Eliminating barriers to health care in Cape Breton-Unama'ki💜
11/27/2025
Even MORE items have been added to our silent auction! Visit festivalofthegreens.ca to view all prizes and bid now. ✨💚
🎄💚 Silent Auction NOW OPEN 💚🎄
Each year for our Festival of the Greens gala, we partner with incredible businesses across our community to host what’s become a highly anticipated silent auction, all in support of health care in Cape Breton.
For the first time ever, we’re opening this auction to our community at large!
The auction closes on Saturday, November 29, at 9:00pm. All winning bidders will be notified via text and email.
Good luck, and thank you for helping to eliminate barriers to health care, right here, at home! 💚
11/26/2025
We are deeply saddened to hear the news of Dan MacDonald’s passing.
Dan was a well-known Cape Bretoner – we’d go as far as saying he was a legend. He was best known for his time as a radio host, his volunteerism and leadership in the local music scene, his vast knowledge of Cape Breton history, and so much more.
What some may not know is that Dan was one of the first-ever hired fundraisers for our Foundation. In the early 80’s, he worked alongside the Ladie’s Auxiliary to host raffles and bingo nights all over Cape Breton Island. These efforts helped our Foundation become the registered charity we are today, and to make the Cape Breton Regional Hospital a reality.
In 2023, Dan had a significant stay in the Intensive Care Unit at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Upon his miraculous recovery, our Foundation was able to purchase a vital piece of equipment that Dan needed to be safely discharged home. A truly full-circle moment.
To show his gratitude, Dan graciously shared his health care story in support of Radio Day 2023, helping to launch our Vital Patient-Care Fund. And, more recently, Dan shared his wealth of knowledge with us as we gathered history to celebrate our 40th anniversary – in September, he was featured in a CBC interview that we will cherish.
We are sending tremendous love to Dan’s wife, Vonnie, his family and friends, and to anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him.
Dan, our dear friend, may you rest in peace.
11/24/2025
🎄💚 Silent Auction NOW OPEN 💚🎄
Each year for our Festival of the Greens gala, we partner with incredible businesses across our community to host what’s become a highly anticipated silent auction, all in support of health care in Cape Breton.
For the first time ever, we’re opening this auction to our community at large!
The auction closes on Saturday, November 29, at 9:00pm. All winning bidders will be notified via text and email.
Good luck, and thank you for helping to eliminate barriers to health care, right here, at home! 💚
11/21/2025
💜 Thank you Prince Street First Choice Haircutters!💜
Recently, the staff and clients at First Choice Haircutters on Prince Street rallied together to raise an incredible $440 for the Tom McNeil Cancer Patient Care Fund, in honour of their colleague, who is a breast cancer survivor.
The Tom McNeil Cancer Patient Care Fund supports up to 100 Cape Breton Cancer Centre patients each month who are experiencing financial burdens as a result of their diagnosis.
THANK YOU to the staff members and clients who contributed to this generous donation to health care, right here at home. 💜
11/20/2025
In loving memory of Nadine Keller-Wadden 💜
Today, we proudly launched the 8th annual Because You Care Gift Catalogue, presented by Colbourne Auto, in loving memory of Nadine Keller-Wadden.
Nadine’s legacy is one of impact, generosity, and caregiving for others in need. She was a champion for good causes, and though she was a dedicated volunteer to many organizations in our community, her late daughter’s legacy ‘Molly’s Mission’ was closest to her heart.
“We can’t change the past, but we can still change someone’s future,” says Jeff Wadden, Nadine’s husband and caretaker of Molly’s Mission. “It’s a privilege to give back and support this community that’s given so much to Nadine and our entire family.”
💜 ✨Impact patients on every floor of the CBRH by shopping the Because You Care Catalogue now at becauseyoucare.ca.
Thanks to our incredible presenting partners at Colbourne Auto (Colbourne Ford and Colbourne Chrysler), the first $20,000 in gifts will be MATCHED, doubling donor impact.
Shop our gift catalogue this holiday season, with Nadine in mind, because you care.
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📸 Pictured here: Paige Westbury, manager of marketing & communications, CBRHF; Grant Colbourne, GM, Colbourne Auto; Jeff Wadden, Nadine’s husband and caretaker of ‘Molly’s Mission;’ Caitlyn MacDonald, manager of philanthropy, CBRHF; Savannah Gillis, Chief Financial Officer, Colbourne Auto; Paula MacNeil, CEO, CBRHF; and Jennifer Swan, Board Member, CBRHF and director of women and children’s health and palliative care services, NSH EZ.
11/19/2025
THANK YOU to Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health!
We are incredibly grateful to be recipients of the Community Grants Program, receiving $80,000 to support women’s health. These funds will directly support:
- Our Family Newborn TLC Fund, which provides financial support for our littlest patients and their families.
- Forget Me Not Packages, a project offering comfort and care items to families experiencing pregnancy loss.
- The Baby Box Program, an initiative that supplies newborn necessities to families in need.
Thank you to Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health and our local Shopper’s Drug Mart’s, for helping us eliminate barriers to health care, right here at home.
