The largest concrete business on the South Shore has made a $250,000 donation towards the South South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project in honour of its employees.
South Shore Ready Mix has operated successfully on the South Shore since 1966, and owner Lloyd Bonang says he wanted to make the donation on behalf of his employees as they are what he believes makes his business successful.
“You can hire truck drivers, but you need people who know what they are doing and to be pleasant when they’re on-site, we’ve had those employees for years and this is a way of giving back to them,” Bonang said. “We employ around 60-80 people in the area, all of whom have families and friends that rely on the hospital for vital services,”.
The funds will be given to the South Shore Health Services Foundation who are overseeing fundraising efforts for the upgrades at the hospital.
They are looking to raise $5.6 million for the project which will see the expansion of its Emergency, Day Surgery and Endoscopy Departments and the additions of renal dialysis and MRI services.
“I think most people understand that we need to grow our hospital. We need more access to dialysis and MRI services. We need more beds. We need more space to move people through the Emergency Department quicker. I think this will help attract more doctors. People ask why we are building a bigger hospital if we don’t have doctors. Well, the doctors are going to come if we have a facility that is efficient with new technology and equipment. This hospital redevelopment will give our area an advantage.”
-Lloyd Bonang
Bonang also believes that having an improved hospital will also aid in recruitment and retention efforts for all South Shore businesses as he often hears first-hand that access to quality health services is a big part of ensuring employees are happy to live and work in the same area.
