Cowansville, October 9, 2024 – The Yamaska Valley Optimist Club and the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation are delighted to mark the 23rd edition of the Walk to End All Cancers, which took place on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at the Centre Communautaire Lac-Brome.
Over 150 participants walked and some took part in a workshop with yoga teacher Laura Hernandez. Thanks to donations from walkers, walk contributions and sponsors, over $ 87 070 was raised that day!
We would like to express our gratitude to the honorary co-chairs, Dr. Christine Cadrin, gynecologist at the BMP Hospital and cancer survivor, and Heather Padner, a major contributor to the walk.
Thank you also to the 2024 walk organizers Lucy Davis and Judy Henderson, as well as Linda Martin president of the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club. A special recognition as been made to thank Ms. Johanne Coiteux and Louise Gélinas who co-organized the walk for over 20 years!
Our warmest thanks to our sponsor: Pharmacie Jean Coutu Julie Coderre, Sabrina Parent and Olivier Martel, and to the Walk’s collaborators: Brûlerie Virgin Hill and MNP, for their unfailing support.
Special thanks to ‘Friends for Life’, a group of three friends, for raising over $10,000!
We wish to thank all participants, sponsors, and donors over the past 22 years for their invaluable support. Together, we have surpassed the one-million-dollar mark and impacted thousands of lives. THANK YOU! Help us make a positive impact on the lives of cancer patients by participating in the 2024 walk!
Photo par Jean-Martin Verreault. Linda Martin, president of the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club, Janet Gibbons, club member, Jessica Brown the MC, Louise Gélinas club member, Heather Padner honorary cochair, Dre Christine Cadrin honorary cochair, Judy Henderson et Lucy Davis organizers of the 2024 walk.
There’s still time to make a donation
For those who would like to support the walk, but were unable to attend, it is still possible to make a donation online.
Fundraising Projects
The funds raised from the walk will be used to purchase specialized medical equipment for the treatment of cancer patients at BMP Hospital. Thanks to the contribution of the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club and it’s 2023 Walk to Fight All Cancers, two new colonoscopy machines valued at $92 800 have already been funded.
Cowansville September 16, 2024 – The Royal Canadian Legion Cowansville Branch 99 presented the BMP
Hospital Foundation with a historic donation of $20,000 on September 13. This is one of the largest donations the Cowansville Legion has ever made to an organization via the Poppy Fund. This donation is in addition to the BMP Foundation’s active campaign to purchase a 2nd arthroscopy tower for the Cowansville hospital.
A second arthroscopy tower
The acquisition of a second arthroscopy tower for the BMP Hospital Surgical Suite, valued at over $200,000, will enable orthopedic surgeons to operate in two operating rooms simultaneously. This will enable the BMP Hospital to schedule two orthopedic surgery rooms four days out of five, improving the fluidity of these procedures for the population of Brome-Missisquoi.
A long-standing collaboration
The Foundation is delighted with this collaboration and the achievements made possible thanks to the members of the Cowansville Legion. Since 1989, the Legion has donated close to $50,000 to improve health care in BromeMissisquoi. Notably, by 2021, 5 Hill-Rom beds had been purchased for intensive care, thanks to combined donations from the following Legions: Brome (23), Waterloo-Shefford (77), Cowansville (99), Sutton (158), Iberville (263), Philipsburg (82), Branch Auxiliary (77) and District 9 Yamaska Valley.
The BMP Hospital Foundation would like to thank all Legion volunteers for their hard work and generosity.
From left to right in the photo, the donation was presented in the presence of : Cde André Noiseux, Director; Cde Dawn Poll, Director Poppy File; Francis Laramée, Executive Director – BMP Foundation; Cde Robert Bouthot, President; Cde Daniel Rodrigue, Director Veterans Support.
Every fall, the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club organizes the Walk to fight all cancers to benefit the BMP Foundation. Thanks to the money raised during the 2022 edition, 10 vital signs monitors were acquired and are now installed at the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital.
The vital signs monitors are an important addition to the hospital’s ability to monitor the health of patients undergoing treatment in the Oncology Department, and to react quickly in the event of an emergency. Mounted on the walls next to each treatment chair, they are easily accessible to the nursing staff.
