Hospital foundations and auxiliaries

Auxiliary To University Hospital Of Northern BC

CELEBRATING 100 years strong!

The Auxiliary to UHNBC has been an integral part of the hospital community, working hard to provide visitors, patients, physicians and staff with comfort and an array of other services.

The auxiliary is back in the gift shop, check out our opening hours!

Our membership now numbering 140 plus provides an information desk located at the main hospital entrance, members who host bingo and birthday teas, a library providing magazines and books for patients and visitors, a patient menu service which helps incoming patients with their menu selection card, and senior visiting. The Auxiliary also has many quilters and knitters who provide items to the pediatric/neonatal care unit, and to our gift shop.

Funding to purchase needed equipment is provided by our gift shop, located at the main hospital entrance and a thrift shop, fondly known as HATS, located on Third Avenue in downtown Prince George.

In 2018 and 2019 the Auxiliary was able to donate just over $361,000 to provide the following: Boditrak Pressure Mapping System, Portable Ultra Sound, Rapid Transfuse, Ultra Sound Table, Manoscan Gastric Motilities System, Locomotion Therapy Trainer, and Jubilee Lodge bed and room upgrades.

The Auxiliary works hand in hand with the Foundation, Spirit of the North and Northern Health to provide the above and much more. For more information or if you would like to volunteer please check out our website at www.pgauxiliary.ca

Auxiliary to the G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital

110 years of continuous service!

The Ladies Auxiliary to First Quesnel Hospital was the title given to this newly formed auxiliary, however, in 1955 when the new hospital was built it became The Auxiliary to the G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital with the “ladies” being dropped to make way for new male members.

There are 31 members of which 5 are inactive, therefore this small group works very hard to cover our various departments. We operate a gift shop in the hospital, as well a “comfort” cart to the wards. We handle the recycling of bottle, cans and cartons from the hospital, service the juice/pop machine, organize and run several fund raisers throughout the year, such as bake sales, tag days, book sales, as well as handle generous donations from community groups. We require a minimum of 25 members just to cover 1 week.

During this past year we have already spent just over $100,000 on new hospital equipment. The auxiliary also annually awards a $500 bursary to a student taking further education in the north in a medical related field.

President: Louis Beaulieu

Bulkley Valley District Hospital Auxiliary

Bulkley Valley District Hospital Auxiliary, in Smithers was founded in June 1920…and will be celebrating 100 years very soon. We work under the umbrella of BC Association of Health- Care Auxiliaries, who provide us with support and education. The NW Area hospital auxiliaries take turns hosting an annual Conference usually held in September, for support and education. We learn a lot by networking with each other.

Our auxiliary prayer, states, “We (auxilians), strive to bring comfort and hope to all who are in distress of mind or body…and ask for wisdom and humility in directing our efforts to do for others as thou would have us do”. Our goal is to provide hospital equipment to keep our doctors and visiting specialists here in Smithers, so that our community can receive as much care near home as possible. The Auxiliary proudly donates approximately $200,000 each year for equipment.

Locally we have 65 – 70 active members (with a few men too) who volunteer mainly at our New to You Thrift Store and the hospital Gift Shop. The Thrift store was taken over by the Auxiliary on November 1, 1988. We have a very busy thrift shop, which is open Monday to Saturday from 10 – 4 (except holidays).

We are blessed to receive much in the way of gently used items that we can then re-sell to our customers. We have dedicated customers who faithfully shop our store and keep us very busy. We are a definite asset to this community. We have outgrown our store and have recently begun construction of an addition to the store.

Our Gift Shop is open Monday to Friday 12 – 3 pm. They offer a variety of gift items, snacks, and handmade knitted and crocheted baby clothes and blankets. They also offer a few “emergency stay” items on hand.

We have a Junior Volunteer program for high school students who commit to 1 – 2 hours per week interacting with patients at the hospital and Bulkley Lodge. Five bursaries are offered each spring totaling $6500 to graduating high school students.

We celebrate our volunteers every spring by hosting a dinner along with some entertainment. We are always looking for new volunteers to join our ranks and learn to love this way of “giving back”. Interested persons can contact us through our Thrift Shop, at 250-847-2424.

