FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation

Surrey Fire Fighters Charities Pledge $500,000 to new ER expansion

September 5, 2006

The Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society has committed $500,000 to Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation in support of the development of a new state-of-the-art hospital Emergency Centre.

In recognition, a section of the new Emergency Centre will be named the Surrey Firefighters Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Response Unit. The area will provide much-needed assessment, stabilization, and initial treatment facilities. Its design will include a secure waiting area, seclusion rooms with video monitoring, consultation rooms with viewing vestibules, and a room for medical examinations.

“A lot of the calls that require our help are as a result of people with mental health and addictions issues,” says Terry Hunt, the Surrey Firefighters Charitable Society Vice President. “We know from experience this type of facility is needed.”

As chair of the Surrey Mental Health Advisory Committee, Andrew Kellett agrees.  For years, Kellett has lived with bi-polar disorder. “I think it’s terrific what the firefighters are doing for mental health. This donation will benefit many people.”

June 21st, 2000

$1,000,000.00 Pledge

The Surrey and Delta Firefighters Pledged $1,000,000.00 to the New Children's Health Center at Surrey Memorial in June of 1996. We are pleased and proud to announce that we have full-filled our pledge of One Million Dollars within 4 years .

For More Information Contact:

Surrey Firefighters Association IAFF Local 1271
8767 132nd St. Surrey BC V3W 4P1
Tel: 604-574-5785
FAX: 604-574-2338
Internet: postmaster@surreyfirefighters.com