Campaign Cabinet

Campaign Co-Chairs, Bill Preston and Tom Orr welcome a team of community leaders who will help shape the Stratford General Hospital Foundation’s campaign to raise funds for a state-of-the-art facility with state-of-the-art technology.

The Hospital’s redevelopment project includes moving and doubling the size of our Emergency Department; new Operating Rooms and Recovery Room, Intensive Care Unit and Telemetry; relocation and expansion of Medical Imaging; and expansion of Maternal/Child to meet increased demands. Mental Health services will be relocated, expanded and made more patient-friendly.

According to the campaign co-chairs, this project concentrates these “core” services-the heart and soul of our hospital-in new space, enabling us to meet the acute care needs of an aging population and increased patient volumes for years to come. Such a facility will help attract and retain medical and professional staff for our region, a key to a healthy future. We also need to fundraise for state-of-the-art technology like the Picture Archiving Communications System and other equipment to support staff and physicians who are second to none.

Every donation touches countless lives. And every piece of equipment impacts our hospital’s ability to care for patients.

We can never say thank you enough to these leaders who will have a tremendous impact on our local care.

Campaign Co-Chairman, Bill Preston

“A gift for a generation” is how Bill Preston sees the
Heart & Soul campaign.

“ Some 15 years ago, my dad and Father Williams asked the community to help build the East building extension. Now I'm involved in finishing the East building and a new North wing extension,” he says.

The East Building completion and the new wing will mean all of the hospital's core areas will be housed in new or newer space. When asked, most Canadians put healthcare as priority one. Bill Preston has seen local support for the hospital flourish over his 12 years with the Foundation, helping the organization successfully support over $13 million in equipment purchases, nursing education and other programs.

“We need to put our hospital as priority one,” he says. “We are at the hospital at the beginning of our lives, throughout accidents, surgeries and tests and then near the end of our lives. We all need to work together for our generation and for the generations to come”.

Campaign Co-Chairman, Tom Orr

The mission of Orr Insurance is “answering the call” for the community in times of crisis, whether it be fire, accident, or flood. To Tom Orr answering the call also means stepping up to the plate to build a healthier and stronger community. It's more than just words; it's his
philosophy on life.

Tom Orr has been involved in campaigns for a number of worthy organizations, but believes that health care and our local hospital is unrivalled in its importance. “I'm doing it for my children, my grand children and the community,” he says.

“ I'm looking forward to reaching out and sharing the vision of a new and revitalized hospital. The construction project impacts the heart & soul of our hospital, ensuring the hospital is ready 24/7 for any crisis” says Mr. Orr.“ The new facilities and state of the art technology have tremendous benefits for patient care, but will also impact our community's ability to attract and keep doctors ”.

“ So please help us in answering the call …”

Introducing the Heart and Soul Campaign Cabinet

Back Row On top of Ambulance (Left to Right)
Tony Vigar, Carolyn Drummond, Bill Preston, Shelley Groenestege, Rick Johnson, Andrew Williams, Bob Gulliford

Middle Row (Left to Right)
Jeff Skubowius, Jessie Hahn, Anita Gaffney, Pauline Jones, Colleen Misener, Leanne Perreault, Jim McMillan, Robert Lightfoot, Joe Kleinhenz, Dave Carter, Tim Culliton, Ken Keegan, Jim Hurley, Jeff Carruthers, Bill Russell, Andrea Page, Jim Burns

Front Row (Left to Right)
Diane Hiller, Cynthia Dale, Brenda Smellie, Tom Orr

Absent from photo
Eleanor Kane, Dr. Miriam Mann, Hugh McDonald, John Patterson, John Wilkinson, John Wolfe