Summer in full swing
The summer has well and truly arrived! The kids are out of school, community event calendars are full, and camping season has begun. There’s no better place to spend your summer than in Simcoe Muskoka. We’re spending our summer months on the road, visiting farmer’s markets, festivals, and fundraisers with our Keep Life Wild community tent. If you’re looking for weekend plans, visit us at the community tent or check out the Happening Now page for some community events that are a good time and support a great cause: world-class healthcare close to home.
If you are inspired to join the fight to keep life wild, please consider donating using the form below

RESEARCHERS AWARDED GRANT FOR INNOVATIVE TOOL
We are thrilled to announce that RVH researchers have been awarded a $668,968 grant to spread the use of their home-grown, groundbreaking patient communication tool: ASKmeGOC. This tool helps facilitate and standardize goals of care conversations between patients, families, and their physicians and will be shared province-wide.
Even the most skilled doctors may still struggle to find the right words at the right time when discussing sensitive and emotional topics with patients and families. ASKmeGOC helps caregivers navigate these discussions with confidence and continues RVH’s tradition of compassionate, patient-centred care.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to Alectra Inc. for their enduring support of RVH’s researchers. In 2022, a grant from the Alectra Fund for Health and Social Innovation supported the small pilot study that eventually led to the development of ASKmeGOC.
WEBER FOUNDATION MAKES $3.33M GIFT TO RVH!
On Tuesday, the Weber Foundation gifted $3.3 million to RVH to support healthcare in our region. RVH was one of 13 local charities (and one of three healthcare foundations) to receive a part of the Weber Foundation’s $22.5 million philanthropic gift.
“We are grateful for this truly remarkable gift and for the Weber Foundation’s belief in our vision for the future of healthcare in Simcoe Muskoka,” shares Pamela Ross, CEO of RVH Foundation. “This gift will help enhance and expand our regional care programs in cancer, stroke, cardiac, renal, trauma, critical care, and Child and Youth mental health so that we can all access the care we need and deserve close to home.”
You can read more about how gifts like this are critical to the future of healthcare in our region on our website.

From left to right, representatives from three local hospitals receiving $10,000,000 in total are Nicole Kraftscik, GBGH Foundation, Gail Hunt, RVH President & CEO, Reinhart Weber, the Weber Foundation, and Perry Esler, OSMH Foundation.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: AL GILCHRIST
Congratulations to Al Gilchrist for achieving the 2024 Ontario Senior of the Year Award for the Town of Innisfil.
Al is a proud father, grandfather, and loving husband to his wife, Sue. He also volunteers as Chair of RVH Foundation’s Innisfil Cabinet, championing the new hospital in Innisfil.
“I never pass up an opportunity to share what I know about the health centre coming to Innisfil,” says Al. “The more people are aware of the impact this will have, the more support we can garner for this important project.”

Al Gilchrist (right) received the Senior of the Year Award from Town of Innisfil Mayor Lynn Dollin at a recent council meeting.
All Stocked Up For The Summer
Just in time for the heat! Keep Life Wild t-shirts are the perfect way to show your wild this summer. Available in navy and ivory, these shirts not only look and feel great, but 100% of proceeds support RVH and access to world-class healthcare right here in our own backyard.
