Cancer care now closer to home

January 22, 2014
Curve Lake First Nation contributes to Peterborough Regional Health Centre. From left: Curve Lake FN Councillor Keith Knott; Curve Lake FN Councillor Arnold Taylor; CEO Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Lesley Heighway; Curve Lake FN Chief Phyllis Williams; Manager, Major Gifts Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation, Steven Macdonald; Curve Lake FN Councillor Shane Taylor.
Curve Lake First Nation contributes to Peterborough Regional Health Centre. From left: Curve Lake FN Councillor Keith Knott; Curve Lake FN Councillor Arnold Taylor; CEO Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Lesley Heighway; Curve Lake FN Chief Phyllis Williams; Manager, Major Gifts Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation, Steven Macdonald; Curve Lake FN Councillor Shane Taylor.

By Melissa Dokis

PETERBOROUGH – A contribution from Curve Lake First Nation helped make radiation treatment available for the first time at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

“The support of Curve Lake First Nation was vital to the success of our campaign,” said Lesley Heighway, president and CEO of the hospital’s foundation. “Your donation not only helped us provide the bulk of the funding required to build the facility, it supported vital investments in laboratory and surgical equipment used in treating cancer.

“We were so pleased to have the opportunity to meet with Chief Phyllis Williams and councillors in December for a room dedication celebrating your gift. It was a wonderful testament to your investment in ensuring patients from across our region continue to have access to timely, accurate cancer diagnosis and treatment.”

The Jigiigemgak Aatsag or “healing room” is a semi-private patient room for patients receiving cancer treatment and was dedicated on Dec. 4 in honour of the Curve Lake contribution.  The dedication included a smudge, songs and blessings from First Nation Elders.

Chief Phyllis Williams added, “We are so very proud of Curve Lake’s support to the health centre’s Cancer Care and the Closer to Home campaign. This means that ones with cancer care needs from our community have ability to access care in nearby Peterborough without the burden of travelling distant places for treatment.  This will be relief to them and their families.”

 

Melissa Dokis is  Intergovernmental Relations Officer for Curve Lake First Nation.