue their commitment to the BMP Foundation.

Recognition Dinner

The George Bristol Award was presented at a special dinner organized to recognize the commitment of BMP Foundation volunteers. The dinner was held last night during Volunteer Week. We would like to thank the owners of Il Castello Restaurant in Cowansville for their warm welcome. This is the first year that such a dinner has been held and the BMP Foundation hopes that it will become an annual tradition to recognize those without whom our success would not be possible. Thank you to them and to each member of our Board of Directors who also volunteer their time.

Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital employees will be able to relax and enjoy a well-deserved break. Thanks to the generous financial support of MD Financial Management and Scotiabank, the BMP Foundation has been able to purchase a Recharjme cabin for the benefit of all BMP Hospital employees.

“Caring for physicians and their families is part of our core mission”, explains Carl Dubeau, Regional VP, growth and market opportunities, Eastern Canada. “In today’s environment, helping the medical community to take better care of the population is an equally important goal for us! We are very proud to support the BMP Foundation in this project!”

This relaxation booth has already proven itself in many hospitals and now it is being used at BMP Hospital. Ideal for a moment of rest or a mindfulness meditation session, the individual, soundproof Recharjme cabin can be booked for 25 minutes once a day by any BMP Hospital employee. A user-friendly free application allows the reservation of the time slot and the viewing of the availability of the cabin. These moments of rest are meant to preserve the mental health of workers by relieving stress and fatigue.

The cubicle has been a great success since its installation, as proved by this quote from a BMP employee : “A HUGE THANK YOU from me and all the employees at BMP for the RECHARJME cubicle, which allows us to recharge our batteries, as the name suggests. After 2 years of pandemic and accumulated fatigue, this cabin is more than appreciated. Stress, fatigue and even pain are reduced or disappear with a short 25 minute session. Thank you for taking care of us, it allows us to continue to give of ourselves for the good of the patients we treat”, she says enthusiastically.

The Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation wishes to thank MD Financial Management and Scotiabank for this financial contribution covering the entire cost of the Recharjme booth for the coming year. Each employee will be able to benefit from this important gesture. Thank you.

Thanks to photographer Danny Landry for the beautiful pictures!

My Sweet BMP event ended last Saturday with the second day of take-out meals in support of the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation. A total of 235 meals were ordered by the 2022 participants! Thanks to their reservations and donations, My Sweet BMP raised $4,000 in profit. THANK YOU to everyone!

For the External Clinic

This money will fund the acquisition of several instruments for the External Clinic such as procedure-specific scissors, forceps, and ligation sets. Currently, due to the lack of available instruments, appointments are being postponed. These purchases will allow us to keep with the pace of the treatments and avoid appointment delays. The work can be organized to be as efficient as possible and maintain the fluidity of the appointments.

Thank you to all participants, donors, and volunteers for supporting the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation! A special thank you to Michel Thibodeau and his family from Domaine de l’Artisan for always offering us a great service and delicious food! Thanks also to our radio partner M105.

The Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Foundation wishes to congratulate the recipient of the new Effie Margaret Côté Scholarship: Ms. Marie-Hélène Lemée. This is a financial aid of $10,000 that will allow her to continue her studies in nursing at the university next September.

The BMP Foundation is proud to recognize the efforts of a BMP Hospital employee! As a Nursing Advisor (NCA) in the Competence, Support and Clinical Coordination of the Nursing Directorate at CIUSSS de l’Estrie, she is teaching the next generation of nurses at the Hospital. Her studies are an integral part of her current routine, as she is in her 2nd year of 4 part-time courses with honors. In fact, she is continuing her university studies at the graduate level with a Master’s degree in Health Science Research, nursing profile. Her master’s subject is related to new technologies, but especially immersive virtual reality which will allow a new pedagogical approach to develop the skills of the nursing professional. This woman has touched many areas of nursing during her many years of work. She is also a woman involved in her community in many ways.

The BMP Foundation team would like to extend a warm thank you to all the donors who have made this project possible. We will be doing another project related to this donation in the near future.

Remember that Mrs. Effie Margaret Côté is a woman who has dedicated her life to volunteering. She has given over 30 years of her time to the BMP Hospital. Community and dedication were her greatest motivations for becoming involved with the Board of Directors between 1982 and 1984. She won the International Women’s Day award in 2008 and the BMP Hospital Volunteer of the Year award in 2009.

A special donor has given the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation quite a gift. Painter Michel Raymond has happily donated a 24″ x 30″ painting entitled “In Praise of Dedication” to be given to a member of the BMP Hospital nursing staff. The artist wishes to recognize the important work that has been done by the health department since the beginning of the pandemic.

Following a discussion with the artist, the BMP Foundation and Mr. Raymond decided to offer the oil painting to the recipient of the Effie Margaret Côté Scholarship in recognition of Ms. Marie-Hélène Lemée’s efforts and motivation towards nursing. Mr. Michel Raymond wanted to get involved in the community in his own way with a painting.
Michel Raymond is a painter, pastellist and portraitist living in Shefford. Mr. Raymond teaches painting courses and classes and paints mainly urban scenes, landscapes and portraits.

Through his many hours of work on this canvas, Mr. Michel Raymond wanted to inspire the community to support the next generation of nurses. This is why the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Foundation is launching a new fundraising campaign to support the nursing externship program.

Fundraising Campaign 

Previously supported by our BMP Brunch fundraiser, the nursing externship program is in constant need of financial support. Since our BMP Brunch has not been able to be held for the past two years, this fundraising campaign will provide the support necessary to keep the program going. The fundraising goal is $5,000. To participate, simply click on the link below. Thank you!