Participants were out in force Sunday April 21st, 2024 for the 33rd edition of the BMP Brunch! For the first time since 2019, both services were sold out, much to the delight of the BMP Foundation team. Bacon and croissants were in abundance at the Auberge West Brome, and several prizes were won in a draw held during the event. A festive, family-friendly day, in the spirit of the close-knit community of Brome-Missisquoi!

Thanks to the 340 participants on both services, sponsors, and raffle tickets, we’re delighted to announce that we raised $28,250 in benefits! Thank you, everyone!

All proceeds from our 2024 events will be invested in the acquisition of a second arthroscopy tower for the OR. This new investment, valued at over $200,000, will allow orthopedic surgeons to work in two operating rooms simultaneously. The BMP Hospital will therefore be able to schedule two orthopedic surgery rooms four days out of five, improving the fluidity of these procedures for the population of Brome-Missisquoi.

Thanks to the BMP Brunch sponsors and collaborators: Desjardins, IGA Gazaille, Papeterie Cowansville, Familiprix Lac Brome, Centre santé dentaire Lac-Brome as well as Isabelle Charest, deputy for Brome-Missisquoi at the Quebec National Assembly, the Knowlton Lions Club, Auberge West Brome and M105.

A George Bristol Award rooted in the BMP Hospital

In honor of Mr. Bristol, creator of the BMP Brunch in 1988, the BMP Foundation has presented the George Bristol Award since 2016 with the goal of promoting, developing, and recognizing the exceptional and sustained commitment of men and women who volunteer tirelessly with the well-being of the BMP Foundation and BMP Hospital community in mind.

This year, we were pleased to present the George Bristol Award to Nicole Arbour, volunteer manager of the BMP Auxiliaries Boutique and member of the BMP Foundation Board of Directors.

The merger of the Auxiliaries’ Boutique with the BMP Foundation was the occasion for a complete overhaul of the boutique’s volunteer operations. Nicole, who has been with us since the beginning of this transition, has worked hard to modernize and improve the boutique’s offer. With this George Bristol Volunteer Award, the BMP Foundation wanted to formally thank her for her time and efforts. On behalf of all the employees and customers of the BMP Hospital who benefit from the boutique’s services, thank you Nicole!

Since 1954, the BMP Hospital Auxiliaries have been donating their time and raising dollars that are directly invested in the acquisition of equipment for the Hospital. Offering patient essentials such as first-aid products, shawls and books, the Auxiliaries’ Boutique also offers wonderful gift ideas and sweet treats. In addition to running the day-to-day business of the Boutique, volunteers also organize fundraising events on special occasions.

What more could we ask for? To become eco-responsible and safe for our users and employees! Thanks to a $40,000 investment by the BMP Hospital Auxiliary, the BMP Foundation was able to acquire a Chronos machine for the Sterilization Department. The BMP Hospital is one of the first hospitals in the Eastern Townships to have this high-quality machine.

The Anti germix® AE1 is an ecological and rapid disinfection system used by the sterilization team for high-level disinfection of transesophageal ultrasound probes.

This device eliminates the risks associated with handling a disinfectant solution. Its acquisition has a positive impact on the working conditions of BMP Hospital employees, and improves the quality and safety of the process. As well as extending probe life, the Anti germix® AE1 system also saves time, enabling greater productivity.

“Thanks to this investment and acquisition, I’m very proud to have improved the safety and working environment of my team, as well as that of users and our beautiful planet Earth. With this device, we have stopped using large quantities of disinfectant solution that had to be manually poured down our sinks. My team and I are very happy to contribute to sustainable development by reducing our waste, as this unit requires no consumables. What’s more, thanks to the speed of this device, my employees are also helping to improve access to healthcare. Thank you to the BMP Foundation!” explains Rénatanne Viens, Department Manager, Medical Devices Reprocessing Unit.

The Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation is pleased to inform you that new mandates are coming under our responsibility.

