Our gratitude to Sandra Schmirler Foundation

This Friday, January 23rd, is the start of the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Canadian Women’s Curling Championship in Mississauga, Ontario.

We will be tuning in to TSN not just for the love of curling but also for the love of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation who hosts a very special telethon on the first Sunday of the Scotties. Through this Foundation, our community received a PANDA Warmer for our hospital's Emergency Department. A Panda Warmer is used in all births to immediately warm an infant and allows medical teams to assess and provide care for newborns including an integrated resuscitation system for high-risk situations. Having this equipment in the ER is critical for the safety of the child particularly when births happen unexpectantly fast, providing peace of mind for families and caregivers.

This year is especially meaningful for the Sandra Schmirler Foundation as they celebrate their 25th birthday.

We are thrilled to share a short video showcasing some of the Comox Valley Curling Club's best, our Co-Executive Director Rhonda Stevens offering gratitude, and Tanya Del Bianco from the Comox Valley Hospital explaining the importance of this equipment for our Emergency Department.

You can help honour Sandra Schmirler's legacy by sharing our video on social media. Let's show the world Comox Valley's gratitude, how much we value our tiniest people, and how important it is for babies to have the healthiest first moments of life.

Their Telethon will take place on Sunday, January 25, with phone lines open from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm ET at 1-866-210-6011.