Members of the Elks and Elks Purple (left to right) Ludwig Hesp, Pat Warren, Art Young, and Don Bernier present a cheque to the Boreal Healthcare Foundation Executive Director Cody Barnett and guest Adam Pearson, who is the Nursing Unit Manager at Inpatient Mental Health. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW Staff)

By Logan Lehmann

Helping hand

P.A. Elks Lodge donates $50,000 towards Mental Health Unit at new hospital

Feb 24, 2024 | 1:00 PM

The Royal Purple Elks presented a cheque of $50,000 to the Boreal Healthcare Foundation on Friday to help build a new mental health unit at the new Victoria Hospital that is in the works.

Members of the Club presented the cheque to the Executive Director of the Boreal Healthcare Foundation, Cody Barnett where Chairman of the Elks and Royal Purple Elks Charitable Fund Art Young said it’s always a nice feeling being able to help the community for the better.

“I’m very proud [of our Club] and our ability to give back to the community,” he said.

The committee began fundraising for the hospital’s Mental Health Unit over five years ago, working bingo at Carnival Bingo to raise around $25,000 a year. They contributed $155,000 until 2020 when the pandemic restricted access to the Bingo Hall, which greatly reduced income.

That money was used to supply the existing Unit with brand-new beds, new mattresses, new window blinds and drapes, a new playground, an art studio, and specialized equipment.

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Now with the new unit at the under-construction hospital, Barnett explained the money donated on Friday will go towards supplying some of the same things.

“The money will go to support furniture, fixtures, and equipment,” he said. “Everything from medical beds to specialized equipment that’s needed in the Mental Health Unit, this goes a long way.”

He added that the Elks and Royal Purple Elks have been great contributors to the hospital and praised their commitment to the community.

“The Elks and Royal Purple are always one of the first in, they know the importance and it’s really incredible. This is the fifth donation Elks and Royal Purple have made to Mental Health and they’ve given a total of $180,000 to Mental Health as a club and organization.”

“They’ve been hard at work, prior to the pandemic and coming out of it with their fundraising efforts. Their hard work – the amount of time, effort, and hours that goes into raising a sum of money like this that they’re able to give back to the community is truly remarkable. It shows that the hospital is important to more than just Prince Albert. The different communities involved with Elks Lodge like Canwood or Lac La Ronge, it’s incredible to see how [the Club] value[s] this hospital in particular.”

The committee for the Elks’ Charitable Fund says they are committed to continue raising money in support of the Mental Health Unit until Jan. 31, 2025.

However, it may be more difficult to raise money as the Club says they are now down to three communities in the District with an Elks Lodge as the Paddockwood Elks Lodge No. 344 recently ceased operations.

Construction for the new hospital is slated to begin in the spring with pile testing set to begin on Monday.

“Construction is beginning next week, in the early stages,” said Barnett.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com