As of today, two entities are unified with the BMP Foundation:

The BMP Hospital Auxiliaries Boutique

Since 1954, the BMP Hospital Auxiliaries has been donating its time and raising dollars that are directly invested in the acquisition of equipment for the Hospital. Offering patient essentials such as first-aid products, shawls and books, the Auxiliaries Boutique also offers wonderful gift ideas and treats. As well as running the day-to-day business of the Boutique, volunteers also organize fundraising events on special occasions.

As our two organizations were already working towards the same goal, it made sense to bring us together, reducing the burden and administrative costs of the auxiliaries. We aim to bring the Boutique and its activities into a modern era. Already, a new cash register has been installed, allowing card payments, and a new brand image has been created for the Boutique. Nicole Arbour, volunteer manager of the BMP Hospital Auxiliaries Boutique, is now a member of the BMP Foundation Board of Directors, ensuring effective communication and unification.

Cowansville Elderly home Foundation

We are also pleased to announce that we will ensure the continuity of the Cowansville Elderly home Foundation. For more than 30 years, this Foundation had carried out its philanthropic mission for the specific benefit of the residents of the Cowansville Elderly home. The BMP Hospital Foundation has since created a recreational fund dedicated to the CHSLDs of the RLS la Pommeraie (notably the CHSLD Sutton and Cowansville) which allows more activities to be realized such as: zoo therapy, music, zumba gold, group activities and more. In an effort to maximizing the resources of the organizations, the administration of the Cowansville Elderly home Foundation has chosen to dissolve and entrust the management of its funds to the BMP Foundation for the future.

“It is after much reflection, but also with great emotion, that we have decided to dissolve the Cowansville Elderly home Foundation.  Our organization has done a great deal of good for residents over the years and knowing that the BMP Foundation is taking over is a great comfort to us.” – Me Édith Chaput, outgoing President of the Board of Directors of the Cowansville Elderly home Foundation.

This unification is motivated by a common mission: to improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare offered to the population of Brome-Missisquoi. The BMP Foundation would like to acknowledge the unwavering commitment of volunteers, members of the Board of Directors and even some of the center’s employees for all these years of effort, which will endure in time thanks to this union.

The entire team at the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation enjoyed a wonderful evening, surrounded by numerous donors and partners, at its BMP Oktoberfest last Saturday. Thanks to the 275 participants and sponsors, we are pleased to announce a profit of $34,000! THANK YOU to everyone! Thank you to event presenter Desjardins for supporting Fondation BMP for 30 years!

For the second year, the BMP Oktoberfest was held under the permanent tent at Domaine de l’Artisan. Owner Michel Thibodeau pulled out all the stops to welcome participants in the most authentic atmosphere possible. Thanks to him, and to Marcel Picard, owner of Saucisson Vaudois, who prepared the delicious sauerkraut, sausages, and incredible ham. The meal ended with a wonderful apple cake and coffee generously donated by Virgin Hills Coffee Roasters. Thank you.

Thanks to the three microbreweries on site: Brouemont (Bromont), Knowlton Co. (Knowlton) and L’Autre Brasserie (Bedford).

We’d also like to extend our warmest thanks to all our event sponsors: the City of Bromont, Excavation STR and St-Pierre et Tremblay, Familiprix Cowansville Judith and François Marziali, Barnes Home Hardware, the City of Brigham, Toitures Smith & Dubois Inc, Au Cœur des Saisons, the City of Bolton-Est, Construction DJL inc. and Sébastien Kaempf, real estate broker at REMAX. Thanks also to our media partner M105.

Raffle tickets were on sale during the event and helped us raise this handsome sum. We’d also like to thank all the businesses that donated prizes for the draw: Maison de la culture de Waterloo, Madame Fortin, Ungava, Balka, BMR Bromont, Atelier Bouffe, Brome Lake Books and Brome Bird Care.

Two decentralized automated cabinets

This year, all raised funds at our events and solicitation communications will be used to help fund two decentralized automated cabinets of the BMP Hospital Pharmacy. This project complements an initiative launched by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2013. To secure the storage and administration of medications on critical and high-volume care units, decentralized automated cabinets have been installed in several BMP Hospital departments.

