Markdale Hospital Foundation

09/03/2026

This is a wonderful development!

Brightshores is welcoming 14 new physicians representing a range of specialties including Medical Oncology, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Critical Care, Neurology, Psychiatry, Surgery and Anesthesiology.

“We are delighted to welcome these talented physicians to the Brightshores team,” said Ann Ford, President and CEO of Brightshores. “As the needs of our communities continue to grow and evolve, each new physician helps strengthen access to high-quality care close to home for patients and families.”

Visit our website to learn more about how we're building a stronger, more connected health system for Grey Bruce: https://www.brightshores.ca/brightshores-welcomes-14-new-physicians/

08/21/2026

Bring the Whole Family to the Gran Fondo! 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️

This year’s Grey Highlands Gran Fondo includes a new 2K Family Ride, sponsored by Flowerpot Press, created especially for our youngest cyclists and their families.

This fun, non-competitive ride gives children a chance to build confidence on their bikes, enjoy an active day outdoors, and experience the excitement of being part of the Gran Fondo alongside their family and community.

Every child registered for the Family Ride will receive a Gran Fondo hat and a swag bag of books donated by Flowerpot Press.

Young riders are also encouraged to fundraise in support of local healthcare. The top two youth fundraisers will each receive a prize package from Little Ed’s Ski & Bike Shop, including a custom Little Ed’s cycling jersey, helmet, and bike tune-up.

We are grateful to Flowerpot Press, NFP, Fawcett Funeral Homes, and Little Ed’s Ski & Bike Shop for helping us create a welcoming and memorable experience for young riders and their families.

Join us on Saturday, September 12th, and help us welcome the next generation of Gran Fondo riders!

Register today at www.greyhighlandsgranfondo.com

08/14/2026

We are so grateful to our community for their support! This event sold out in less than 24 hours. While participants and donors showed up for us, so did the Hospital Auxiliary, in a big way. They matched participant support with a gift of $20,000 they raised through sales at the Pennywise Thrift Shoppe in town.

These funds count toward our $1,250,000 fiscal year goal to support vital equipment needs that includes Endoscopy equipment for Markdale.
Learn more about the upcoming expansion to our local Endoscopy services here in Markdale. 😃 (see the press release here: https://www.brightshores.ca/media-release-new-regional-model-supports-growth-of-endoscopy-program-in-grey-bruce/ )

08/13/2026

Our new board will meet for the first time this September, and we wanted to take a moment to introduce our new Board Chair.

About: Sheila’s family moved to Markdale when she was 8 and while a self-described “city person” she has always returned to Markdale to spend time with her parents. In 1997, her father, Dan Rose, became an original member of the first committee to build a new hospital in Markdale. They had many deep discussions regarding the work and goals of the Foundation in the two decades that preceded hospital construction. Sheila was one of the people with whom Dan would share his concerns for the community, knowing that she would bring a different perspective to the conversation.

With a degree in Consumer Research and Marketing, Sheila’s career had her working in Toronto. In 2019, her daughter was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer and Sheila switched roles to be a caregiver and patient advocate. Months after chemo ended, covid began. Sheila moved to Markdale to continue in her role as a caregiver for her daughter as well as her parents.

08/02/2026

Over $10,000 Raised This Weekend... and We're Only Halfway There!

What an incredible start to our Matching Campaign!

Thanks to the generosity of our riders, more than $10,000 in donations has already been raised over the long weekend, and every dollar will be matched up to $20,000!

There's still time to double your impact.

Matching ends at midnight on Monday, August 3.

If you've been thinking about sharing your fundraising page one more time, now is the perfect opportunity. Ask your family, friends and colleagues to make a gift while every donation goes twice as far in support of local healthcare.

Not registered yet? There's still time to join us on Saturday, September 12! Choose from the 124K, 77K, 53K, 26K, or our new 2K Family Ride. There's a route for every age and ability.

Let's finish the weekend strong and see how much we can accomplish together!

07/09/2026

Why I Ride: Elaine Mitchell & The Steve Lidkea Memorial Riders

Over the past four years, we have heard incredible stories from riders about what motivates them to participate in the Grey Highlands Gran Fondo. Leading up to this year’s event, we’ll be sharing a few of those stories and celebrating the people, memories, and causes that inspire our riders to get on their bikes.

Elaine Mitchell is riding this year to honour the memory of Steve Lidkea, who passed away last January at the age of 70.

Steve was a passionate cyclist who had ridden most of Grey County’s paved roads many times over. He was also a proud supporter of the Markdale Hospital through previous Fondos.

“What better way to pay tribute to him than bike for the hospital?”

Elaine has created The Steve Lidkea Memorial Riders, and together they have already raised $4,800 toward their $7,500 fundraising goal in support of the Markdale Hospital Foundation.

Thank you, Elaine, for sharing this inspiring story and for riding in Steve’s memory.

Why do you ride?
Connect with us and tell us your story.

07/06/2026

There’s still a chance to join us!

The 7th Annual Markdale Hospital Golf Tournament, sponsored by Markdale IDA Pharmacy and supported by our community sponsor, Markdale Golf and Curling Club, SOLD OUT in just 24 hours, but we’ve opened up an evening 9-hole round for anyone who would still like to come out, play, and support local healthcare.

Evening 9-Hole Round
Tee times begin at 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $50 per golfer
Includes: 9 holes of golf, dinner, live DJ, and a great evening of community

Tee times will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

All proceeds support the Markdale Hospital Foundation and help fund essential equipment and care close to home.

Register today to secure your spot! www.markdalehospitalfoundation.com

06/15/2026

REMINDER: Tomorrow, June 16th, is the last day to register and receive Early Bird pricing for the 2026 Grey Highlands Gran Fondo!

This year, we're aiming to welcome 300 riders to Grey Highlands on September 12, and we'd love for you to be part of it. Whether you're taking on the 124K, 77K, 53K, or the 26K route, every rider helps support local healthcare through the Markdale Hospital Foundation.

Register by tomorrow to save!

www.greyhighlandsgrandfondo.com

We can't wait to ride with you!

06/03/2026

⛳ SOLD OUT IN 24 HOURS!

We are excited to share that the 7th Annual Markdale Hospital Foundation 18-Hole Golf Tournament sold out in less than 24 hours, before we even had a chance to post about it!

Thank you to everyone who registered and continues to support local healthcare.

If you missed out on tournament registration, there are still a few ways to get involved and support the event:

🔹 4 Feature Hole Sponsorships Available

🔹 Post-Tournament Evening Tee Times Available

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or reserve an evening tee time, contact the Foundation today. https://birdease.com/35850

Thanks to a generous donor, every dollar raised through this year's tournament will be matched, up to $20,000. That means your sponsorship or participation can have twice the impact and help make this our most successful tournament yet.

05/12/2026