Have you caught the Catch the Ace excitement yet?

There’s a little extra excitement in Lakefield every Wednesday and it’s all for a great cause.

We’re grateful to the Lakefield Village Lions Club for bringing the regional community together through Catch the Ace, a progressive lottery that offers participants the chance to win while supporting local charities, including the PRHC Foundation.

Every ticket purchased helps make a difference right here in our region. It’s a fun way to get involved, give back and support the causes that matter most to our community.

Ready to join the fun? Purchase your tickets online before 9am on draw day. Draws take place every Wednesday at 2pm.

Thank you to the Lakefield Village Lions Club for their ongoing support of local organizations and community needs in Lakefield and the surrounding area. These dedicated volunteers are helping build a stronger, more caring community.

And thank you to everyone who purchases a ticket. Good luck catching the ace!

RAF #1557373

Maximizing impact with securities

You can increase your giving power by donating publicly traded securities (stocks, mutual funds, or bonds) directly to the PRHC Foundation. This is the most tax-efficient way to give.

For those who’ve seen their investments grow over time, gifts of securities can be one of the most impactful ways to give. By transferring appreciated securities instead of selling them first, you may eliminate the capital gains tax you would otherwise pay. Instead of paying tax on the growth in value, you can direct those funds towards new equipment and technology, and help ensure PRHC has the resources it needs for the future. You’ll also receive a charitable donation receipt for the full fair market value of your gift.

“Many donors are surprised to learn that gifts of appreciated securities are one of the most tax-effective ways to give,” says Lesley Heighway, President & CEO of PRHC Foundation. “It’s a simple way to maximize your impact, helping ensure patients at PRHC have access to the world-class care they deserve.”

For more information on gifts of securities, please contact Steve MacDonald at 705-743-2121, ext. 3157 or smacdona@prhc.on.ca.

Glenda Lavery’s legacy lives on through KADEX Aero’s gift to the PRHC Foundation

In June 2026, John Lavery (back row, beside the plaque) was surrounded by his children Jeremy, Jordan and Christina, grandchildren, business partner Ken Blow, family and friends as they gathered to celebrate a generous gift from KADEX Aero Supply Ltd. to the PRHC Foundation, made in memory of John’s beloved wife, Glenda.

For more than 40 years, John and Glenda Lavery built a life centred on family, community and giving back.

Their commitment to healthcare in the Peterborough region has been part of that legacy for many years. Through their support of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) Foundation, they have helped advance priorities at PRHC, including cardiac care and cancer care.

Recently, their family and friends gathered at the Health Centre to celebrate a lasting tribute to Glenda, whose name now graces an operating room at the hospital. The dedication honours her memory and reflects a generous gift in support of surgical care at PRHC from KADEX Aero Supply Ltd., the company John co-founded with business partner Ken Blow. For John, the donation is a personal way to honour Glenda while helping ensure patients and families can access exceptional care close to home.

John and Glenda met as teenagers in Ottawa and married in 1978. Together, they built their life in Peterborough, raising their family and becoming deeply connected to their chosen community.

John and Ken founded KADEX in 1994, and Glenda eventually joined the aircraft parts supplier company, bringing her experience in hospital purchasing and administration. She became an integral part of the business, coordinating finance and human resources administration, and contributing to its growth.

Today, their sons, Jeremy and Jordan, are part of KADEX, continuing the family business and the legacy their parents built. That family legacy was on display at the room dedication at PRHC, where John was surrounded by Jeremy, Jordan and daughter Christina, his grandchildren, business partner Ken, family, and friends.

The plaque outside the operating room reads: “The dedication of this operating room is made in loving memory of Glenda (Grass) Lavery” and acknowledges the generosity of KADEX Aero and the Blow and Lavery families. For John, seeing Glenda’s name on the operating room is a meaningful reminder of her life, the family they built and their shared belief in caring for others.

Giving back to the PRHC Foundation was important to both John and Glenda. During his years as a pilot, John saw firsthand how essential access to specialized healthcare can be.

At the time, certain treatments were not available in the Peterborough region, so he frequently flew patients from the area to Toronto and Kingston for the care they needed.

Today, John is proud to see how cardiac care, cancer care and other specialized programs have advanced and grown at PRHC. “What gets us to that? Well, obviously the generosity of the community,” he says.

When Glenda became sick, the importance of having world-class care in Peterborough became even more personal. “The hospital was five minutes from our house,” John says. “You start to value these things. There are so many people that are in need of critical services and we’re so thankful they’re available at our hospital.”

Glenda passed away in 2019 at the age of 62 from cancer. Her illness reinforced for John how important it is for patients to have access to care in their own community, near the people who matter most.

KADEX’s gift to the PRHC Foundation is a way for John, his family and friends to continue something that was important throughout his and Glenda’s lives: supporting the community they love and helping make a difference for others. Their donation will accomplish this by helping PRHC invest in state-of-the-art surgical equipment and technology not funded by the government.

John hopes that by sharing his story, he can encourage others to consider how they, too, can help reimagine healthcare in the region. “I hope we can inspire or motivate someone else to support our hospital,” he says. “I want people to understand what’s possible and feel encouraged to do something similar for regional healthcare.”

Having his family and friends at the dedication made the moment especially meaningful for John. “It was great to see the plaque, then go inside the operating room and learn more about the donor-funded equipment,” he says. “It felt good that the family, the grandkids, our friends, could see where the funds were directed. Glenda would be thrilled.”

Thank you to the Lavery and Blow families and KADEX Aero Supply Ltd. for honouring Glenda’s memory with a beautiful tribute that will help make a difference for patients and families from across our region.

