Story Posted: 2024-10-21
Proactive Philanthropy: Terry and Denis Sirois
From the Fall 2024 Spirit Newsletter
For Terry and Denis Sirois, connections to St. Paul’s Hospital have been lifelong.
Both of them were born at the Hospital, as were each of their four children.
“Everyone is treated the same, with kindness and understanding. St. Paul’s Hospital staff have always been very welcoming,” says Terry, who has supported family members admitted to the Hospital in recent years. “That sticks out,” adds Denis, “Because whenever you talk about health care in Saskatoon, you hear that if you go to St. Paul’s you’re treated well, and you’re treated with respect. That’s important.”
The couple have long supported the Hospital and Hospice at Glengarda through St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation, giving generously to a number of initiatives including the Close to Home Campaign for Hospice and End-of-Life Care in addition to their extensive volunteer work and philanthropy in other areas of need. “We like to give back,” Terry explains. “We feel blessed, and we want to give back.”
Terry and Denis are continuing their philanthropic support for health care with a recent gift to SPH Foundation of over $150,000 for the By Your Side Kidney Care Campaign. “We were thrilled to hear about this project, and happy to support it,” Terry says. “It’s a project that is going to be beneficial to the entire province. It’s good, it’s proactive, and it will change the way we look at health care.”
The proactive nature of the Campaign was what drew the couple to the project, particularly the Early Screening Program that is being piloted in partnership with communities who are at higher risk for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). They saw the numbers, and knew that something needed to be done. Over 10% of Saskatchewan’s population lives with CKD, while the number of people in Saskatoon and the North who require dialysis to live has increased almost 50% in the past 10 years. Terry and Denis embraced the opportunity to empower individuals to improve, manage, and advocate for their own health, especially if the program could help combat the incredible toll that late-stage CKD can have on individuals’ quality of life. “We supported this,” Denis says, “because there’s no reason not to. It’s just that compelling.”
“I’m hoping it makes a difference in people’s lives,” Terry says; “This plan is truly innovative. We can’t keep doing things the same old way and expect outcomes to change. This Campaign will change outcomes.”
Make your By Your Side donation today at ByYourSideSask.ca or call us for more information at 306-655-5821.