📸 Pictured here: Tanya Hawley, Owner, North Sydney Shoppers Drug Mart; Maire Neville, Fund Development Officer, CBRHF; Paula MacNeil, CEO, CBRHF and Terry Higgins, Owner, Sydney River and Prince Street Shoppers Drug Mart locations.
11/14/2025
Last night, we had the pleasure of attending the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce’s ‘Excellence in Business’ awards, celebrating the wonderful businesses in our community. 💜
A highlight of the evening was cheering on several dear friends of our Foundation as they accepted awards for their incredible impact on Cape Breton Island:
⭐ Teal to Heal - Unama'ki Cape Breton - Favourite Community Project in the CBRM
⭐ Shannon Lynch Colbourne of Cape Breton Beverages - Schwartz Family Business Person of the Year
⭐ City Print + - Business of the Year
Thank you to the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce for hosting this wonderful event, and congratulations to all the award recipients and nominees.
📸 Pictured here: Dena Edwards Wadden, Founder of Teal to Heal; Paula MacNeil, CEO, CBRHF; Caitlyn MacDonald, Manager of Philanthropy, CBRHF; and Shannon Lynch Colbourne, CEO, Cape Breton Beverages.
11/13/2025
💜Registration for 'The Art of Living' now open💜
The Cape Breton Cancer Centre is currently seeking participants for ‘The Art of Living’, a Cancer Support Group starting in January. This program is open to anyone affected by cancer and encourages creative self-expression through visual art. All skill levels are welcome, and no artistic experience is necessary.
If you or a loved one would like to participate, please contact 902-567-8551 or cbccsocialwork@nshealth.ca to register.
Cancer support group programs like this are available FREE to participants, thanks to the generosity of our donors. 💜
11/12/2025
💜World Prematurity Day 💜
On November 17, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital NICU will host a joyful gathering for NICU graduates, families, and staff.
This event celebrates strength, hope, and tiny miracles in honour of World Prematurity Day.
All NICU graduates and their families are invited to the CBRH cafeteria to enjoy light refreshments, reconnect with the NICU team, and meet other families who have shared this journey.
We encourage everyone to wear purple to show support for all premature babies.
Donations to the NICU are welcome on-site or online at cbrhfoundation.ca/donate 💜
11/10/2025
Herbie did it - he ran all 276 km of the Cabot Trail, and surpassed his fundraising goal! 👏😮
More to come, we’re all still processing the excitement.
Please join us in offering a hearty CONGRATULATIONS to Herbie! 🏃♂️ 🎉 💜
11/07/2025
Join our Festival of the Greens Silent Auction!🎄
We are excited to share that our annual Festival of the Greens Holiday Gala is approaching, and we are seeking donations for this year’s online silent auction.
Thanks to ongoing donor generosity, Festival of the Greens has raised over $2.7 million for health care on our Island over the past 21 years. 🎁
New this year, our online silent auction will be open to the public. That means anyone can view and make bids on the amazing items donated by businesses in our community.
If you or your business would like to support our fundraising efforts with a donation to the Festival of the Greens online silent auction, please contact stephen.oravecz@nshealth.ca to learn more. 💚
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When you give to a charity, you want to know it will affect the people you care about. The Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation is proud to assure you that 100% of money raised stays in Cape Breton to treat our community.
In 1982, a group of community leaders, led by Cape Bretoner Jack Yazer, developed a vision – that vision was the creation of a health care complex designed to deliver leading edge medical services in Cape Breton – allowing more Cape Bretoners to receive care closer to home.
When construction began in 1990, the Foundation began fundraising. In 1991, they launched a $6M fundraising drive. $3M of that total was committed to hospital construction. $3M was committed to constructing and equipping a Cancer Centre that would offer treatment to those who were receiving care in Halifax.
Today, it’s the second largest acute care facility in Nova Scotia. Since 1991, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation has raised more than $38 million for healthcare in Cape Breton.
The Cape Breton Regional Hospital is the only hospital in Nova Scotia to offer all of the following services under one roof: Operating Rooms, Cardiac Services, Cape Breton Cancer Centre, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Pediatrics Unit, Renal Dialysis Unit, Intensive Care Unit/Coronary Care Unit, Palliative Care Unit, & Mental Health and Addiction Services
As the major referral Centre for Cape Breton, the Regional Hospital treats more than 100,000 patients each year, providing acute and trauma care, emergency services, clinical services, and surgery. Because of our donors, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation has been able to fund many important medical projects.
The Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation also holds multiple funds that are 100% donor funded, including: the Pediatrics TLC Fund, the Mom & Baby TLC Fund and the Cancer Patient Care Fund, Caleb’s Courage, etc.. These funds help patients and their families in times of need. Illness can be a financial burden for many of our patients at the Regional Hospital, and these funds help to alleviate some of the financial stress.
The Cape Breton Regional Hospital employs more than 1,800 health care providers who work with 270 hospital and community-based physicians.
The Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation is proud to say that every single dollar raised here in Cape Breton stays in Cape Breton. The Regional Hospital was built after much community fundraising. Today, after more than 30 years of giving, this spirit of charity continues and donors fund priority healthcare needs for Cape Bretoners.
