The cafeteria at the Dartmouth General is about to get a major upgrade as the hospital nears its 50th anniversary.
CEO of the Dartmouth General Foundation Stephen Harding says it is all thanks to an “incredible” act of philanthropy.
Roger and Lindsey King are the owners of Dartmouth-based, Supplement King and have donated $500,000 to the foundation for a new cafeteria at the hospital.
Harding tells our newsroom the donation was in honour of Roger and Lindsey’s 100th store opening in Vancouver.
“So as part of our Lead On campaign, the goal was to raise $15 million, [and] focus on bringing an MRI to the Dartmouth General and an orthopedic robot. Tremendous innovation. Roger and Lindsey wanted to make a gift to our staff, which fills my heart with joy.”
Harding adds, while technology and innovation is important, the point of this gift was to give back to the community.
Photo: Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation
A place to recharge and refuel
The cafeteria at the Dartmouth General has not been updated for decades and is out of date.
Harding says when Roger and Lindsey saw it, they wanted to create a dining hall where people on the front lines could have a place of “refuge”.
“They said, lets fix this and make it a wonderful space for our front-line staff, our nurses, our doctors, our porters…everyone to take a break and get recharged to serve our patients.”
Harding adds, he has received so many emails and comments and an “overwhelming” response from those who want to be part of the staff survey looking for input.
Staff are excited
The cafeteria at the hospital is a space where staff congregate during their breaks.
Ashley Hendsbee, a respiratory therapist for nearly 17 years, has worked at the Dartmouth General for three and a half years.
She tells us to get this as a gift is an “amazing” feeling and she is hoping for better seating options.
“Nicer chairs, because they’re a little uncomfortable and a better area to just kind of relax, because, you know, our jobs are very stressful. It’s just good to get into another area that’s away from it all and kind of decompress.”
Right now, she says, the cafeteria is beige and boring with just a bunch of tables and chairs and could use some sprucing up and some colour.
When will work get underway?
Designers are currently “digesting” feedback from staff on what they would like to see in the dining hall.
Harding says updated designs are expected in the next couple of weeks, then a tender will be out, with an expectation of seeing “hammers start to fly”, later this fall.
“It’s an indoor project, which is great, so hopefully by the end of winter, we’ll have it completed and a grand opening, putting a bow on top by the spring.”
He says, “thank you” to donors and the government and they are excited to “show the love to all our frontline staff”.
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