The fundraising campaign for a new Groves hospital is now two-thirds complete.
At a donor appreciation event on Oct. 13, Groves Hospital Foundation officials announced the campaign has raised $13.3 million of $20 million.
"We are now two thirds of the way to our goal, with $6.7 million remaining to be raised," Groves foundation board chair Hugh Calderwood announced to supporters at the Elora arena.
Calderwood explained $7 million raised by the foundation in 2002 – for a Groves redevelopment project that was eventually cancelled by the province – was set aside for the new hospital and invested.
"Our investment fund has been well managed by the foundation’s investment firm, and we are happy to share that it has grown over the past 10 years," Calderwood announced.
He added the hospital foundation board voted unanimously to transfer $3.3 million of the investment capital to the new Groves hospital fund, resulting in the total of $13.3 million.
"We could not have reached this momentous point in the campaign without the support you have all demonstrated for Groves. Thank you," Calderwood told supporters.
In a statement to the Advertiser, Groves Hospital Foundation development and communications officer Sarah Sheehan, said raising so much money "would not have been possible without all of our generous donors and the support of Centre Wellington. Thank you!"
Project timeline
Officials have stated they expect the new Groves Memorial Community Hospital in Aboyne to be completed by mid-2019.
A 10,000-page request for proposals has already been approved by the by building committee, hospital board and Infrastructure Ontario.
Tender documents for the construction of the hospital were submitted earlier this year to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for approval.
Next the hospital corporation will move on to hiring a team to design, build and finance the new hospital.
Construction is expected to begin in mid-2017, with an expected project length of two years.
– With files from Patrick Raftis
