Peters Bros. Construction is donating $1.7 million to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation towards a second CT medical imaging unit at Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH). The new scanner will be located near the Emergency Department, now undergoing a major expansion.
The donation from the company, a long-time community supporter, is helping to launch a $3-million fundraising campaign for a new CT scanner at Penticton Regional Hospital.
Along with the CT (computerized tomography) machine itself, extensive building renovations are required which brings the total project cost to $5 million. The Okanagan Similkameen Regional Hospital District will provide $2 million with the SOS Medical Foundation raising the remainder.
The new CT scanner will be operational by the time the Emergency Department renovation is completed in early 2022. The CT was not part of the original plans for the $312-million hospital expansion – now into Phase 2.
Peters Bros. president Joe Cuzzocrea said the CT scanner provides another boost to the community’s healthcare. “It’s needed, the hospital is new. Let’s support it and get this new equipment for the hospital now,” he said.
Cuzzocrea hopes the company’s gift will encourage other businesses and individuals in the community to donate as well. The company’s late owner David Kampe was also a major supporter of PRH.
Peters Bros. has about 150 employees involved in paving and road construction projects throughout BC and operates a number of asphalt plants in the province. Cuzzocrea has been with the Penticton-based firm since 1982.
“Penticton is home and most everything we support is in this community,” he said. “We do help other communities, but not like this one. This is home.”
Carey Bornn, executive director of the SOS Medical Foundation, applauds Peters Bros. generous support for the CT campaign and encourages the community to mirror their efforts.
“If nothing else, the Covid-19 outbreak has shown how important good health is to all of us,” he said. “Now as elective surgeries begin again, the addition of another CT scanner at PRH will prove even more valuable.”
