Empathy and Hard Work the Best Medicine
By / Jessica Kirby • Photos / C&G Insulation
Kelowna contractor C&G Insulation donates time and materials to bring 20-room accommodation unit together for families of patients at KGH.
Every year, thousands of families from across the interior of British Columbia must travel from their homes in order for a loved one to receive life-saving specialist care at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH). For many families wanting to maintain a presence at KGH for the period of their loved ones treatment, the lack of affordable short-term accommodation in Kelowna adds significantly to their hardship. But, the research is clear: patients heal better when surrounded by their loved ones. They get better when together.
The KGH Foundation committed to raising $8 million to build and operate JoeAnna’s House, a home-away-from-home to keep families together when they need it most. The two-storey building will include 20 guestrooms and will also provide several common areas including shared kitchen facilities, common dining space, a media/entertainment room, an exercise room, a family/consultation room, computer/internet facilities, guest laundry facilities, and an area for outdoor amenities along the Abbott Street side.
The building design respects and retains the heritage character of the neighbourhood while being situated on one side by a large hospital and on the other by an older, long-established subdivision.
C&G Insulation in Kelowna completed the insulation scope on the building. The team insulated the project’s plumbing system, rainwater system, and supply air ducts, and Johns Manville supplied all the acoustic, piping, and duct insulation for the project. Most importantly: they did it all for free.
The job went out to tender, and in the tender a note said the foundation was accepting donations and although they weren’t necessary, donations would be taken into consideration when awarding the contract.
“We knew right away we wanted do this job for free,” says C&G Insulation owner, Andre Pachon. “Of all the employees and suppliers I contacted to ask about donating labour and materials, there was not a single hesitation. The team really came together and it is really about the employees who were willing to take on this project.”
In the end, the company donated $32,816 and 29 days in labour and supplies to make JoeAnna’s House a success. This is the second time C&G Insulation did a pro bono job for a good cause—several years ago it donated labour and materials to a hospice facility in Kelowna.
“We are so happy to once again be able to contribute to a much-needed and worthwhile project in our community,” Pachon says.
C&G Insulation would like to thank the following employees and businesses for donating hteir time and resources to this project:
Ken Rae
Andre and Judy Pachon
Earl Hoppe
Wayne Dancy
Shayne Andersen
Mike Hixson
Steve McNaught
Raymond Pachon
Johns Manville
Crossroads C&I ▪