Dawson Creek & District Auxiliary

The Dawson Creek and District Hospital Auxiliary was formed in 1932.

For 90 years, the Hospital Auxiliary has supported patients, visitors and staff. Through the operation of the Gift Shop, we have raised an impressive amount of money to aid in the purchase of much needed medical equipment and supplies to support patient comfort. 

Our Auxiliary annually provides two scholarships of $1000 each to support local high school students who intend to pursue advanced education in health care.

We continue to celebrate the arrival of the New Year’s baby and Mother’s Day baby.

It is estimated that during the last 90 years, our Auxiliary has contributed over a 1/4 million volunteer hours and has raised over a million dollars to support health care in our community

Post Covid-19 - Since being able to re-open on February 9, 2022, the joyful reaction of staff to our return is very gratifying.

President: Fern Hansen

Fort St. John Hospital Auxiliary

The Fort St. John Hospital Auxiliary has been providing patient care services since 1932!

Who are we?

We are a non-profit volunteer organization contributing over 3000 hours of volunteer service to the Fort St. John Hospital and Peace Villa Residential Care facilities annually.

What do we do?

• Operate the gift shop in the main lobby from 10-4 on week days and from 1–4 on Saturdays.
• Own and stock the three vending machines within the Hospital with healthy snacks.
• Manage and maintain the Memorial Rose Garden next to Peace Villa along the walking path.
• Coordinate the Junior Volunteer Program and award two (2) $2000 bursaries annually.
• Maintain and manage donations to the Memorial Wall located in the Cafeteria.
• Fund raise for patient care equipment through our annual Spring Raffle.

Where have we spent your donated funds?

Through the generous support of the community, monies raised throughout the year are used to purchase everyday patient care and comfort equipment. Since moving into the new Hospital and Peace Villa on June 21, 2012 the Auxiliary has contributed over $185,000 to the benefit of our staff, patients, residents and their families. Some of our significant purchases include:

• Created “Art and Healing” photographs by local artists in each of the 55- patient rooms.
• Installed resting benches in the long hallways leading to the Surgical Intake area.
• Purchased three (3) AIRVO 2 High Flow Humidity Oxygen units for the comfort and healing use of adults and children requiring oxygen per nasal prongs.
• Purchased 30 over-bed tables, 12 wheelchairs and hallway benches for Peace Villa.
• Donated $50,000 to the newly installed MRI unit.

For information or to volunteer, please contact the Auxiliary Gift Shop at 250-261-7568

MacKenzie & District Hospital Auxiliary

The Mackenzie & District Hospital Auxiliary is celebrating 50 years of service in Mackenzie. Since our incorporation in 1972, we have operated a thrift store which is very much appreciated and supported by the Mackenzie residents.

This year, we were able to donate $30,000 to the local hospital for the purchase of two Airvo Systems and one Ultrasound Heart Probe. We continue to donate two $750 bursaries to high school graduates pursuing post secondary education in the medical field.

We currently have 21 dedicated volunteers who get together in December for a dinner and gift exchange, and a volunteer appreciation event held in June.

Contact information:
Facebook page: Mackenzie Ladies Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Store
Email: ThriftShop2019@outlook.com
Phone: 250-997-6619

President: Denyse Martel

McBride and District Hospital Auxiliary

The McBride and District Auxiliary is a small but dedicated group of about 10 people. Since 2019 we have purchased a Sarah Stedy, an emergency room stretcher, temporal thermometers for the hospital as well as thermopaks for our local ambulance service (approximately $12,000 in total). The Auxiliary has committed to purchasing a bariatric bed frame, a standard bed frame and a cast cutter with vacuum as soon as the problematic supply chain allows.

Our fundraising consists of two major events: In both 2020 and 2021, due to COVID-19, we had to reduce our activities for our Christmas Extravaganza and Strawberry Shortcake Social. We pivoted to produce and sell masks, conserves and heat packs, and held a pre-packaged soup sale in order to raise additional funds. In 2022, our Strawberry Shortcake Social was able to take place in late May.

