Annual Meeting

Just a reminder that the 2014 PEIAHA Annual Meeting will be held this Saturday, October 25 at the Ellerslie Legion, 1136 Ellerslie Road.  In addition to our business meeting, we have a couple of excellent speakers lined up and our caterers have a lovely meal planned.

It is a pretty time of year to drive through our beautiful Island countryside, so hope to see you on Saturday!

Through the Years: A History of Western Hospital

Many congratulations to the Western Hospital Auxiliary for their important contribution to this chronicle of their beloved hospital.  Past PEIAHA treasurer Marlene Bolger was the head writer, supported by a devoted committee.

If the brisk sales at the launch are any indication, Through The Years is already a best-seller!  While of special interest to those in the Alberton area, the many touching and funny stories will resonate with anyone who has worked or volunteered in a hospital.

Through The Years: A History of Western Hospital

Great Celebration

The Prince Edward Island Association of Healthcare Auxiliaries marked our 50th anniversary with a wonderful celebration at the Royal Canadian Legion in Ellerslie on April 26, 2014.  We had an excellent turnout from all five member auxiliaries and a few special guests.

After a delicious lunch from Between Friends catering, our guest speaker the Hon. Marion Reid gave a address that was both entertaining and thought-provoking.  There is no one like her!

Here are some photos from our day.  We are so proud of our groups and the great communities who who help us to support good healthcare for all.

Setting Up

Memorabilia

PEIAHA 50th Anniversary History

Beautiful Decorations By Shelly Campbell

More Of Shelly Campbell's Work

Sandra William, Wanda Barlow, Kit Loschiuk and Verna Barlow from
Stewart Memorial Healthcare Auxiliary preparing registration desk.

Set For Lunch

Spring Tulips

Verna Barlow preparing a welcome snack.

Can't have a party without a cake!

Auxiliary members at memorabilia table.

The guests begin to arrive.

Old friends meeting over coffee and snacks.

Getting seated for business meeting.

Memorial candle lit in remembrance of past members.

Back Row: PCHA - Susan Cameron, WHA - Doris Wilkie, Rev. W.J. Phillips Residence Vonda Richard, KCMHA Darlene Clow, Maplewood Manor Auxiliary Sheila MacKay

Front Row: QEHA Dorothy Johnston, PEIAHA Doreen Wooder, SMHA Pam MacKinnon

Kings County Memorial Hospital Auxiliary

Western Hospital Auxiliary

Prince County Hospital Auxiliary

Stewart Memorial Healthcare Auxiliary

Queen Elizabeth Hospital Auxiliary

PEIAHA Executive with Hon. Marion Reid
Secretary Verna Barlow, President Doreen Wooder, Hon. Marion Reid, Treasurer Marilyn Ramsay, Special Events Coordinator Kit Loschiuk

Lunchtime musical entertainment by Roy MacCaull

Lunch is served.

Delicious meal by Between Friends.

SMHA President Pam MacKinnon drawing door prizes.

Hon. Marion Reid

Everyone enjoyed Mrs. Reid's wonderful stories.

President Doreen Wooder thanking Mrs. Reid.

PCH Auxiliary were selling raffle tickets on this beautiful mat.

Tulips to go.

President Doreen Wooder

Wrapping up a wonderful day.

Three Cheers!

Further to our previous post, the April 26, 2014 Journal Pioneer editorial was all about the PEIAHA's 50th Anniversary.  Here's just a sample of the excellent points made

"Yes, today the association marks 50 years of caring and giving on Prince Edward Island. It is an important milestone for the group to say the least, and while most people don’t realize it, it is a day that ought to be important to the rest of us as well."

It's a great piece and you can read the whole thing here:

The Day After

We had a wonderful celebration yesterday for the PEIAHA's 50th Anniversary.  Photos will follow soon, but here is a great article from the April 25,  2014 Journal Pioneer, for the record.

Appreciation!

In 2012, Premier Robert Ghiz declared that the last Saturday of April each year would be Healthcare Auxiliary Appreciation Day on Prince Edward Island.  And that's tomorrow!  What a wonderful honour for a dedicated group of volunteers from across beautiful PEI.

Not only is tomorrow a special day to recognize the contributions made by auxiliary volunteers, we will also be celebrating the PEIAHA's 50th Anniversary.  We have a lovely day planned and are expecting a great turnout from auxiliary members across the Island.

As a very special bonus, we are pleased to announce that the Honourable Marion Reid will be our guest speaker.  A member of the Order of Canada and the Order of PEI, Mrs. Reid was the first female speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island and later the first female Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island.  She accomplished all of this while being a busy mother of eight children, grandmother and volunteer.  We are guaranteed to have an interesting and entertaining afternoon with Mrs. Reid!

To mark this milestone anniversary, our PEIAHA history has been updated.  Our collective history goes back 50 years, but two of our member auxiliaries have roots that go back more than a century.  We are so proud of what we have achieved.

History of PEIAHA 1964 - 2014

100 Years Ago

The Prince Edward Island Hospital Ladies Aid formed shortly after the hospital opened in Charlottetown in 1884.  It was the second hospital in the city, with the Charlottetown Hospital opening five years earlier.

When the Queen Elizabeth Hospital opened in 1982, these two hospitals were closed.  The PEI Hospital became the Prince Edward Home and operated as such until a new building was recently built in another part of the city.  Palliative care services remain in the old PEI Hospital building.

This news item from the April 22, 1914 Charlottetown Guardian is a small glimpse into the good work being done by hospital auxiliaries even a century ago.