Sept 23 2025

At the West Parry Sound Health Centre, moms in labour are welcomed into one of two labour & delivery suites furnished with state-of-the-art birthing beds and new infant care equipment including a Giraffe Infant Incubator and Panda Infant Warmer. The West Parry Sound Health Centre Foundation is proud to have worked with generous donors to make this possible.

This essential equipment and technology was purchased with donations from individuals and  businesses, including a generous contribution from the West Parry Sound Health Centre Auxiliary. 

Nelli Ivanova, Clinical Manager for Acute, Obstetrics and Palliative Care, called the upgrade to both suites, “A dream come true” that is improving the birthing experience for the approximately 90 mothers expected to give birth here in Parry Sound this year.
 
This project started in January with an urgent request from the hospital to replace the aging  phototherapy incubator. In Ontario, provincial funding for hospitals does not cover medical equipment or technology. The Foundation quickly asked the communities of West Parry Sound to help. 

The response was overwhelming, and with the additional support of the West Parry Sound Health  Centre Auxiliary, the amount required to replace the infant phototherapy incubator and also all the  aging equipment in both labour & delivery suites was donated. More than $185,000 worth of new  equipment and technology was purchased and is now in place.

“We are so grateful for the overwhelming support of generous donors for this project,” said Deborah  Loosemore, CEO of the Foundation. “The WPSHC Auxiliary has partnered with the Foundation in the  past and has donated more than $1.3 million to the Foundation over the years for essential equipment  purchases. In addition, they have made several significant purchases directly for the hospital.”


“This was a wonderful opportunity for the Auxiliary to see an immediate impact from our donation,”  said Margaret Aerola, President of the WPSHC Auxiliary. “Many of us are parents and grandparents so we appreciate the wonderful care mothers and new babies receive here in Parry Sound. Also, we know  the population in West Parry Sound is increasing and obstetrics is an essential service for our growing communities.”

The West Parry Sound Health Centre Foundation is the fundraising partner of the West Parry Sound  Health Centre in Parry Sound. Donations from the communities of West Parry Sound, and from people  who cottage and camp in the region, purchase equipment and technology for advanced health care in Parry Sound.

Media Contact
Deborah Loosemore, CEO
West Parry Sound Health Centre Foundation
705-774-6571
dloosemore@wpshc.com

Photo: WPSHC Foundation Cheque Presentation Group Photo

From left to right: Deborah Loosemore CEO WPSHC Foundation, Claire Rogers Midwife, Marg Aerola President WPSHC Auxiliary, Gloria van Houten WPSHC Auxiliary, Dr. Kim Warwick, Kaitlyn Murray RN, Trudy Higgins WPSHC Auxiliary, Daphne Loukidelis Chair WPSHC Foundation.

Photo: WPSHC Foundation Giraffe Phototherapy Incubator with Nurse Kaitlyn Murray