The BMP Foundation wishes to continue to secure pharmaceuticals in two other departments that have a high use of identified hazardous drugs and narcotics: the Birthing Pavilion and the Operating Room. The acquisition of these two decentralized automated cabinets and the training of staff in the use of this new equipment represents a total investment of $171,000. Did you know that medication errors account for more than 50% of reported incidents in Quebec hospitals? By donating to the BMP Oktoberfest, sponsors and participants have helped to minimize these errors at the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital. Thank you for your support!

Thanks to Danny Landry for the wonderful photos:

After three years of virtual walking, feet once again hit solid pavement for the 2023 BMP Hospital Foundation’s annual Cancer Walk on the sunny morning of October 1 with 175 walkers, including 40 cancer survivors who showed up at the pink Survivor’s Tent.

They helped raise over $71,000 to purchase equipment to diagnose and treat cancer. The goal is $100,000 by December 15 since donations are still welcome via this website. So go ahead – register, donate, then lace up those sneakers and do the walk at your own leisure! 

Since the creation of the Cancer Walk in 2003, the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club (YVOC) has raised close to $1,250,000. All this money has been used to provide cancer patients with modern, state-of-the-art facilities: this year’s funds go towards colonoscopy machines.

As usual for the past 21 years it was volunteers from the all-ladies YVOC who organized the event and made it happen along with about 80 community volunteers. Jessica Brown was the Master of Ceremonies and inspiring words were shared by the BMP’s Dr. Christine Cadrin and Jaime Moar – both cancer survivors. 

Many thanks to the BMP Foundation, Lac Brome Community Centre and staff, First Responders Alain Bowbrick and Pierre Laplante, Daniela Scherff (past honorary president) as well as Sarah Holmes whose mini team did the Walk Warm-up and Catharine Bacon who takes care of publicity. 

None of this could have happened without sponsors Pharmacie Jean Coutu Julie Coderre, Équipe McGale Charpentier Côté, Brûlerie Virgin Hill Coffee, Érablière Bernard, Centre Jardinage Granby, LD Traiteurs and JJ Towing.

Donations can still be made by clicking on the link below until December 15, 2023. Thank you for your generosity!

MAKE A DONATION

Some great photos of the event:

Thank you to The Knowlton Golf Club for hosting their traditional golf tournament for the benefit of the BMP Foundation on June 22nd, 2023!

Thanks to all participants, sponsors and silent and live auctions contributors, the organizers raised the magnificent sum of $65,260 in profits! THANK YOU ALL!

The money raised from this event will be invested to complete the financing of the purchase of two decentralized automated BMP Hospital Pharmacy cabinets for the Birthing Pavilion and the Operating Room.

Thank you to Audrey and all the members of the Knowlton Golf Club for organizing this tournament for over 30 years! Thank you for taking healthcare in the Brome-Missisquoi community to heart!

Many thanks to photographer Danny Landry for his wonderful photos of the day!

The Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation is very pleased to announce the results of La Classique BMP! On Wednesday, June 14th, all cyclists, and golfers from Brome-Missisquoi attended the Cowansville Golf Club. Thank you to Desjardins for agreeing to present this event, which has been part of the BMP Foundation’s history since its inception 30 years ago. Thanks also to Ian-Alexandre Lavoie, General Manager of Transforce Beltal Inc. for his presence and motivation as Honorary Chair of La Classique BMP 2023!

Thanks to the 176 participants, sponsors and silent auction contributors, this event raised $63,000 in proceeds! THANK YOU to all!

Activities enjoyed by all participants!

This year, the participants were particularly pampered. The cyclists, supervised by the experienced instructors of the National Cycling Center of Bromont and the radio broadcaster Yvan Martineau, had the chance to participate in a private guided tour of the new CNCB velodrome. The golfers were not left out. They were able to taste the delicious smoked meat sandwiches offered by Gosse.lin Smokehouses of Cowansville, a refreshing beer from Knowlton Co., and some bites from Allard Traiteur located in Farnham and a barbecued hot dog prepared by the Desjardins team. Sparkling maple water from Ô de Sève of Brome Lake was also offered to all participants at the brunch and the cocktail.