Boston Pizza South Kids Cards supporting PRHC

Thank you, Boston Pizza Peterborough South! The BP South’s Kids Card initiative in support of the PRHC Foundation continues until October 25. For a $5 donation, you can get a Kids Card loaded with 5 free kid’s meals to enjoy through June 30, 2027.

100% of funds raised through the Kids Card program at the 821 Rye St. BP location will support patient care at PRHC. You can order your Kids Card online and select Boston Pizza South for pickup. To purchase, or for more details and restrictions, please visit their website.

Keeping surgery moving at PRHC with modern anesthesia technology

Before every operation begins, there is a moment when PRHC’s surgical team pauses and asks a simple question: “May we proceed?” For PRHC’s Chief of Anesthesiology & Co-Medical Director of Surgical Services, Dr. Carla Henderson, the answer depends on having the right tools to do her job to the best of her abilities, keeping patients safe and comfortable throughout their surgery. She tells us more about that below…

The operating room is ready. The surgical team is in position. The patient is prepared.

But before the surgeon can begin, they ask: “May we proceed?” The answer comes from me.

My name is Dr. Carla Henderson, and I am Chief of Anesthesiology and Co-Medical Director of Surgical Services at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

By the time we reach this moment, I have reviewed the patient’s health information and created an anesthetic plan tailored to their individual needs. Because anesthesia is never one-size-fits-all.

Once I am confident the patient is safely under anesthesia, I give the surgeon the go-ahead. But my work has only begun. Throughout the operation, the surgeon focuses on the procedure. I focus on the patient as a whole—every breath, every heartbeat and how their body is responding to surgery.

To do that, I depend on the anesthesia machine beside me. It delivers anesthesia, supports the patient’s breathing and provides vital information that helps me adjust their care and respond to changes within seconds.

Across PRHC’s 12 operating rooms and Labour & Delivery Unit, anesthesia care supports thousands of procedures each year—from planned surgeries to lifesaving emergencies. That means our anesthesia machines are working hard, every day. After 13 years of continuous use, however, our current machines are nearing the end of their lifespan.

Every machine must pass a thorough safety check before it can be used. Increasingly, our aging machines are failing these checks and must be pulled from service. When too few machines are available, an operating room may not be able to open. That can mean surgeries are delayed. For a patient who has prepared themselves and their family for surgery, that can mean more uncertainty and more waiting. Aging equipment should not stand between a patient and the operation they need.

Replacing our anesthesia machines would do more than help ensure PRHC’s operating rooms can continue to run reliably. New machines would also bring greater precision and more personalized anesthesia care to every patient.

Technology has advanced considerably since our current machines entered service. To help bridge that gap, we have added a small number of separate monitoring devices. These devices provide information about how a patient’s brain and muscles are responding during surgery, including when medication used to relax their muscles is wearing off. That information helps us adjust anesthesia and breathing support throughout the operation. But we only have a few of these devices, so we prioritize them for patients with the most complex needs. New anesthesia machines would have these capabilities built in, giving every patient access to advanced monitoring in every operating room.

This matters more than ever. Many of the patients coming to PRHC for surgery are older and living with complex health conditions. They can be more sensitive to anesthesia, and their needs can change quickly during an operation. The more information we have, the better we can respond. With better monitoring, my colleagues and I can make more informed adjustments and tailor each patient’s care more carefully. Those decisions can help a patient wake more smoothly, breathe independently sooner and begin their recovery in the best possible condition.

Because my goal is not simply to help a patient through an operation. It’s to help them return to the life they came to surgery to reclaim. To walk without pain after a knee replacement. To go home with hope following cancer surgery. To hold a new baby after an urgent C-section.

But before a patient can begin that journey, their operation must be able to go ahead. That is why replacing PRHC’s aging anesthesia machines matters—and why donor support will be so important in making this new equipment possible. It will help ensure that when a patient is ready, the surgical team is in position and someone asks, “May we proceed?”, the answer can be yes.

You can make a donation online and select to direct your gift to Surgical Innovation, or for more information, please call 705-876-5000.

Dig out your green thumb for the Peterborough Houseplant & Garden Social

As the air turns crisp and gardens settle in for the season, there’s still plenty of green to celebrate at the Peterborough Houseplant & Garden Social, Sunday, October 18 from 10am-4pm at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club. The PRHC Foundation is very grateful to once again be the beneficiary of this event. 

The fall market will bring together more than 25 local vendors offering tropical plants, plant care essentials, pottery, art, jewellery, candles, baked goods, specialty drinks and more. Wander, browse and find something new for your indoor jungle or a thoughtful gift. There’s a free plant swap, an interactive bingo game and limited swag bags to take home. Entry is just $5 cash and includes a ticket for a raffle basket. Bring your green thumb, your curiosity and enjoy!

Bellys Lakeside Bar + Restaurant cancer care long weekend fundraiser

Make the most of the your last long weekend of summer by heading to Bellys Lakeside Bar + Restaurant in Buckhorn. Starting Thursday, September 3, there will be four days of live music, delicious food, beautiful lakefront views and plenty of summer vibes. Even better? Throughout the long weekend, Bellys will offer food and drink specials with a portion of proceeds to be donated to the PRHC Foundation in support of cancer care at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

So, grab your friends, gather the family and make your way to the lake. Drive in, boat in, cool down by the water, soak up the sunshine and enjoy the music. Whether you’re there for the food, the views, the tunes or simply one last taste of summer, you’ll be helping to make a difference for cancer patients and their families from across our region. And if you can’t make it there, but still want to help out, please consider making a donation to Bellys’ fundraising page.

Thank you, Bellys Lakeside Bar + Restaurant for choosing to support regional cancer care and for turning a fun summer weekend into an opportunity to give back to our community.