 The Buhlers were especially grateful to the incredible care they received from Dr. Mathen and Dr. Bellan over the years. Bonnie and John Buhler’s journey with and support of Misericordia Health Centre (MHC) dates back decades. Bonnie’s parents received eye care at the centre. After hearing an appeal from her father’s doctor about the need to expand the ophthalmology clinic and hire more specialists, the Buhlers became donors.
They helped fund the redevelopment of MHC’s ophthalmology clinics nearly two decades ago and recently made a generous gift of $1.5 million to the Eye Care Centre of Excellence. “I can’t imagine what it would be like to be without your eyesight,” Bonnie says. Several years ago, Bonnie, experiencing spots in her vision, visited the urgent eye clinic at Misericordia. She required laser surgery. “It was a long weekend, and the doctor’s shift had just ended, but he put his things down and took care of myself and another gentleman.” Going above and beyond is part of MHC’s reputation. MHC’s Eye Care Centre of Excellence is the largest eye care centre in Western Canada, treating over 40,000 patients annually in its specialty eye clinics and performing 15,000 eye surgeries every year. “As Johnny aged with macular degeneration, his world became really small because he was losing his sight, and it made it a lot harder,” Bonnie shares. “When Johnny had cataract surgery, Dr. van der Zweep did it. They let me stay with him because he had dementia, but they were just [as] caring of me as [for] him. It was amazing. They really went out of their way to make sure that he was well taken care of.” The Buhler’s latest gift, made before John’s passing, in late 2023, will continue their legacy of caring by helping to acquire two crucial specialized pieces of equipment for the eye care centre. The first is highly efficient retinal imaging equipment, which enables faster and more accessible assessments for patients. The second is a surgical microscope that will help with a variety of procedures, including retinal surgeries, corneal transplants, and cataract and glaucoma surgeries. Dr. John van der Zweep, head of ophthalmology, emphasizes the incredible scope of the Buhlers’ investment: “The entire team at the Eye Care Centre of Excellence is extremely grateful to the Buhlers for their extraordinary investments in innovation. Thanks to their generosity, our clinics are equipped with cutting-edge technology that enables the timely diagnosis and treatment of eye disease. Their support is quite literally saving sight and restoring vision every single day.” “I can’t say enough good things about the people at the health centre – the doctors, the staff, everybody,” Bonnie reiterates. “So many people that have told us that they’ve gone to the eye care centre, and there’s been nothing but praise for all of the doctors and the care they’ve received.” “John and Bonnie’s profound philanthropic commitment to Manitoba cannot be overstated. Misericordia Health Centre Foundation is deeply grateful and humbled for their years of unwavering support and heartfelt friendship. Because of their generosity, MHC is immeasurably stronger,” says Kris Gladwell, President & CEO of MHC Foundation. To see the full announcement in The Winnipeg Free Press by writer Kristin Marand, please click here.
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 MHCF President & CEO, Kris Gladwell (left), and MHCF Board Chair, Tracey Code (right) As we welcome 2025, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you. Your incredible generosity has played an essential role in supporting Misericordia Health Centre (MHC) as they focus on providing unique and highly specialized care for all Manitobans as we build a healthier future for our community.
The future of care at MHC is bright! Looking ahead, the needs of MHC’s patients and their families remain as critical as ever, and we are excited about the opportunities to further our impact on health care together. With your continued support, we are confident that we can make great strides in supporting those who need it most. Seeing is believing! It was an honour to be with so many of you last year at our signature MHCF events. Hearing firsthand how connected we all are to MHC is truly inspiring and I look forward to seeing you all again this year! Please mark your calendars – the Misericordia Golf Classic is teed up for June 12 at Breezy Bend Country Club, InVision is set for October 23 at RBC Convention Centre, and Angel Squad will kick off once again on Giving Tuesday, December 2 – right here at MHC! Together, we are transforming lives today and building a healthier tomorrow. We are excited to continue this journey with you by our side, and we look forward to sharing more updates on the profound impact of your giving in the year ahead. Thank you for being such an integral part of our mission. Wishing you a happy and healthy year! Kris  Therapeutic Recreation is designed to bring about emotional, social and physical or other positive changes in individuals with limitations. Misericordia Health Centre’s Recreation team works hard on a daily basis to help individuals increase their independence and develop skills for an improved quality of life.
