Northern Star is launched for 2020!

BATHURST – It is under the theme – Let’s Support Health Initiatives at Home – that the 16th Northern Star Campaign is officially launched, thanks to a strong partnership between UNI and the 9 Northern New Brunswick Hospital Foundations.

Indeed, this 16th edition will be marked, among other things, by the addition of the Edmundston Regional Hospital Foundation to the list of participating foundations.

“We are very pleased to join the group this year to promote the Northern Star.  We’ve been thinking about it for a few years now and we’re finally taking the plunge because this unifying activity has already proven year after year to be an important success for the participating foundations.  In addition, the virtual format of the mini-trees added this year, as a complement, is very attractive to demonstrate the community’s support for front-line employees”, added the co-chairs of the Northern Star of the Edmundston Regional Hospital Foundation, Mrs. Linda Nadeau and Mr. Hermel Landry.

A new feature is also being developed for the 2020 campaign. Most of the Foundations have made a virtual turn so that they can offer different options to donors regarding the way they make their donations. More details will be communicated shortly.

All the profits from the Northern Star Campaign will go to the various participating foundations so that they can meet the health care needs in their respective regions. Mini-trees are now available for purchase at a cost of $2, $5, $10 or $20 from your local UNI point of service and some businesses in the participating regions.

The nine participating foundations are:

• Chaleur Regional Hospital Foundation (Bathurst);
• Fondation Hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus Inc. (Caraquet);
• Foundation of the Friends of the Grand Falls General Hospital Inc. (Grand Falls);
• Edmundston Regional Hospital Foundation (Edmundston);
• La Fondation de l’Hôpital de Lamèque (Lamèque);
• Friends of Healthcare Foundation (Campbellton);
• Fondation Dr Romaric Boulay (Saint-Quentin);
• The Friends of the Stella-Maris-de-Kent Foundation (Sainte-Anne-de-Kent);
• Fondation Les Amis de l’Hôpital de Tracadie (Tracadie).

“UNI is extremely proud to partner, again this year, with the 9 foundations participating in the 2020 Northern Star Campaign. Since 2005, more than $1 million has been raised for the purchase of medical equipment. By participating in the Northern Star Campaign, you can be assured that your donation really does make a difference in people’s lives by giving them access to quality health care close to home. In addition, in this time of pandemic, the importance of health care close to home takes on its full meaning. Our front-line workers need specific equipment to better accompany their patients and the foundations are more than ever committed to supporting them. I am more than proud to see our institution’s involvement in the Northern Star Campaign, said Mr. Hermel Chiasson, Community Director of UNI. 

Dr France Desrosiers, Vice-chairperson – Medical Services, Training and Research, reminded the importance of a campaign such as the Northern Star in spite of the pandemic: “Your participation in this campaign becomes a message of support for front-line staff who continue to want to offer you the best possible services and care despite the challenges related to the pandemic.  At the same time, I salute the interesting initiative to add the option of donating online for the mini-trees.  In addition, these will subsequently be posted by most foundations in a busy area of the facility so that staff and physicians can see your support. »

Donations that really make a difference in our health care are witnessed by many patients who can attest to this. “We had to visit the IWK a few times after Leo’s birth for a small abnormality in his feet following a recommendation from our doctor. Follow-ups are now being done by Dr. Bossé, an orthopedist at the Chaleur Regional Hospital.  As a parent, it is so important to continue the follow-up for our little Léo and we are certainly grateful to be able to do it at home.  We therefore encourage you to support this Northern Star campaign in order to support health care services at home. “, explains Sébastien Haché, father of little Léo.

The lighting of dedicated Christmas trees, holiday-themed figures and community Christmas trees near the hospitals will take place in the evening of Wednesday, December 2. More then 200 trees will be illuminated in front of our hospitals.  People are invited to attend and show their support.  

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For more information:

Suzanne LaPlante, Annual Campaigns for the Acadian Peninsula officer

506-336-7674 |  Suzanne.Laplante@vitalitenb.ca

Marie Boutot, Spokesperson for the Edmundston Regional Hospital Foundation

506-735-5805