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. Estevan wasn’t on the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s (SHA) list of future sites for an MRI when Walkom offered the $2 million donation for one at St. Joseph’s. Initially the SHA turned down her offer, because they were concerned about ongoing operating costs. Walkom wanted to honour the memory of her late husband Grant and persisted in securing approval. “You know how it is when somebody tells you you can’t do something and you decide no I’m going to do this. I’m going to work hard at this. I’m going to get it done and that stubborn streak in me just said no, I want this,” she said. “These people need it. We all need it.” There are 1,000 patients already booked in. “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 toured the new MRI suite. The hospital welcomed supporters throughout the day with a community appreciation tea, a community celebration, and an evening recognizing the campaign’s major donors. Until now, Saskatchewan had 13 MRI units located in Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw. Estevan becomes the fourteenth through the persistence of a donor who wouldn’t take no for an answer.
