BACK ROW (L to R): Christina Wray, RN - SAH, Ingo Schuurhuis, Patient Care Manager - Operating Room & SPD - SAH, Dr. Nadim Haidar, Physician - SAH, Rob Battisti, Board of Directors - SAHF, Tasha Varpio, Board of Directors - SAHF, Bruce Palmer, Business Manager - IBEW Local Union 1687, Paul Soyatt, Member of IBEW Local Union 1687, Amy Wheeler Reich, Board of Directors - SAHF. FRONT ROW (L to R): Cheryl D'Arcy, RPN - SAH, Toni Cicino-Solomon, RPN - SAH.
BACK ROW (L to R): Christina Wray, RN – SAH, Ingo Schuurhuis, Patient Care Manager – Operating Room & SPD – SAH, Dr. Nadim Haidar, Physician – SAH, Rob Battisti, Board of Directors – SAHF, Tasha Varpio, Board of Directors – SAHF, Bruce Palmer, Business Manager – IBEW Local Union 1687, Paul Soyatt, Member of IBEW Local Union 1687, Amy Wheeler Reich, Board of Directors – SAHF.
FRONT ROW (L to R): Cheryl D’Arcy, RPN – SAH, Toni Cicino-Solomon, RPN – SAH.

Supplied by the Sault Area Hospital Foundation…
SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – Prostate Cancer Canada states that ‘One in every eight men will be diagnosed with Prostate Cancer in their lifetime.’ It’s a terrifying statistic. With a recent donation, the men of the Algoma District now have increased access to the most common surgical procedure to eliminate this terrible disease. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Northeastern Ontario L.U. 1687 (IBEW Local Union 1687) have made a donation of $30,000 to the Sault Area Hospital Foundation (SAHF) to purchase the surgical equipment required to perform more Open Radical Prostatectomies at Sault Area Hospital (SAH). The equipment purchased will benefit patients in need of this life saving surgery and will help local Urologists perform up to twice as many procedures weekly.
Donations from across the Algoma District are one of the few funding opportunities the Sault Area Hospital Foundation has available to raise the needed funds to benefit our local healthcare. SAHF is the primary source of funding for the purchase of capital equipment at SAH and with community support can provide funding for the required medical equipment. “We all care about our families. We wanted to ensure every family in this community stays healthy and that every Father, Grandfather, Brother and Son has access to the care needed to win every battle against Prostate Cancer. The fact that this donation increases how many patients can receive care is something every member of IBEW Local Union 1687 is proud to be part of.” Bruce Palmer, Business Manager – IBEW Local Union 1687.
Open Radical Prostatectomy is the complete removal of the prostate gland and some surrounding tissue. In early detection situations, this procedure can completely eliminate the cancerous cells from the body. The ability to schedule and perform more of these surgeries will greatly affect the lives of individuals in this community that are affected by prostate cancer.
“The surgical equipment funded today is one of the many pieces of equipment our community hospital requires. The equipment in our hospital continuously needs to be upgraded and replaced.  IBEW Local Union 1687’s gift is one that sets the pace and starts an upward trend towards ensuring we have the equipment needed to provide the quality care we all deserve.” Ingo Schuurhuis, Patient Care Manager of Operating Room & SPD – SAH.
On behalf of all the families of the Algoma District, we would like to thank IBEW, both Local Union 1687 and International, for this incredible commitment to the healthcare in our community. It’s donations like this, from great people like you that ensure the healthcare professionals of Sault Area Hospital have the tools needed to provide excellent healthcare. Thank you!