The Stollery Charitable Foundation (SCF’s) is donating $750,000 over four years to the Royal Inland Hospital, with the money set to go towards the new trauma inpatient unit in the Patient Care Tower.

It is the SCF’s largest donation in the Kamloops region to date. In Kamloops, the foundation has given over $7 million to 35 different agencies, with RIH being one of their main beneficiaries.

“My dad grew up in the depression era,” said Janet Bryson, daughter of SCF founders Bob and Shirley Stollery. “He was one of six boys who slept in the attic of his one bedroom family home. My mom grew up in similar circumstances; they both knew what it was like to struggle.”

“Dad did very well in his career, working his way up from field engineer at Poole Construction, to CEO. He then successfully transitioned it to PCL Construction, an employee owned company.  Through all this my parents never forgot where they came from and the importance of giving back.”

Both retired public school teachers, Janet and her husband, Spencer Bryson, who is also a Foundation Board Director, have been long-time residents of Kamloops.

“Our local hospital has been one of the pillars of our Foundation from the get go,” added Spencer. “Our first grant to RIH Foundation was in 2001 and we have been pleased to support a wide variety of initiatives there.”

Kerri Priddle, Chair of the Board of Directors of the RIH Foundation says the donation will allow them to buy top-of-the-line equipment, which will help make a difference in patient care for years to come.

“The needs for trauma care in Kamloops are significant,” added Spencer, noting that RIH is the third busiest hospital in the province when it comes to major trauma cases.

“The medical team requires an efficient workplace – they deserve it – and we hope that the creation of a new, specialized trauma inpatient unit at RIH will help with that efficiency and will also attract more doctors to Kamloops.”

The $417 million new patient care tower is expected to open in 2021.