Birch Mountain Enterprises Ltd. donates $250,000 to the Gratitude Campaign's Minimally Invasive Surgical Suites

Fort McMurray, Alberta – The Northern Lights Health Foundation is excited to announce that Birch Mountain Enterprises Ltd. has made a very generous donation of $250,000 to the Gratitude Campaign. On Tuesday May 30, 2017 the Health Foundation and Birch Mountain will celebrate this significant gift with a cheque presentation at their office at the Fort McKay First Nation Business Incubator Park. This donation will be reserved for t he Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Suites project, which is the largest piece of the Gratitude Campaign.

The $7.6 million dollar MIS project will upgrade our of the current operating rooms in to state-of-the-art operating theatres that will help to attract highly skilled surgeons and create an optimal operating environment for staff and patients. This new technology will allow surgeons to be more precise; in the past, large incisions were needed for many surgeries so surgeons could see – and reach – the areas being treated. Today, nearly every part of the ody is reachable with minimally invasive surgery. The MIS Suites will also allow the surgical team to transmit real-time audio and video of procedures virtually anywhere in the world for the purpose of medical consultation.    

Chris Wilson, Owner and President of Birch Mountain Enterprises Ltd. and his team, present a cheque of                                                                                                                                  $250,000 to the Northern Lights Health Foundation

Birch Mountain Enterprises owner and President Chris Wilson says “We are very proud to support the Northern Lights Health Foundation, helping our family, friends and community receive the first-class health care they deserve.” They also believe in giving back to the community that has supported them since they started their business in 2004. “If it wasn’t for our developed business relationships with Syncrude Canada, Imperial Oil at Kearl Lake, The Bouchier Group, The Fort McKay Group of Companies, and many of our numerous valued vendors, BME wouldn’t be where it is today.  That is why it is important for us to give back as much as possible and we feel honoured to be able to contribute to the Gratitude Campaign.”

The Northern Lights Health Foundation Executive Director Cindy Amerongen can’t overstate how important it is to have companies like Birch Mountain Enterprises commit to such a significant project and knows that Birch Mountain’s investment will benefit the entire region of Wood Buffalo. Amerongen says “The MIS Suite upgrade impacts so many people. Having this modern and innovative technology will help the Health Centre recruit new surgeons and result in people getting back to their families and back to work much faster”. She also says, “We know that Birch Mountain is committed to the long term health of this community and we are very thankful for their generous support for this important project”.

About Birch Mountain Enterprises Ltd.

Founded in 2004, Birch Mountain Enterprises Ltd. is located in the Fort McKay Business Incubator Park and provide dependable fluid handling and steaming services to oil sands clients across the region. Birch Mountain Enterprises is proud to be locally and Aboriginally owned with over 250 employees. They are very involved in the community and support Aboriginal children’s programs as well as numerous events and fundraisers each year. Birch Mountain Enterprises is a full member of NAABA, they are recipients of the Cando Economic Developer of the Year award in 2016, and were recognized as the Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2014 Regional Aboriginal Recognition Awards.

About the Northern Lights Health Foundation

Established in 1985, the Northern Lights Health Foundation exists to provide funds to support health care priorities within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. The Health Foundation is proudly accredited under Imagine Canada’s Standards Program. For more information, visit www.northernlightshealthfoundation.ca.

About The Gratitude Campaign

The Gratitude Campaign is the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the history of the Northern Lights Health Foundation. The Campaign is comprised of several projects including: Minimally Invasive Surgical Suites, the Multi-purpose Clinic, Palliative Care, Community Clinics, Health Centre Lobby, and Continuing Care.. For more information, visit www.gratitudecampaign.ca.