The Gift of Time: Honouring the Association of Hospital Volunteers Bowmanville
Long before construction begins, new equipment arrives, or doors open to modern spaces, there are people who lay the groundwork. People who give their time, raise funds, and believe strongly in the importance of high-quality health care close to home.
As we mark National Volunteer Week and celebrate the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation’s 50-year legacy of transforming community support into exceptional care, we are proud to honour one of the most enduring forces behind health care in Clarington: the Association of Hospital Volunteers Bowmanville.
For more than a century, this group has helped shape care at Lakeridge Health Bowmanville Hospital through compassion, service, and a steadfast commitment to the community. While medicine and technology have transformed dramatically over the past 100 years, one constant has remained: volunteers at the heart of it all.
Their story began in 1912, when community leaders recognized the need for a local hospital. Through grassroots fundraising, they raised $5,000 to help transform donated land and facilities from local businessman J.W. Alexander into what has become Bowmanville Hospital, laying the foundation for generations of care.
Today, that same spirit drives the once-in-a-generation redevelopment of Bowmanville Hospital. In 2018, the Association made a landmark $1 million pledge to the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation – one of the most significant volunteer-led commitments in our history. They are nearly three quarters of the way toward fulfilling that promise.
Working alongside Lakeridge Health Volunteer Resources, more than 110 active members volunteer their time, offering reassurance, guidance, and support to patients and families during some of their most vulnerable moments. Volunteers operate the New to You thrift shop on Church Street, turning donated goods into funding for hospital priorities, and support Anna’s Place, the hospital gift shop and café. Renamed in 2024 in honour of long-time volunteer Anna Strike, Anna’s Place continues to contribute to redevelopment and equipment needs while offering comfort to patients and visitors.
Association President and long-time volunteer Isabel Peat has been an integral part of this legacy for more than 35 years and serves on the Bowmanville Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.
“As fellow volunteers, we see our hospital in a way few others do,” Isabel shares. “We witness the compassion of staff, the courage of patients and families, and the importance of having the right spaces and equipment to deliver care. Supporting the hospital as a monthly donor is a simple way to give back and help ensure steady support for the redevelopment and the care it will bring.”
As we celebrate 50 years of community-powered care, we extend our deepest gratitude to the Association of Hospital Volunteers Bowmanville, and to all who give their time and energy in support of local health care.
From helping open the hospital in 1913 to investing in its future today, volunteers continue to ensure that compassionate, high-quality care remains close to home for Clarington and Durham Region.
