Local residents encouraged to support “Smart Headwaters” campaign

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Caledon residents are being asked to consider supporting a fundraising campaign for a local hospital. 

On May 28, Headwaters Health Care Foundation board member Anne Thompson announced the board was looking to update Caledon residents on the “Smart Headwaters” campaign and get them involved in it. 

The Smart Headwaters campaign was launched last June and its goal is to raise $18 million to bring a state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine, and more, to the Headwaters Health Care Centre in Orangeville.

Thompson said the hospital has been doing more with less for many years and that new medical technology will revitalize the hospital's service.

The MRI machine will allow health care professionals at the Headwaters Health Care Centre to provide more accurate and timely diagnoses for patients. It will improve treatment planning and patient outcomes, and save 4,000 patients per year from having to travel out of Dufferin and Caledon for care. 

Thompson said since last June, many local businesses and families have been stepping up in a big way to make sure the Smart Headwaters campaign is a success. 

“More must be done to get the campaign to the finish line,” said Thompson. “Headwaters is

serving one of the fastest-growing areas in the province and as our population continues to grow here in Caledon, we need to know our hospital is equipped to meet the ever-growing demands.”

The Smart Headwaters campaign is more than 75 per cent of the way to reaching its goal.

Despite this, Thompson said she knows not everyone in Caledon is aware of the campaign. 

“The hard part is still ahead of us, and we must all do everything we can to help reach the fundraising goal by the final quarter of 2024,” said Thompson, noting by that time much of the work for the new hospital features will be underway.

A major supporter of the Smart Headwaters campaign has been the Morningview Foundation, which has pledged up to $1 million in matching donations toward the campaign for 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Thompson said every effort must be made to maximize the offer and capitalize on extra funding for the Headwaters Health Care Centre. 

In February of this year, 100 Women Who Care Caledon became supporters of the Smart Headwaters campaign after Thompson nominated the campaign to be the beneficiary of 100 Women Who Care Caledon's February meeting. 

Thompson herself has been a supporter of the campaign through the 2024 disbursement from the Allan and Anne Thompson Community Fund through the Brampton and Caledon Community foundation. 

“Just imagine the impact if every Caledon resident gave what they could,” said Thompson. “I'm asking our Caledon community to join with me in Caledon Cares, the collective community effort to help get the Smart Headwaters campaign to the finish line.”

Those interested in contributing to the Smart Headwaters campaign can visit the following link: tinyurl.com/CaledonCares.