All the participants enjoyed this sporty day, which was spiced up with a few surprises! They were happy to see the return of a traditional fundraising formula, with a brunch, an activity, a three-course dinner, and a silent auction. Thanks to Yvan Martineau for his colorful entertainment at dinner!

Two decentralized automated cabinets

This year, all funds raised at our events and solicitation communications will be used to help fund two decentralized automated cabinets of the BMP Hospital Pharmacy. This project complements an initiative launched by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2013. To secure the storage and administration of medications on critical and high-volume care units, decentralized automated cabinets have been installed in several BMP Hospital departments.

The BMP Foundation wishes to continue to secure pharmaceuticals in two other departments that have a high use of identified hazardous drugs and narcotics: the Birthing Pavilion and the Operating Room. The acquisition of these two decentralized automated cabinets and the training of staff in the use of this new equipment represents a total investment of $171,000. Thank you to all participants of La Classique BMP for helping to make medication management safer!

Thank you for supporting La Classique BMP!

We would like to thank event presenter Desjardins as well as all the sponsors: Volta, Graymont, Doyle, Sotheby’s Groupe Barsalou Meunier, Bessette Automobiles, Uniprix Cowansville, Migué & Fournier and Lagacé Ébéniste.

Thanks also to all the collaborators of our silent auction: Susan Keays Kreations, UNGAVA, Rotoplast, Val Caudalies, Canoë et Co, Virgin Hill, Nouvelle Épicerie, Auberge West Brome, Théâtre de Lac-Brome, Anne-Marie Chagnon, Isabelle Daval – peintre, Sanders Pinault – Artiste, Bromont, montagne d’expérience, Dr. Robert S. Pincott, Studio Studio Studio, Bromont. Robert S. Pincott, Studio Nala photographe, Le Panier Champêtre, le Bouquet de Knowlton, Solstice Sauna, Euro-spa, La Bodega, Raffields Centrale, Bijouterie Deschamps, Vitalité Sureau, Domaine Château Bromont, Espace Diffusion, LB Avocats Inc, Le Groupe Ultra, Le Diable Vert, Ici et Là, Dépanneur Carrefour 74, Gallery Hors-Cadre and Brome Bird Care.

Finally, we would like to thank the partners of the event: SAQ, Centre National de Cyclisme de Bromont, Gosselin Smokehouses, Knowlton Co, Allard Traiteur, Ô de Sève, Deragon and Amaro.

The BMP Foundation would also like to thank the Cowansville Golf Club for its hospitality and collaboration, as well as the two professional golfers present on the driving range in the morning to offer advice to participants, Mr. Maxime Paiement and Mr. Pierre Dugas.

Thanks to photographer Danny Landry, who ran around trying to capture all the action of the day!

Last Friday, June 9th, Sutton’s Goyette-Hill Park was full of active children! More than 500 students from Dunham, Frelighsburg and Sutton schools and more than 50 volunteers were hard at work as part of the 2023 Olympiades pour la santé!

Committed teachers.

Thanks to the commitment of the physical education teachers in the participating schools, the BMP Foundation is delighted to have been able to put on this new event designed to get our youngsters moving. Long jump, skipping rope, running – there was plenty to challenge the participants. Each student surpassed themselves and gave their best during a total of 120,000 minutes of sport! Congratulations to every one of them!

Our events coordinator, Olivia, worked with teachers and principals to deliver an innovative, kid-friendly event. It was inspiring to see these different schools working together to build something unique. Always coming up with new ideas and taking on challenges, the teachers were actively involving the kids on the field. The BMP Foundation would like to thank them for their boundless motivation!

A strong community presence

While the event was free for students, all Brome-Missisquoi citizens were invited to support them by making a donation. Thanks to all the Olympiades pour la santé donors, sponsors and collaborators, we raised $16,000 in benefits! Thank you, everyone!

