St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan celebrated the official opening of its new MRI unit on Thursday, marking the end of a successful fundraising campaign. The MRI unit, which stands for Magnetic Resonance Imaging, will improve access to advanced diagnostic imaging for patients across the region. Those needing scans who previously had to travel to Regina or other centres, can now receive care closer to home. The opening of the new unit comes after the completion of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation’s MRI Campaign, a community-led fundraising effort that raised $6.5 million in 18 months. The campaign brought in over 1,200 donations from individuals, families, businesses, municipalities, rural municipalities, service clubs, foundations, and organizations across the province. The ceremony featured a ribbon cutting led by Elaine Walkom, the campaign’s lead donor who provided a $2 million gift that launched the campaign. “This MRI is much more than a piece of medical equipment,” Lori Gervais, director of the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation, said in Thursday’s update. “It represents what is possible when an entire region comes together around a common goal. Every donation, large and small, helped bring this project to life. Today belongs to every person who believed this community deserved access to world-class healthcare close to home.” Following the ribbon-cutting, guests will tour the new MRI suite. The hospital will welcome supporters throughout the day with a community appreciation tea, a community celebration, and an evening recognizing the campaign’s major donors.
