ListowelL-R: Jim Robinson, former President of the Listowel Ag Society, Ralph Coneybeare, Ag Society Board Director, former Listowel Mayor/Councillor and Ag Society member Vince Judge, North Perth Family Health Team Executive Director Robin Spence Haffner, Dr. Barb Warren, Dr. Ian Cameron, North Perth Family Health Team Physician Recruiter Jan McKague-Weisher, Lexi Johnston, 2024-25 Listowel Fair Ambassador and Listowel Ag Society President Carolyn van der Heiden at the cheque presentation of $120,000 from the Listowel Ag Society's Field of Dreams auction to the Doctor Recruitment Campaign. November 29, 2024 (Photo by Ryan Drury)
Midwestern

Listowel Ag Society makes huge donation to North Perth Doctor Recruitment Campaign

The Listowel Ag Society made a huge cheque presentation to the North Perth Family Health team at the Fisher Family Primary Care Centre on November 29.

Following a very successful Field of Dreams auction event on Saturday, November 23, the Ag Society presented a cheque for $120,000 to go toward the Doctor Recruitment Campaign in North Perth.

Listowel Ag Society President Carolyn van der Hieden says they had the idea of supporting the Doctor Recruitment Campaign back in January, and she says they're thrilled with how the auction went.

"We are elated. Our community is so supportive, and it takes a whole slew of people, our board, the community, everyone, to do this. Everyone knows it's such a great cause, and it's something that we need to support," van der Hieden enthused.

The planning into making this cheque presentation possible was well over a year in the making, according to van der Hieden. She says the turnout at the auction event was upwards of 270 people. Dr. Barb Warren, a community legend who is the longest serving member at the North Perth Family Health Team, served as the MC at the event.

All the donated money will all be used to help bring more family physicians, doctors and other critical medical professionals to North Perth. Robin Spence Haffner, Executive Director of the North Perth Family Health Team, says she's overwhelmed by the incredible showing of support from the Listowel Ag Society and the community.

"So grateful to this community and to the Ag Society and it means so much. Both to the physician recruitment activities that we do to recruit physicians, and also to the medical community here, to know that the community really is behind them," Spence Haffner shared excitedly.

With respect to recruitment, Spence Haffner notes that that involves many different aspects. It could mean supporting a physician who wants to come practice in the area to see what it's all about, especially those who maybe aren't used to being in a more rural setting. It can also go towards getting young, recent graduates to come be a part of the team.

"A lot of the money will go towards supporting medical learners. So if you have someone who's in third year of medical school, for example, and you can have them come and work with our physicians here and see what that's like, that's huge. Also, just to have them come experience our communities, that's really key, and that's also some of what will happen with this new funding," added Spence Haffner.

Learn more about physician recruitment in North Perth here: https://listowelclinic.ca/physician-recruitment/

Read More Local Stories

Fan celebrating a victory at a american football game. © Can Stock Photo / djpadavona

Scoreboard, Dec 2

The Buffalo Bills are AFC East champions after a 35-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers in NFL action Sunday.

Hockey puck. 
© Can Stock Photo / albund

Scoreboard, Dec 1

Auston Matthews gets two assists in his return to the ice helping the Toronto Maple Leafs win 5-3 over Tampa Bay.

BlackburnNews.com File Photo

Snow Angels needed

As the snow has started the fly the City of Windsor is asking for volunteers for is Snow Angel program.