By Joel van der Veen
As Moose Jaw Health Foundation executive director Kelly McElree opened the organization’s annual Celebration luncheon, he said there appeared to be one question on the minds of all who entered the Heritage Inn banquet hall.
The top-secret location for the new Moose Jaw hospital won’t be announced until Friday, and McElree remained tight-lipped on the subject.
“As I was standing at the door here today, people were asking me one question over and over and over again,” he said. “They kept asking me, ‘Kelly, where is it, where is it, where is it?’”
Despite his reticence on that detail, there was lots of discussion about plans for the facility, as well as plenty of other good news to share, at the luncheon on Wednesday.
Members of the foundation were on hand to present a cheque for $513,300 to Five Hills Health Region, representing funds raised through various events, including last year’s Family First Radiothon, for equipment at the Moose Jaw Union Hospital.
McElree, who gave the opening address on behalf of foundation chairman Dave Reidy, said area residents have come through year after year with donations and countless volunteer hours.
“This overwhelming public support was a key factor in Moose Jaw getting a new hospital for our community,” he told the crowd, which included MP Ray Boughen, MLAs Warren Michelson and Greg Lawrence and Mayor Glenn Hagel, the event’s keynote speaker.
The mayor’s speech focused on the importance of the new hospital to the community, and what it means for “a healthy city with a healthy future.”
For more information, see Thursday's edition of the Times-Herald.
