Four-time Olympic gold medallist and seven-time hockey World Champion Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser is the special guest for this year's South Huron Hospital Foundation Gala at the South Huron Rec Centre on Friday, June 6. Photo by Dave Holland

EXETER – Four-time Olympic gold medallist Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser will star as the special guest at this year’s South Huron Hospital Foundation Gala.

The 16th annual event, which serves as a fundraiser for the hospital, will take place on the evening of Friday, June 6, at the South Huron Rec Centre.

Foundation executive director Krista McCann said retired hockey icon Wickenheiser was chosen after foundation members heard her speak in London at the St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation Tribute Dinner.

Now an emergency room physician, as well as an assistant general manager with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Wickenheiser helped copyright win seven hockey World Championships. When foundation members heard Wickenheiser talk, McCann said they were impressed with how she compared the pressures of a hockey game with being in an emergency room for her first shift in the hospital, as well as the importance of teamwork.

“I just thought that it was really great messaging about what it takes to be a physician and what it takes to treat patients,” McCann said. “Really great messages about the importance of hospitals, about physicians, about health care in Ontario. We loved the things that she had to share, great hockey stories, great health-care stories, and we think that she’ll connect really well with South Huron and South Huron Hospital.”

McCann said the foundation will make a surprise announcement at this year’s gala that she described as “the biggest project in foundation history.”

“It will be an exciting evening for this community,” she said.

The gala remains a popular yearly event the community looks forward to, and McCann said the foundation sent out a survey last year asking supporters for feedback on what they could do to make the evening better.

“The resounding message that we got was, ‘Don’t change a thing,’” she said. “It just seems to be an event that brings a lot of people together and brings the businesses of our area together, and they just seem to enjoy it for the entertainment factor, but I think they leave feeling inspired by what this community does to take care of each other.”

The Gala typically has attendance of about 700 and last year generated $585,000 in revenue for hospital needs, which was an all-time high. Last year’s guests were the husband and wife comedy duo of Colin Mochrie and Debra McGrath. Other past special guests have included Rick Mercer, Chris Hadfield, Jann Arden, Peter Mansbridge and Simpson’s writer and producer Tim Long, who grew up in Exeter.

Hensall-raised comedian Nic Bayley will once again serve as the evening’s emcee.

Tickets will be available by Feb. 21 by visiting www.Shhf.On.Ca, by emailing [email protected] or by phoning 519-235-2700, ext. 5133.

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