The firefighters standing in front of Peace Arch Hospital on an autumn day last year weren’t there to respond to an emergency, but they were there to respond to an urgent need. Instead of ladders, hoses, and other firefighting equipment, they had brought a large cheque – large in physical size, large in dollar amount, and very large in terms of heart and commitment to the local communities they serve.

They were firefighters from the Surrey and White Rock communities, men and women who know all too well the mental toll that comes from being first on the scene of extreme emergencies that most of us will never encounter. The generous gift they brought to Peace Arch that day in November was in support of an issue at the forefront of the firefighters’ philanthropy as they witness their colleagues often struggle with the emotional demands of the job. 

The issue was mental health. And the cause? The hospital’s new Mental Health Care and Substance Use Zone. But why did the Surrey firefighters choose Peace Arch Hospital as the recipient of such a large gift? And why is supporting mental health so important to them and other first responders in the region?

We’ll answer those questions and more in this episode of Power to Heal. You’ll also learn how the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation reaches out to community partners like the Surrey firefighters in order to provide better health care for everyone in the White Rock/South Surrey area. 

 ABOUT THE POWER TO HEAL PODCAST

Presented by Peace Arch Hospital Foundation in White Rock, British Columbia, Power to Heal takes you behind the scenes of an innovative hospital foundation and introduces you to the team who find new and sometimes surprising ways to engage with the local community and help fund the best health care possible in the region. 

An integral part of hundreds of thousands of communities worldwide are their hospitals. The engine that drives those institutions are their foundations, without which the wheels of progress would turn very slowly. This series uncovers the ways Peace Arch Hospital Foundation connects with the community to stay ahead of health issues, challenge the norm and foster a spirit of innovation.

Since 1988, the Foundation has raised over $195 million for capital projects, medical equipment, and community health programs. Their passionate and caring team’s number one priority is the prudent stewardship of your gifts and the resulting positive impact on patients and medical staff at Peace Arch Hospital and the entire White Rock-South Surrey community.

The Power to Heal series is hosted by Wayne Cox, veteran television/radio broadcaster and long-time resident of the White Rock/South Surrey area.
 
Download the Power to Heal wherever you get your favourite podcasts.

For more information on the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, visit pahfoundation.ca