Our events and fundraising have been very successful due to generous individual and business donations, also our members work cooperatively to plan and produce these events with wonderful support coming from our local residents! In memoriam donations and general donations are another source of funds. We recently received a $1,000 grant from the McBride Community Foundation to help cover the cost of the cast cutter with vacuum.

Check out the McBride and District Hospital Facebook page to see images of some of our activities and purchases.

Stuart Lake Hospital Auxiliary

The Stuart Lake Hospital Auxiliary formed on Nov 17th 1966, with our hospital opening in 1972.

Throughout the years many dedicated Auxilians have kept our society active and we are respected in the community as a group who “does good”. We fundraise and handle donations from our very generous community members. They know the money will be used in a beneficial and meaningful manner.

Website: hospitalauxiliary.fortstjames.com

St John Hospital Auxiliary Society

78 years of continuous service to St John Hospital, Vanderhoof

The Sisters of Charity of Providence built St John Hospital in 1940/41. It opened as a 24-bed hospital with the Sisters and staff living on the ground floor. Fresh produce and eggs came directly from the gardens and chicken coops operated by the Sisters. Over time the area's population and hospital usage steadily increased and demands eventually outgrew what the Sisters could provide. St John Hospital Auxiliary was formed in 1940 with 15 members.

• In September 1964 the newly formed Omineca Hospital Society took over full operation and ownership. The 'St John Hospital' name was retained out of gratitude to the Sisters.
• In 1965 it became apparent that the original building was no longer adequate and plans were drawn for a 45-bed hospital.
• On May 18, 1973, the new hospital building was officially opened, which remains our excising facility. Governing responsibilities rested with the Northern Interior Regional Health Board.
• In 2005 Stuart Nechako Manor was opened providing Vanderhoof and area with 50 Complex Care beds with St John Hospital retaining 25 acute care beds. Governing responsibility how rests with the Northern Health Authority.

St John Hospital provides emergency, medical, surgical and obstetrical services with surgical services being provided continuously for 76 years. In 2007 the Ruby Ellen van Andel Community Oncology Clinic was opened. Presently Vanderhoof is home to 15 family physicians, 3 GP oncologist, plus several visiting surgeons coming out on a weekly basis.

Between September 2016 to September 2017 membership totaled 16, 10 meetings held with an average attendance of 10 members and volunteer hours totaled 1,197 hrs.

Auxiliary Healthcare Donations:

• Equipment purchases for 2016/2017 = $65,971.58. This included 3 emergency kits for OT, 2 handheld pulse oximeters for Acute Care, wheelchair scale for Acute Care, endocavity transducers for Oncology, linear array hockey stick for Oncology, flex suction pump for OR, cardiac crash cart for Stress Testing Unit, ankle BP monitor, cisco DX DC unit for Stress Testing Unit, 12 alaris IV units for Oncology and 18 larynogeal masks for OR.
• Patient comfort items = $300 (Youth Volunteer, New Years Baby)
• Bursary value of $1,000 to a graduate from a Senior Secondary School going into a human health care field

St John Hospital Auxiliary contributes directly to the comfort and welfare of St John Hospital clients and Stuart Nechako Manor residents. We provide equipment that enables staff to perform their duties and manage a Youth Volunteer Program.

Major fundraising activities include an annual raffle, annual Walk-a-thon, Gift cabinet, patient cart, vending machine, Purdy's chocolate sales, yard sale/plant sale, bake sale and Van Houtte Coffee Service. Donations are gratefully received from local businesses, industry and service clubs. Appreciation is expressed to every person who has been a member of, or otherwise supported, the St. John Hospital Auxiliary over its seventy-six year history. Follow us on Facebook

Wrinch Memorial Hospital Auxiliary

The Wrinch Memorial Hospital Auxiliary was formed in 1912. In the early years money was raised mainly for small items (sheets, towels, PJ's etc). Over the years, as more money gathered, we have supported the hospital with on-going equipment that is needed. Our Thrift Shop is open 4 days a week and we have a cabinet in the main hospital entrance, a sales area in the clinic and provide the "goody" cart twice a week to patients and staff.

Yearly occurrences are a yard sale, a thank you BBQ and Christmas luncheon for our volunteers and members. As with many auxiliaries, one challenge is getting new volunteers and members.

Thrift shop phone: 250-842-4535