Introducing Harbouring Hope 

I’m thrilled to share something new and exciting we have been working on for some time — the launch of Harbouring Hope, a podcast that takes you inside the walls of Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation.   

As CEO of the Foundation, I have the great privilege of seeing firsthand the generosity of our donors and the incredible work being done inside our healthcare facilities and across our region. With Harbouring Hope, I get to bring you with me, behind the scenes, to meet the people, stories, and innovations shaping the future of health care on Central and North Vancouver Island. 

Each episode will highlight the voices that matter: our frontline doctors and nurses, patients with lived experience, and the administrative and clinical leaders working every day to make care better.

And we’ll celebrate you, our community of supporters, because none of it happens without your unwavering support.  

Whether you’re a longtime donor, a new supporter, or simply curious about how our hospital works, Harbouring Hope is your invitation to connect more deeply with the hospital you count on. 

Never miss an episode by subscribing on your favourite platform.

Meet Wes

Wes Zannet helped launch the Pat Docherty Memorial Golf Tournament in 2020 to honour his close friend and support local healthcare. Since then, the tournament has raised more than $450,000 for the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation. 

For Wes, it’s simple: “Helping others was in Pat’s nature—and it’s in mine, too.” Join Wes and a community of generous golfers this August as they tee off once again in support of better care for everyone north of the Malahat. Read Wes’s full story on why it’s in his nature and to register for this year’s Pat Docherty tournament at ndhf.ca.

Portable X-Ray Machine for Critical Care 

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, a brand-new portable X-ray machine is now in use in the critical care department at NRGH. Originally identified as a priority during the ICU redevelopment, this essential piece of equipment was made possible through the donations received as part of the Critical Care Unit funding. Used frequently by care teams, this machine is improving bedside diagnostics and patient outcomes, demonstrating the real impact of donor dollars at work. 

The Power of Little Things

When we think of mental health care, we often picture big things – equipment, programs, facility upgrades. But for patients in crisis at the Acute Mental Health & Substance Use Unit, it’s the little things that often matter most: comfy socks, hygiene products, clothing, journals, and recreational supplies.

These small items restore dignity, offer comfort, and send a powerful message that our community cares about their humanity as much as their treatment.

Your “little things” donations help provide these essentials, creating moments of hope and compassion, and reducing stigma by treating every patient with respect. Together, we can make a big difference for some of the most vulnerable patients. “

From Nanaimo to Papua New Guinea: A Continuation of Care 

We recently received an exciting update from Trina Knight, Manager, Child, Youth & Family Acute Care at NRGH.

When new maternity beds were funded for the hospital last year, the old ones found a second life across the globe. Thanks to the Compassionate Resource Warehouse and Stryker Medical Canada, the beds were delivered to a maternity ward in Papua New Guinea, where they’re now providing comfort and support to mothers in labour who previously did not have access to this kind of equipment. A meaningful reminder that the impact of our donors reaches far beyond our region—thank you for helping us share care where it’s needed most. 

Jackpot $17,000 and Growing Daily!

Enter the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation’s Sun’s Out, Fun’s Out 50/50 Raffle for your shot at a growing cash prize — and help provide safe care for mothers and babies needing continuous monitoring in pregnancies from across the Island and the Province. 

Proceeds from this raffle will go toward purchasing urgently needed fetal monitors for the Maternity Unit at NRGH. These monitors support safer deliveries and ensure healthier outcomes for both mothers and their babies.

Ticket Packs

1 Ticket = $5

5 Tickets = $20

20 Tickets = $50

Ticket Sales Close on Monday September 2nd, 2025 @ 11:59 PM

Draw Date is on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2025 @ 12:00 PM

Your support goes beyond a raffle ticket — it helps bring new life into the world safely. Thank you for making healthier beginnings possible for families right here in our community.

Pictured above: Todd Troyer, Board Member – Sandra Schmirler Foundation, Trina Knight, Manager – Child, Youth & Family Acute Care - Island Health, Karen McCarthy, Manager – Strategic Initiatives & Grants Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation

Sandra Schmirler Foundation Grants $15,000 

Thanks to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, our littlest and most fragile patients will benefit from new life-saving equipment in our Maternity Unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Their generous gift of $15,000.00 will go towards the purchase of replacement, state-of-the-art fetal monitors that provide essential care for high-risk pregnancies. 

We need your help to reach our goal of $530,000 to replace all 22 fetal monitors. 

We need your help to raise $25 million over the next three years to transform healthcare on Central and North Vancouver Island.

Follow us on social media to stay updated on inspiring stories, important news, and opportunities to support local healthcare.

Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation | (250) 755-7690