At Misericordia Place, Recreation provides a plethora of benefits for our long-term care residents. While there are activities scheduled daily, every Friday afternoon an entertainer comes in and performs on each unit for 45 minutes. Residents truly enjoy this, with most of them calling it the highlight of their Fridays. MHC Foundation donors help to make all these feelings of wellbeing possible through your donations to our Recreation programming. Thanks to your ongoing support, we are able to provide the Recreation team with consistent funding for their programs – from a yoga instructor to musicians, art supplies, and even therapy animal visits – you truly make a tremendous impact on the lives of our residents and patients. Thank you! Music tends to be at the heart of everything, though. Shennyn Colorado, Recreation Facilitator says: “I have a Resident on my unit who only accepts invites to recreation programs – art or puzzles, etc. – if there will be music playing! She often comes to programs and sits near the speaker to listen to music while observing the others participate in physical programs or do art. Eventually, she joins the programs and actively participates.” To continue to support this valuable programming, please click here. Additionally, if you would like to volunteer your time, please feel free to reach out to us!  It was never going to be an easy decision, but it was one that had to be made. And so the Martiniuk family set out with the ultimate care and consideration to find their Mom a long-term care facility. Daughters Andrea, Jan, and Carol found what they were looking for in Misericordia Place – a faith-based facility, private rooms, and close proximity to their family. They found even more than that though – they found their Mom, Doris a home.
For seven years, Doris Martiniuk called Misericordia Place her home. On more than a few occasions, when the family showed up to visit with their Mom, she wouldn’t be in her room... more often than not, she was out and about partaking in all of the activities organized by Misericordia Place’s recreation team! Her social calendar was full with painting, exercising, baking, flower-making, and enjoying pet visitors, to name only a few things. The family marveled at the sight of residents, some of whom had tendencies to be withdrawn, coming out of their shells with these activities that were so central to their wellbeing. But it was music – always the music – that drew their Mom out. From fantastic concerts held in the multipurpose room, to Sunday evening jazz hours, to the Christmas parties with all the requisite caroling, it was all right up her alley – Doris was a true songbird. “Any facility can feed the body, can care for the person, can even engage the mind – but what recreation and music programming does is feed their soul. The correlation between music at an organization like Misericordia Place, that leans into its’ faith-based values, and feeding the soul was just so synergistic. We felt it – she felt it,” says Jan. Ironically, one of the family’s most special set of memories was during the COVID-19 pandemic. “While we couldn’t have physical access to our Mom, the staff were so incredible at ensuring we connected virtually as often as possible. We were amazed to see her glowing – and literally singing – during our regular Facetimes! She truly connected with the staff and they took such good care of her. They went out of their way to make everyone comfortable,” Carol reminisced. “When restrictions lifted, we were so happy to see how great our Mom looked – everyone at Misericordia Place looked great!” That time period, and their mother’s wellbeing, was especially important to the family as they sadly lost her in December 2021. In their grief, they turned their attention to her legacy and the Doris Martiniuk Music Endowment Fund was created. This endowment fund – the first of its kind at Misericordia Health Centre – is solely designated to support musical programming through Misericordia’s recreation team, ensuring a sustainable source of revenue for this program in perpetuity. Donations to the Doris Martiniuk Music Endowment Fund can be made online by clicking here. It was 40 years ago that MHC Foundation was established to support the Misericordia Sisters’ vision – giving our philanthropic community the opportunity to invest in the unique and specialized care that all Manitobans deserve – and that only MHC can offer them.
The Future of Care at MHC is bright! Your generosity has brought innovative technology, comforting supports, and much-needed hope to patients, residents, and all those who walk through Misericordia’s doors. From Pediatric Dentistry to Long-Term Care to the Eye Care Centre of Excellence – you have strengthened MHC’s ability to provide innovative and compassionate care for all Manitobans. The generosity we’ve seen from so many of you over these years is truly remarkable – thank you. Seeing is believing! As it is every year, it was so wonderful to see so many of you at our signature MHC events last year, and I look forward to seeing you all again this year! Mark your calendars – the Misericordia Golf Classic is set for June 13 at Breezy Bend Country Club, InVision is set for October 16 at the RBC Convention Centre and Angel Squad will kick off the holiday season on Giving Tuesday, December 3 – right here at MHC! As you continue on this journey with us, you’ll see firsthand through MHC Moments how we are all connected – the stories and successes we share are a true testament to your generosity. Let’s stay connected – please make sure you are our friends on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter! Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2024! Kris |