The Walk to fight all cancers has been organized since 2003 by members of the Yamaska Valley Optimist Club, an all-women’s club assisted on the day of the event by some 80 volunteers from the community. Since the event’s inception, close to $1,250,000 has been raised in donations and used to provide cancer patients with modern, state-of-the-art facilities.
The RLS de la Pommeraie, which includes the BMP Hospital, CLSCs and GMF-U, was visited last February by external evaluators from the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux and met the requirements set by the World Health Organization and Unicef for the Baby-Friendly certification.
The Baby-Friendly initiative sets international standards for quality of care, parental guidance and the marketing of breast-milk substitutes. Recognized Baby-Friendly establishments provide parents with evidence-based information on infant nutrition and health.
The BMP Hospital has thus obtained its 5th certification, a status it has proudly held for 25 years, having been the first hospital in Canada to be certified in 1999. Today, 20,000 hospitals around the world are Baby-Friendly certified. The hospital also boasts a breastfeeding rate of 81%, exceeding the standard of 75%. CLSCs in la Pommeraie have also been certified for 20 years, and we are delighted that the GMF-U la Pommeraie has been able to meet the quality criteria to offer optimal conditions for families.
The BMP Foundation would like to congratulate all the staff who works so hard to maintain a high standard for the families of our region!
Between June 26 and July 4, the comité reconnaissance de la coordination opérationnelle local (COL) from RLS de la Pommeraie and the BMP Foundation organized a sundae tour for RLS employees, managers and doctors. With the summer season beginning, this little gesture was a way of saying THANK YOU for the work they do every day!
Over 1,400 employees enjoyed an ice cream treat at the 2nd edition of this recognition activity. The BMP Foundation offered the dessert to employees of the BMP Hospital and CHSLDs in Cowansville, Sutton, Bedford and Farnham, which are part of the réseau local de services (RLS) de la Pommeraie.
The recognition activity was organized in collaboration with Maître Glacier Bromont and the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l’Estrie – Centre hospitalier universitaire de Sherbrooke (CIUSSE – CHUS), and was made possible by the Fondation Les Foyers Farnham (CHSLD), the Fondation Lévesque-Craighead (CHSLD Bedford) and the BMP Hospital Foundation.
It is with great pride that the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital Foundation is redistributing most of the donations raised through its fundraising activities in 2023 through various projects in our beautiful region. We are pleased to share with you our annual report tabled at our last Annual General Meeting, held on June 19. You will find the most recent annual report here: https://fondationbmp.ca/en/ratio-of-administrative-costs/.
Donors made a significant contribution to improving healthcare at the BMP Hospital by allowing us to make a total investment of over $614,000 in 2023. This sum went largely toward the purchase of 16 colonoscopes (outpatient clinics), totalling $285,866 to improve colorectal cancer detection. Other purchases were made thanks to the same investment: $160,747 for a Laser Thulium (urology interventions) and $3,871 in the MEDESYNC computer system (urology file management). Also noteworthy are equipment for CLSC consultations, a portable ultrasound machine and a syringe pump (automated drug administration).
Improvement projects and compassions realized
A generous contribution of over $43,000 invested in the Leisure Fund for the elderly enabled residents of CHSLDs in Cowansville, Bedford, and Sutton, as well as BMP Hospital living unit, to benefit from recreational activities such as zootherapy, music, Zumba and much more! An exceptional impact to counter isolation and loneliness.
New responsibilities for the BMP Foundation, a commitment from the heart!
In 2023, the BMP Foundation was honoured and privileged to join forces with two great friends of health in Brome-Missisquoi: the Boutique des Auxiliaires de l’Hôpital BMP and the Fondation du Centre d’accueil de Cowansville. Together, we hope to bring the Boutique and its activities into a modern era. Already, a computerized cash register has been installed and a new brand image has been created for the Boutique.
Volunteers and a team invested in our mission
These achievements are made possible exclusively through the contributions of our donors, sponsors and collaborators. We are also extremely grateful to our wonderful team of volunteers for their support and hard work throughout the year.
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:
