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A Celebration of Giving in Memory of Laurie (Lawrence) Bednarchuk

Joint News Release
November 21, 2018

 

Until we meet again, Partner

A Celebration of Giving in Memory of Laurie (Lawrence) Bednarchuk

Laurie (Lawrence) Bednarchuk was born and raised in Kenora.  He was a proud and skilled tradesman whose certification in plumbing and steam fitting took him all over Canada and parts of the United States for large industrial projects.  His career kept him from Kenora for long periods of time, but he always came home to Lake of the Woods. Here he spent time with his friend and neighbor, Ron Poirier or down the highway to Dryden with his best friend Charlie Bedford.  In the event of his passing, Laurie made arrangements for three very generous bequests and on November 15, 2017, Laurie passed away at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.  Shortly thereafter, three community charities found out just how much home and friendship meant to Laurie Bednarchuk.

Dryden Regional Health Centre (DRHC), and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation (KLWCF) and Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation (LWDHF), Kenora are receiving their first installment of $175,000 each with the total bequest estimated at $350,000 per charity.  “Community was important to Laurie. He wanted to give back to the community and make a difference.  Laurie was a generous person and cared very deeply for the less fortunate in our communities.” Don Parfitt, friend and executor.

Chuck Schmitt, Fundraising / Recruitment Manager at the Dryden Regional Health Centre. “Over 25 years ago Laurie came to our hospital to be treated for an eye injury; he credited the nurses and physicians with saving his vision. Laurie always remembered this and his gift to community health care in Dryden is something we will never forget. It’s an incredible story of giving from a man of few words; we are so grateful”.

Executive Director, KLWRCF E.M. (Betty) Wires “The commitment to community and Lake of the Woods was clearly a passion for Laurie. Those of us who live in this wonderful part of the world understand this connection. We are honoured to receive Laurie’s bequest, which will make a difference in the lives of many in our communities.”

Jess Rheault, Executive Director LWDHF “Gifts of bequests are bitter sweet.  I would much prefer to shake his hand, look him in the eyes and say thank you!  What I can do now is honour his wish to give back to the hospital that cared for him during his final weeks and honour him by allocating a portion of that to our hospital endowment where his love for the community will continue to give back for many years to come.”

Dryden Regional Health Centre, Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation and the Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation are humbled to receive such a generous gift from a lifelong resident of Kenora.   We acknowledge the anniversary of Laurie’s death by announcing to our communities that their neighbor, friend, and a proud Kenora resident, choose to leave a legacy gift that will give back to our communities forever.
Thank you.

Till we meet again, Partner.

For More Information Contact:

Chuck Schmitt
Fundraising/Recruitment Manager
Dryden Regional Health Centre
Box 3003, 58 Goodall St.
Dryden, Ontario
P8N 2Z6
P | 807-223-8200
E| mydrhc@gmail.com
E.M. (Betty) Wires
I/Executive Director
Kenora & Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation
Box 441, Kenora, ON
P9N 4N6
P | 807- 467-4427
E | info@klwcrf.ca
Jess Rheault,
Executive Director
Lake of the Woods District Hospital Foundation
21 Sylvan Street W, Kenora, ON P9N 3W7
P| 807-468-9861
E | jrheault@lwdh.on.ca

 

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