Wine Lovers Dinner
Wine Lovers 2021 a Huge Success for Healthcare in the North.
A SOLD OUT crowd at the Coast Prince George by APA’s annual Wine Lovers Dinner enjoyed a fantastic evening touring the Americas, and sampling wines from various regions. After going virtual for 2020, this was a much anticipated and welcome return to a physical event for delighted guests. The generosity of attending donors was overwhelming in support of the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation and their aim to fund not one, but two pieces of much-needed equipment for Northern BC. In total, the evening raised over $100,000, far surpassing the event goal.
Proceeds from the evening will purchase Sim Junior, a 6 year old pediatric patient, and third addition to the Sim Family, two of which were previously funded through this event. Learning to make quick decisions can mean the difference between life and death. Preparing for these unexpected, high-risk events by accurately assessing and responding appropriately, help to ensure the best possible outcomes. Providing state of the art equipment for both learning and treatment is essential, and also helps to attract and retain healthcare professionals to the region, which is an ongoing focus for Northern BC.
In addition to Sim Junior, Spirit of the North will also be continuing support for ophthalmology in the North, a need identified and endorsed by Dr. Byron Silver to increase the amount of surgical procedures completed here at home, at UHNBC. Specifically, the ability to perform pterygium surgeries, which requires the Leica M220 F12. This addition will not only eliminate travel to Vancouver for numerous patients from Northern BC, but will also be used in other surgical procedures for the eye, and decrease wait times.
“We are so proud of our relationship with Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation,” said Coast Prince George General Manager Arun Mutalik. “Their contributions and impact in our community is felt by so many, especially after the past year. The evening allowed us to highlight the talents of our team, while giving back to the community, which we are so grateful for. Together, with our media partners Jim Pattison Media, we are thrilled with the impact the evening will have throughout Northern BC.”
“We are truly grateful to Coast Hotels, along with our media partners, Pattison Media, for all they do to support healthcare in the North”, said Judy Neiser, CEO for Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation. “The energy in the room is was electric- and after such a long time between in-person events, we were thrilled to see everyone come together in a Covid safe environment once again and highlight the power of our community. As we all know, healthcare touches everyone - ensuring we have the equipment necessary to train and attract the very best health care professionals to our region, is crucial for our communities” said Neiser. “We have accomplished so much thanks to the legacy of Wine Lovers, and know that the impact will be felt by so many in our communities.”
Plans are already underway for 2022 – If you missed it this year, mark your calendars for September 23rd, 2022. Join us for an unforgettable evening in support of better health outcomes for patients in the North.