As agreed, 20% of the proceeds will be shared with participating schools. The Sutton school will use its share of the proceeds to enhance its breakfast program, while the Dunham and Frelighsburg schools will acquire new proprioception and sports equipment. The BMP Foundation will purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the BMP Hospital.

Partners and Sponsors

The Olympiades pour la santé can count on quality partners and sponsors who have not hesitated to support this event which shares common values such as the health of our youth and physical activity. First, thank you to the Sybilla Hesse Foundation and the Government of Canada’s ParticipAction program for their generous support.

Thank you to the Town of Sutton, the Fondation du maire de Dunham, the Town of Frelighsburg, Samuel Desjardins of Brunet Pharmacy (Sutton), Annie Langlois of Kubota (Sutton) and La Maison de la Pomme (Frelighsburg), Les Producteurs de lait de Montérégie-Est, Le Tigre Géant (Cowansville), Artcomposé, Lois Hardacker, John Boudreau (Coldbook), Soudure Brault, Pascale St-Onge and BMR Matériaux de Construction Sutton Inc.

Thanks also to Laura Hernandez from Yoga et Mouvement who will be organizing yoga workshops for the children and to Heather Croghan for organizing competitive floor gymnastics workshops.

Finally, a special thanks to Cambi for the presence of the ambulance and recruits during the event.

Thank you to photographer Danny Landry for the beautiful photos of the day!

The Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation would like to recognize an exceptional team! For the past 19 years, the Bromont 2×30 Hockey League has been raising funds for the BMP Foundation. Led by three long-time friends, Normand Dunlavey, Dr. Pincott and Gilles Rousseau, these fundraisers have raised an impressive $80,000. Thank you to them and to the entire hockey team that mobilizes every year to support healthcare in Brome-Missisquoi!

To recognize their commitment to the BMP Foundation, we were pleased to install a donor leaf with their name on our recognition tree in the lobby of the BMP Hospital. Through various activities such as the Bike-a-thon and the Move BMP Bouge, “Les amis du Doc” have truly succeeded in improving the quality of healthcare offered at La Pommeraie. A heartfelt thank you to the Bromont Hockey League 2×30!

Spring was a time of celebration for the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation. After a Sweet BMP with sugar shack meals to go, the BMP Brunch was back at the Auberge West Brome on Sunday April 23rd, 2023. These two events raised a total of $30 215 in profits! Thank you to all participants, donors, sponsors, and collaborators!

A shared project

This year, all funds raised at our events will be used to help fund two decentralized automated pharmacy cabinets at the BMP Hospital. This project complements an initiative launched by the Department of Health and Human Services in 2013. To secure the storage and administration of medications on critical and high-volume care units, decentralized automated cabinets have been installed in several BMP Hospital departments.

The BMP Foundation wishes to continue to secure pharmaceutical products in two other departments that have a high use of identified hazardous drugs and narcotics: the Birthing Pavilion and the Operating Room. The acquisition of these two decentralized automated cabinets and the training of staff in the use of this new equipment represents a total investment of $171,000. Thanks to the money raised at My Sweet BMP and the BMP Brunch, the BMP Foundation is one step closer to acquiring these two decentralized automated cabinets.

A highly anticipated BMP Brunch!

After a three-year absence, we were pleased to see that everyone was back in force for the two services of the BMP Brunch! Thanks to the raffle held at each service, the sponsors and the 321 participants, the final profit of this fundraising event reached $28,000. Thank you once again to all the participants, sponsors, and raffle partners. We were able to offer 25 great prizes at each service! Thank you also to the Auberge West Brome for welcoming us warmly with an outstanding service and a generous and delicious cuisine.

Recognizing the volunteer commitment of Mr. François Riendeau

The BMP Brunch is also an occasion for the BMP Foundation to present the 2023 George Bristol Volunteer Award. The purpose of this award is to promote, develop and recognize the exceptional and sustained commitment of men and women who are committed to the well-being of the BMP Foundation and BMP Hospital community.

