Former resident comes through for Temiskaming Hospital

Former resident helps Temiskaming Hospital A hospital in the northeast is receiving more than $90,000 because of the hard work of a former resident who got the ball rolling.

Sudbury — A hospital in the northeast is receiving more than $90,000 because of the hard work of a former resident who got the ball rolling.

Chelsie McKnight, who grew up in New Liskeard, contacted the Temiskaming Hospital about raising money for the health care facility in her hometown.

McKnight now lives in Toronto and works for TELUS, a telecommunications giant.

When McKnight told Mike Baker, the president and CEO of the Temiskaming Hospital, about the idea, officials jumped onboard.

“She asked if there was anything that she and the team at TELUS could help out with hospitals,” Baker said. “Chelsie told us TELUS had a foundation program to help hospitals deal with COVID-19.”

TELUS, the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation and the Entwistle Family Foundation matched and donated two and a half times the first $50,000 donated to the cause.

“More than 200 individuals and businesses also contributed to the campaign,” said Baker. “We were fortunate to have office space in the back of the hospital where we could isolate patients if we had a surge in COVID-19.”

Baker added the $90,400 donation helps cover the cost of the beds and mattresses for the new space.

The campaign started in April and wrapped up at the end of May.