A project to upgrade the hospital’s gift shop that has been talked about by the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary (SPHA) for close to 30 years has finally been realized.
A grand opening was held last Wednesday (June 26) for the new, almost doubled in size gift shop which had been under construction since winter.
“By the end of February we were looking good on timing and everything was coming together but we were lacking in our funds to continue the project,” explained Linda Padget, who is the gift shop convenor who spearheaded the project.
“Thankfully the Saanich Peninsula Hospital Foundation stepped in to help us out and we were able to complete the renovation on time and on budget,” she said.
The new gift shop, which unofficially opened May 29, is about 40 per cent larger than before noted Padget, and features a new, expanded selection of merchandise and more space for displays.
The grand opening ceremony was attended by members of the Auxiliary and the Foundation as well as hospital staff and media.
“You’re wonderful assets to our community,” said Hospital Foundation president, Gordon Benn of the SPHA and their work.
Benn also added that Hopital Foundation board voted unanimously to support the extra funds being given to the Auxiliary to complete the gift shop renovations.
The Auxiliary has been actively serving Saanich Peninsula Hospital since 1974 and in that time has donated over $1.5 million to the foundation.
The Auxiliary is made up of 115 volunteers who serve in different aspects of the fundraising efforts put on by the group including the gift shop and the annual Christmas Bazaar.
In addition to fundraising, the Auxiliary also provides services within the hospital designed to aid patient care and comfort, like special birthday parties for extended care residents, support for the Volunteen Group and the provision of public relations and receptionist services to the Mobile Screening Mammography Clinic.