03/25/2026
There are so many incredible supporters of the Hospital and Manor in our community. We are proud to be able to share Ryan's story.
"I was born and raised in Almonte, and no matter where life has taken me, it remains the place that grounds me. My parents still live in town, as do my brother and his family, and even though my wife Leila and I now live in Ottawa, Almonte continues to shape who we are and how we see the world. It is a place where people know one another, look out for one another, and show up when it matters most. That is what drew me back when I began looking for ways to reconnect with the fabric of the community I love.
Thanks to a nudge from a friend, I joined the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor Foundation Board. The more I learned about how the hospital operates—how it is funded, the role it plays in people’s lives, and the sheer scale of its impact—the easier it became to make AGH FVM the focus of our charitable giving. This is not just a hospital. It stands at the heart of the community that will always feel like home.
AGH has been part of my family’s story for as long as I can remember. From the cast on my arm in Grade 1, to the stitches in my little brother’s forehead after I may have caused a collision with a piece of furniture, AGH was always where we turned. Later, it became the place where my grandfather spent his final days, surrounded by compassionate and skilled staff who treated him, and us, with dignity and kindness. And most recently, it is where my father continues to receive thoughtful, attentive care from his physician, Dr. Karen Turcotte, as he navigates changes in his health. Would we prefer he spent less time there lately? Of course. But every visit has reinforced one thing: at AGH, people come first.
That commitment was especially clear during the CT Scan fundraising campaign, which I witnessed up close as a Board member. In larger centers, advanced imaging is taken for granted. In a small community like Almonte, having a CT scanner on-site is transformative. It means faster diagnoses, improved outcomes in emergencies, and fewer stressful trips into the city. Most importantly, it means giving the incredible physicians, nurses, and staff the tools they need to deliver the high-quality care for which they are known.
When I describe the AGH FVM to others, I always say the same thing: it is a small hospital doing big things. Despite the complexity of Ontario’s healthcare system, the heart of AGH remains simple and unwavering—the patient, the person, the neighbour always comes first. Your doctor is someone you grew up with. Your nurse is a familiar face from down the street.
That is why Leila and I continue to give. AGHFVM represents everything that makes Almonte special: compassion, connection, and community. It is where families go in moments of joy, uncertainty, and vulnerability. It is where neighbours care for neighbours. It is where the values I grew up with—resilience, kindness, showing up for one another—are lived out every day.
Supporting the Hospital and the Manor is not just philanthropy for us. It is an act of gratitude and a way of honouring the place that shaped me, the people who cared for my loved ones, and the community that continues to anchor our family. And it is our hope that by giving, we can help ensure that the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor remains strong for generations of families, just like the generations of mine who have depended on it during life’s most important moments."
Do you have a story to share? Please contact Cheryl Moore at chmoore@mrha.ca,
