Nick Lees: Reaping a $650,000 harvest in support of Lois Hole Hospital for Women

Article content

The right treatment was found by the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation for its annual Harvest Celebration fundraising gala in support of the Lois Hole Hospital for Women.

The sold-out crowd of 542 guests at the black-tie Harvest Celebration in St. Albert’s Enjoy Centre raised $650,000 in support of advancing health care at the hospital.

This year, the dollars will help fund several areas, including initiatives focused on improving urogynecological care to help women with pelvic floor disorders as well as support a five-year pilot program that will seek to establish a reconciled model of medicine for Indigenous people who seek care at the hospital.

John Cameron’s band again provided a wide-ranging musical selection at the gala. Harvest Celebration co-chairs Lisa and Dr. Jerrold Diamond along with Bhupinder and Dr. Saranjeev Lalh thanked guests for their support before the highlight of the evening.

That was when former politician and academic Anne McLellan announced the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Research Centre will in future be known as the “Dale Sheard Centre for Solutions in Women’s Health” in acknowledgment and appreciation of Sheard’s “profound contributions.”

Sheard, given a standing ovation, thanked all those who had helped bring the Lois Hole Hospital to life.

Sharlene Rutherford, the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation president and CEO, said, “Despite her history of leadership and financial contributions to improve women’s health in our city and province, Dale herself has not yet been recognized inside the hospital space in any location. This was intentional, as Dale was adamant that the focus be on others — not herself.

“The time has come, however, to now recognize Dale for her years of advocacy and philanthropy in women’s health and the transformational change our city has seen in women’s health as a result,” she continued.

As an entrepreneur and philanthropist, leader and advocate, Sheard has a storied history not only with the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation but advancing women’s health excellence across the city and beyond.

“Dale is credited as being instrumental in the establishment of the Lois Hole Hospital for Women in 2010,” said Rutherford.

“She served as chair of the board of directors during the hospital’s construction and led fundraising as the chair of the Lois Hole Hospital for Women capital campaign, which raised more than $20 million during 2005-2010.”

Dr. Sandra Davidge, the Women and Children’s Health Research Institute’s executive director, said Shread’s passion for and commitment to improving an underserved and underfunded area — mature women’s health — helped shape the relationship between the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation and the University of Alberta.

nlees@postmedia.com