This year’s George Bristol Award will be presented to Mr. François Riendeau, a volunteer member of the BMP Scholarship Jury since the establishment of the scholarships in 2002. A former principal, Mr. Riendeau is involved on an annual basis in the review of candidates for the BMP Cegep Scholarships and the Effie Margaret Côté University Scholarships. Always curious during interviews, he loves to discuss and discover the motivations of these passionate young people! It is with great pleasure that he has devoted his time for over 20 years to complete the process of selecting and choosing the candidates.

With this George Bristol Volunteer Award, the BMP Foundation wishes to formally thank him for his time and passion. On behalf of the young people, the next generation of healthcare providers in Brome-Missisquoi, thank you Mr. Riendeau!

An Event Supported by its Community.

The BMP Foundation would like to thank everyone involved in making the BMP 2023 Brunch a success, especially the Knowlton Lions Club and the Auberge West Brome. Thank you to all the volunteers who gave of their time to ensure an impeccable service and an enjoyable experience for all participants. Thank you for their presence and involvement to Mrs. Isabelle Charest, Deputy of Brome-Missisquoi and Minister responsible for Sport, Recreation and Outdoors, Mrs. Sylvie Beauregard, Mayor of Cowansville, Mr. Robert Benoît, Mayor of Sutton, Mr. Louis Villeneuve, Mayor of Bromont as well as Mr. Richard Burcombe, Mayor of Lac Brome. Thank you to our sponsors: Desjardins, the National Assembly of Quebec, the Knowlton Lions Club, Chasco Inc, Familiprix Brome Lake, the Brown-Cournoyer team of REMAX-Quebec, the Brome Lake Dental Health Clinic. Finally, thank you to the Abercorn Bakery and La Mie Bretonne Bakery for providing the bread and croissants. Thank you to Les Fumoirs Gosselin for the smoked bacon and thank you to la Boucherie Soucy for the breakfast sausages! It was a delight!

Finally, we would like to thank all the businesses for their donations for the draw: Arselia, Au Coeur des Saisons, Avon, Brome Bird Care, Brome Lake Books, Camlen, Centre Belléza Del Sol, Cineplex Odeon, Domaine Girouard, Domaine Jolivent, F.G. Edwards, Fleurs et Smoothies, Fromagerie Missiska, Gym Athletica, Harfang des neiges, Il Gato, Indigo, La Ferme Verte, La Knowlton Co, Le Jasmin, Le Loom, Le Pleasant, Le Sillon, Lebel Objet Antiquité, Léon Courville Winery, Sutton Brouërie, Maryse Chartrand – Artist Painter, Mollie’s Dinette, Nath’Elle, On va s’aimer encore, the Parc d’environnement naturel de Sutton, Pizzeria 139, RONA, Sanders Pinault – Painter, les rotisseries St-Hubert, Solstice Sauna, Susan Pepler – Painter, Tite Frette, Theatre Lac-Brome, Verveine and Windrush.

Getting Sweet for the BMP Foundation

In March, maple syrup lovers were treated to the My Sweet BMP Sugar Shack event. Organized in collaboration with the Domaine de l’Artisan, participants enjoyed a feast to benefit the BMP Foundation. With 80 meals sold, the BMP Foundation is pleased to announce that it raised $2,215 in proceeds! Thank you!

The BMP Foundation would like to thank Michel Thibodeau and the entire team at Le Domaine de l’Artisan for their continued support of our Foundation and the La Pommeraie Health System.

In the photo from left to right: Ms. Isabelle Charest, Deputy for Brome-Missisquoi and Minister responsible for Sport, Recreation and the Outdoors; Mr. Francis Laramée, Executive Director of the BMP Foundation; Mr. Patrick Boucher, Chair of the Board of Directors of the BMP Foundation; and Mr. François Riendeau, winner of the 2023 George Bristol Award for Volunteer Achievement.

Discover the beautiful pictures of this day taken by the photographer Danny Landry: