History

Mary Truesdell’s Home for the Care of the Sick, located in her two-story home, was a welcome addition to late 1880s Regina. Before then, people were forced to travel to Medicine Hat for medical care. Situated in what is now part of the downtown core, at the corner of McIntyre and 11th Avenue, Truesdell’s hospital featured six beds — four for men and two for women. Her vision would eventually lead to the development of the hospitals we have today.

The three executive directors of Regina’s hospitals — Royce Gill, Regina General Hospital (RGH), Harvey Fox, Pasqua Hospital/Plains Health Centre and Gren Smith-Windsor, Wascana Rehabilitation Centre (WRC), decide to launch a lottery to help fund critically-needed capital items for their respective hospitals.

Four local businessmen are approached to fundraise for much-needed hospital equipment — Norm Bradshaw, Don Black, Reg Johnson and Bob Watt. They launch initiatives such as Black Tie Bingo and tear-away tickets (Nevada tickets).

The Lottery sells 6,000 tickets through sales in the four hospitals. It raises $180,000. Over the next 30 years, it will raise more than $35 million.

The Z99 Radiothon first hit airwaves in 1987. Over the next 30 years, it will help raise more than $7 million for Hospitals of Regina Foundation to purchase life-saving equipment for the NICU in the Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care at the RGH.

The auxiliaries establish themselves as key donors to the Foundation.

Formerly called the Regina Hospitals Fund Raising Society Inc., the name is changed to Hospitals of Regina Foundation on April 25, 1990.

Plant for Health is a tribute program designed to support the equipment needs of the WRC. Trees can be purchased and planted in memory of a loved one. These trees and shrubs surround the WRC today. An engraved plate is also added to a special life-size tree mounted on the west wall as you walk inside the centre. The campaign ended in 2012.

The goal of the campaign is to raise $12 million for much-needed new and replacement equipment, such as an MRI machine. It would surpass this goal by $1 million.

A southern Saskatchewan first, the SaskTel MRI Centre, is established in April 1999.

A goal of $6 million is set to furnish and equip the new Rawlco Centre for Mother Baby Care at the RGH.

The Foundation helps equip the Centre with leading-edge breast imaging and diagnostic tools that offer patients a streamlined process, enabling them to undergo several procedures in one day.

In fall, the Foundation launches its first Lifestyle Lottery. Proceeds go towards pediatric care. Tickets sell out in three weeks.

The Centre provides a comprehensive cardiac program that includes care for patients with acute heart problems, diagnosis of cardiac diseases and treatment. It is publicly named and celebrated on June 27, 2007.

Work begins on establishing this cutting-edge diagnostic centre for prostate cancer in the Pasqua Hospital. It will also be a virtual reference centre linking patients with other key stakeholders and information on detection and treatment.

The Unit officially opens in WRC on June 3, 2009 and is part of the Stroke Care Network of Excellence. The Unit is a best-practice model for the optimal way to help patients recover quicker from stroke.

The four-room RGH eye clinic merges with Pasqua Hospital’s clinic to support standardized eye care for people across southern Saskatchewan.

The Centre opens November 2, 2010 and is viewed as one of the most advanced and family-friendly facilities of its kind in Canada.

The state-of-the-art simulation centre opens June 8, 2012 and is modeled after some of the most effective teaching programs in Canada.

In November, the EP lab at RGH opens to the public. The lab treats patients who suffer from an irregular heart rhythm, called arrhythmia — a potentially life-threatening condition. The following year, the first atrial fibrillation ablation procedure is conducted — a first for the province.

PotashCorp commits a $1 million matching gift to the Foundation’s surgical campaign. In total, 2,250 businesses and individuals have their donations doubled by PotashCorp between February 28 and June 30. The campaign exceeds all expectations and raises an incredible $2.5 million.

This newly upgraded clinic allows for facility improvements and the introduction of a digital electrocardiogram (ECG) testing, file management and storage system to better serve patients who require specialized cardiac care services.

We all know someone who will or has needed care in one of our hospitals. From a broken arm to open heart surgery, ensuring our hospitals are well-equipped to provide the best care possible is critical now and in the future.

Over 30 years, our donors have helped us raise more than $165 million that has been invested in a broad range of expanded health care services, education and patient-centred research.