(The main entrance to the new Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department at the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital. Photo: provided)
After years of planning, dedication, and anticipation, the Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) is proud to announce the official grand opening of the new Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department (ED) at Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH). The grand opening ceremony will take place on January 27, 2025, marking a transformative milestone in healthcare for Carleton Place and surrounding communities.
In January of 2022, Beth Lewis of the Stittsville and District Lions began an initiative to raise funds for the new Emergency Department to be constructed at the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital. When Beth shared this endeavour with Stittsville Central, she said, “many residents in the Stittsville and Richmond area use the facilities at the hospital, as do most in Carleton Place, so I felt it only fitting that we should assist them in their fundraising activities for their new ER, after all, the hospital is old and was built in 1955. A goal of raising $12,500 by May would be matched by the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), but only if we have our application submitted by then”. Their first fundraiser was a bottle drive on February 19, 2022 and it all took off from there.
With phone calls placed to the Lions Clubs in Carleton Place, Kanata-Hazeldean, Richmond and Stittsville the project became a true work in progress due to the support from each Club. When the Clubs met with hospital staff, it was identified that two specialty hospital beds at a cost of $34,000 were needed. Another $4,000 would be required over and above their original donation goal.
Not only was this additional money achieved, but the Lions Clubs of Barrhaven, Merrickville and Almonte came on board to help with the funding needed. In May, 2022, an application was ready to go to the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) requesting raised funds to be matched. In October a cheque matching the funds raised by the Clubs for $16,700 was received from the LCIF. The Clubs now had a proud donation of $32,314.00 in place to purchase the two specialty hospital beds for the new Emergency Department.
In June, 2024, the Stittsville Lions donated an additional $5,000 to the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Foundation in support of the construction for their new Emergency Department Capital Campaign. The Stittsville Lions have committed to $5000.00 per year for 5 years for a total of $25,000.00 for the new Emergency Unit.
“This is more than just a new building—it’s a testament to what we can accomplish when a community comes together,” said Brad Harrington, President and CEO of the Mississippi River Health Alliance. “The Thomas Cavanagh Emergency Department will allow us to provide the same high-quality emergency care in a modern, efficient space designed to meet the needs of today and the future. We are deeply grateful to our donors, staff, and the Carleton Place community for their unwavering support in making this vision a reality.”
The new Emergency Department offers an upgraded, patient-centered environment designed to support both patients and healthcare providers. While the building is new, the department will continue to provide the same trusted emergency services that the community has relied on for decades, delivered by the same dedicated team of exceptional professionals.
“The existing Emergency Department served our community with excellence for many years, thanks to the incredible efforts of our staff,” added Harrington. “This new facility enhances the environment for care delivery, but it’s our staff—our nurses, physicians, and support teams—who remain the heart of the exceptional care we provide to our patients.”
“This grand opening is not just about a new building—it’s a celebration of a shared commitment to healthcare. Together, we’ve created a space that will serve generations to come,” said Robyn Arseneau, Executive Director of the CPDMH Foundation.
The Stittsville District Lions Club and other area Clubs can be proud of the contributions they provided to this new Emergency Department ensuring that the latest technology in hospital beds is available for use by those who need it most.
This new Emergency Department represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare in the region, reinforcing the MRHA’s mission to improve health outcomes and provide care close to home.
Amazing – what community support and generosity from the Lion’s. Community service organizations make huge and typically unrealized contributions to so many in need.
Last it’s great that they donated but they should have donated to a city of Ottawa hospitals as stittsville, kanata and Richmond are part of the city . So those residents should b using Ottawa facilities
Since 1955, the Carleton Place and District Hospital served, and still serves, many in our communities and has been supported throughout the years by residents here. Prior to 1976, when the Queensway-Carleton Hospital opened, Carleton Place was the closest hospital and Almonte when it opened in 1961. Needless to say, residents went to Carleton Place. The Ottawa Civic was available, but back in earlier times, there was no 417 or other quick access roads to the Civic. With the updated ER at Carleton Place, thanks to local donations, more residents may choose to use the hospital for their good community care.