Community Matters, published in the Richmond News, highlights a donor, volunteer or organization that understands the importance of healthcare to the residents of Richmond, or who have received great care – either at Richmond Hospital or from one of VCH Richmond’s community-based teams, programs, services or residential care facilities.

November’s Community Matters is featured below, reprinted from the November 18, 2014 edition of the Richmond News.

Longtime community donor champions local healthcare at Richmond Hospital

Quietly and in his own way, Colin McMillan is a champion of local health care. A loyal donor to Richmond Hospital Foundation for more than 20 years, he represents many of the community of supporters who have benefited from the care at Richmond Hospital and has chosen to invest in local health care to improve it for everyone.

For Colin, it’s personal, and he says he is grateful for the care both he and his late wife, Eleanor, received at Richmond Hospital over the years.

“I’m a prostate cancer survivor. If the surgery hadn’t been done at Richmond Hospital, I wouldn’t be here,” he says. “In 2009, Eleanor became ill with cancer and was in and out of Richmond Hospital for about six months. When she needed some special care, we spent time in the Palliative Care Unit off and on before she passed away on New Year’s Eve. It was nice that she was nearby. The hospital is a little over five minutes away. It wouldn’t have been the same if I had to go to a hospital outside of Richmond even though I often stayed with her overnight.”

Born in Vancouver in 1932, Colin began his career with his father working in various sawmills up north, joining the army and then becoming a civil servant. In 1957 he married Eleanor, eventually deciding to study at UBC to become a teacher.

More people; more care

Over time, Colin says he has witnessed the growth of Richmond and seen major improvements in local health care, including the building of Richmond Hospital in 1965.

Colin’s commitment has been unwavering over the years. “When Richmond Hospital needed donations for the emergency department or medical imaging, I thought, ‘here’s something we all could benefit from’ and I gave.”

More recently, he notes how changes at Richmond Hospital are having a beneficial impact on patient care.

“The recent renovations give you a great feeling. The welcome mat is right there! You arrive and there’s someone there to take care of you.

My hospital; my community

“A few times I have gone to the hospital for an emergency. The doctors and nurses have always been so attentive; so concerned. And they always try to make you as comfortable as possible. They really have taken care of me.

“This is our hospital. At some point, everyone will need the care and services of the hospital for some reason. To keep the facilities and equipment up-to-date takes money. I realize now—but I didn’t always—a lot of the new equipment is paid for by donors. The government can only do so much. The rest of us have to be willing to kick-in to help support the hospital.

“For myself, it may not be big amounts, but we should give whatever we can. All of these amounts add up. I know there are a lot of people who live paycheque-to-paycheque. Fortunately, we also have a lot of people in Richmond who can spare some money to invest in our hospital. It really all does add up. And it means something better will happen at the hospital for all of us.”