A southern Alberta family has provided a boost to the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation. The Heinen family, Fern and Roelof, along with their son Mark, have donated $100,000 to the Bringing Hearts Home Cardiac Campaign.
The initiative is raising funds to improve cardiac care in the region, including through the construction of a new cardiac care centre at Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge.
The Heinen’s are longtime business owners in southern Alberta, having established their first Home Hardware Building Centre in Picture Butte in 1987. Since then, the business has grown to serve Coaldale, Nanton, and Taber.
Additionally, Roelof Heinen served on the CRH Foundation’s board of trustees from 2006 to 2012. In 2021, he was named the Citizen of the Year by the Picture Butte and District Chamber of Commerce.
“Like many families, ours has been touched by heart disease,” said Fern Heinen.
“We know how important it is to have timely access to care. Supporting this campaign is about ensuring that families across southern Alberta can receive that care close to home, when it matters most.”
Crystal Elliott, the CEO of the CRH Foundation, said the Heinen family “represents the very best of community leadership”.
“Roelof’s past service to the Foundation, combined with their continued generosity, speaks to a deep and enduring commitment to this region. Their support will help ensure our communities are ready to benefit from the significant advancements in cardiac care now being realized,” Elliott stated.
The goal of the cardiac campaign is to raise $30 million.
So far, over $26 million has been raised through community donations, fundraising events and a government investment of $445 million to expand services across southern Alberta.
“For patients experiencing cardiac events, minutes matter,” said Dr. Sayeh Zielke, Chair of the Southern Alberta Cardiac Sciences Advisory Cabinet. “This investment, combined with community support, will significantly improve access to timely, high-quality cardiac care closer to home. Leadership from families like the Heinens is helping make that possible.”
More about the Bringing Hearts Home Cardiac Campaign is available on the CRH Foundation website.
