1. Happy 30th
Birthday Victoria Hospital Foundation!
It is my honor and privilege to be serving the Victoria Hospital Foundation (VHF) in my first full year as Executive
Director! Our foundation was born in 1985 when a small group of passionate individuals responded to the call from the
provincial government for communities to provide 20% of hospital capital expenditures. The continual goal is to raise
funds for medical equipment that needs to be upgraded or replaced for physicians and health care workers, at the
Prince Albert Parkland Health region (PAPHR), to perform at their optimal. The foundation reaches a landmark year as
we celebrate 30 years of supporting the PAPHR. The VHF continues to fulfill its mission of ‘bringing better health care
closer to home.’
The VHF became a registered charity in 1985 and has grown over this period with support from individuals,
organizations, volunteers and businesses throughout the city of Prince Albert and surrounding communities and as far as
northern Saskatchewan. It operates with a staff of 3 people, in a space of 650 square feet on the main floor of the
Victoria hospital. It has a Board of 15 community members who support the staff and goals of the VHF. We also have a
50-strong and growing group of volunteers who give of their time and skills when help is needed. Our organization
financially supports itself and operates on less than 18 cents per dollar. This is a remarkable figure and demonstrates
our commitment to being fiscally prudent while striving each year to purchase more and better equipment for our
hospital.
Apart from generous support throughout the year from individuals who walk in, call or donate online, the VHF has raised
funds through events big and small. This has included running a coffee shop, a diamond and denim gala, radio bingo
programs, the annual Festival of Trees, and our prestigious OK Hjertaas golf classic now in its 18th
year. Our signature
event each year is our ‘Give A Little Life Day’ which takes place each December and unites entire communities.
Since 1985, our Foundation has purchased over 8 million dollars of vital equipment for the Victoria Regional Hospital.
Some of the highlights include:
 An up-to-date, fully-equipped intensive care unit
 An endoscopy suite
 Updated equipment in the obstetrics and pediatric units, the eye clinic, imaging, operating and
emergency rooms, our palliative care, chemotherapy and renal dialysis departments, cardiac
rehab and just recently, the mental health unit.
Today, our Foundation is proud to report that we raise an average of 1.2 million dollars annually to improve, expand and
upgrade our hospital benefitting our region and surrounding communities.
With the help of our passionate VHF staff, our strong Board, and our generous communities, we promise to continue to
work hard to raise much-needed funds to improve and support the Victoria Regional Hospital and optimize the health
care of the Prince Albert and surrounding communities.
Happy 30th
birthday Victoria Hospital Foundation! I am proud to be part of the fine and very important mission to ‘Bring
Better Health Care Closer to Home!’
Sherry Buckler, Executive Director
Victoria Hospital Foundation
sbuckler@paphr.sk.ca
(306)765-6105 www.helpthevic.ca