The Pembroke Regional Hospital Foundation has gone public with the largest fundraising campaign in its history, asking the community to help close a $2.9 million gap to replace a worn-out CT scanner and bring in a modern patient record system. The “Together, We Care” campaign launched June 4, 2026, with $7.1 million already raised during a quiet phase, putting it past the 70 per cent mark of the $10 million goal.
The money is earmarked for three main priorities: a next-generation CT scanner, the Epic health information system with a MyChart patient portal, and other high-priority equipment across the hospital. The current CT scanner is 14 years old and handles more than 15,000 scans a year, making it one of only three such machines serving all of Renfrew County’s 100,000-plus residents. Hospital officials say a new scanner would mean faster imaging and sharper diagnoses so patients can get home sooner.
The MyChart portal, expected to go live in fall 2026, will give people real-time access to their own medical records and connect Pembroke with five other Eastern Ontario hospitals through a shared system. Foundation board chair Lisa Edmonds says the technology upgrade is a major step for patient care across the region.
Two donations announced this June gave the public phase an early lift. Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, one of the area’s biggest employers, and its parent company Nuclear Laboratory Partners of Canada jointly pledged $250,000 over five years. Former residents André Mickovitch and Lesley Cassidy also committed $50,000 over five years through the campaign. Dennis Carr, president and CEO of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, called the gift a long-term investment in the Ottawa Valley’s health.
Since the quiet phase began in April 2024, the campaign has already paid for 84 pieces of equipment, including a MOLLI Surgical System for breast cancer, a HUGS Infant Protection System, and three of five needed ultrasound machines. The foundation says every dollar raised stays in Pembroke, directly supporting the hospital that offers stroke care, trauma services, and a nine-bed intensive care unit for people across Renfrew County.
