Interior Health is pleased by the overwhelming support for health care initiatives in the Elk Valley, as over 200 people attended this year’s Feast For A Cause in Fernie.

The Rotary Club of Fernie hosted Feast For A Cause on Saturday, May 3, with the event raising over $35,000. This donation was received by the Elk Valley Hospital at the start of June.

The event is in its second year and has shown great support to local health care initiatives, with last year’s event supporting the East Kootenay Foundation for Health’s ‘Warm Embrace’ campaign. This year, the Rotary Club of Fernie partnered with Interior Health and the East Kootenay Foundation for Health to purchase diagnostic equipment for the Elk Valley Hospital, including a fetal monitor. The East Kootenay Foundation for Health would match every dollar raised as part of their support for the event.

Dr. Tara Chalmers-Nixon, Chief of Staff at Elk Valley Hospital and Leala Tomlinson, director of clinical operations for East Kootenay rural south, both attended and spoke at the event.

“We are incredibly grateful for the donation received at the wonderful Feast for a Cause event. Our maternity providers, nurses, anesthetists, surgical team, and all our allied health care workers have worked very hard, resulting in a 50% increase in babies born at Elk Valley Hospital in the last six years. Donations like this help families deliver their babies in Fernie with confidence. Our health care team is committed to the best patient care, and we appreciate all our donors who believe we can do big things in a small community,” said Dr. Chalmers-Nixon.

“As you can imagine health care equipment is forever modernizing and outdating and can be quite costly to replace. This is where the East Kootenay Foundation for Health and events like this are so critical to ensure that our community hospitals like the Elk Valley Hospital can purchase the equipment needed to provide the level of care that we strive for,” said Leala Tomlinson.

A fetal monitor is often required in most pregnancies and labour, measuring uterine contractions, as well as a baby’s heartrate. The device has wireless capability and allows for more freedom of movement during labour, which can provide a more positive birthing experience and contribute to better birthing outcomes for both mothers and babies.

“Interior Health is proud of the maternity program at the Elk Valley Hospital and its growth over the past ten years. Last year, (2024) 124 babies were delivered at the Elk Valley Hospital. This has been supported through many developments in the hospital’s rural maternity program, including increased surgical programs allowing for 24/7 c-section capabilities, hiring and training nurses who specialize in hospital maternity care as well as primary care, and continued efforts toward establishing sustainable physician coverage in the community,” Tomlinson said.

The Rotary Club of Fernie focuses on raising funds to support organizations and activities within the Elk Valley and are guided by Rotary International’s motto: Service above self and one profits most who serves best. More information is available on their website, https://www.fernierotary.org/

The East Kootenay Foundation for Health (EKFH) provides funding to health care initiatives throughout the East Kootenay. It supports five hospitals, three health centres, five long term care homes, and community health programming across the region. More details about the East Kootenay Foundation for Health can be found on their website, ekfh.ca.

Located in Fernie, the Elk Valley Hospital is a community hospital in the East Kootenay health service area. The hospital offers services including inpatient, obstetrics, and emergency care.

Lead image: Interior Health staff and local doctors attending this year’s Feast For A Cause. left to right: Leala Tomlinson, Director Clinical Operations EK Rural South; Dr. Tara Chalmers-Nixon, Chief of Staff Elk Valley Hospital; Dr. Lori Gadsden, Dr. Lisa Tessler. Photo by Troy Nixon

Interior Health

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