YORKTON, Sask. — More than 250 people gathered the evening of Oct. 17 for the 29th annual Health Foundation Gala, raising funds to support expanded endoscopy services at Yorkton Regional Hospital while celebrating community contributions to local health care.
Held at St. Mary's Cultural Centre, this year's gala embraced an "Evening by the Sea" theme and featured a silent auction, a raffle for a sapphire ring donated by Sherring Jewellers and entertainment by Manitoba mentalist Patrick Gregoire.
Proceeds from the event will help fund renovations and expansion of the Endoscopy Surgical Suite at Yorkton Regional Hospital. The project is expected to create capacity for approximately 600 additional procedures each year, including colonoscopies and gastroscopies.
"It's a good fundraiser for us," Health Foundation executive director Ross Fisher said. "A lot of the people who come to the gala and buy tables are also donors, so we try to make it an enjoyable evening while also talking about the work we've done throughout the year."
Fisher said the gala serves several purposes beyond fundraising, including updating supporters on foundation initiatives and bringing together health-care staff and community members.
The event attracted about 260 guests seated at 32 tables.
The gala has become one of the foundation's signature fundraising events since it was first held in 1996, before the Health Foundation was formally incorporated the following year.
Fisher estimated last year's gala raised about $34,000 and expected a similar result this year. Over its nearly three-decade history, the event has generated more than $800,000 for local health-care projects.
Guests also received an update on the Farming for Health initiative, a long-running community project that raises money for medical equipment and health-care improvements through donated crop production.
Speaking during the gala, organizer Wade McNeil thanked the many farmers, agribusinesses and volunteers who donated land, equipment, labour, fuel and services throughout the year despite a challenging growing season marked by delayed seeding and wet conditions.
"This year we raised a combined total from the wheat and canola crop $159,203.99," McNeil told the audience.
He said Farming for Health has now raised approximately $2.84 million since its inception, with about $1.84 million directed toward equipment purchases and another $1 million reserved for future health-care projects.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by Gregoire, a Winnipeg-based mentalist who combines elements of magic, psychology and audience interaction.
"What it means to me is having fun on stage with people's thoughts and choices and just people in general," Gregoire said before taking the stage. "You can call it a magic show, you can call it mentalism."
Gregoire, who began performing magic at age seven before focusing more heavily on mentalism in recent years, described his act as an opportunity to explore how people think and behave.
His performance quickly became one of the evening's highlights, drawing laughter, applause and audible gasps from the audience as he appeared to predict decisions and reveal information supplied by unsuspecting participants.
Combined with a gourmet meal, fundraising activities and recognition of community supporters, the gala highlighted the continuing partnership between local residents, businesses and the health-care community as efforts continue to improve services at Yorkton Regional Hospital.
