A Fundraising Milestone for Rotary Fergus Elora
When Abraham Groves began his medical practice in Fergus in 1871 the closest hospital was in Toronto, there was not one trained nurse in Canada, and operations, such as they were, were generally performed on the kitchen table. (1)
Royal Alexandra Hospital was established by Dr. Groves n 1902 and it was donated to the Town of Fergus in 1935. It continued to operate until 1955 when a new hospital was built and christened “Groves Memorial Community Hospital”.
Today what is often referred to as “New Groves” stands on a beautiful campus on the west edge of Fergus having opened in August of 2020.
The Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora, chartered in 1966, takes great pride in having been a major contributor to this facility, and is recognized as a lead donor. The club has raised $500,000.00 over the past several years designated for the hospital build. At a cost in excess of $140m this 42 bed, 152,000 sq ft facility provides a tremendous service to Centre Wellington and the surrounding area.
On October 11th, 2022 the 40-member club will have a celebration to commemorate this fundraising milestone at the Fergus Legion culminating with a cheque presentation to the Groves Memorial Hospital Foundation. Dr. Groves and the Rotary Club of Fergus-Elora both exhibiting “Service above Self” .
(1) Credit, All in the Day’s Work, Abraham Groves, 1934
Submitted by Jeff Ostic
Rotary Club of Fergus Elora