About the Foundation
RURAL HEALTHCARE SCHOLARSHIPS
Chesley Hospital Foundation – Rural Healthcare Student Scholarship
The Chesley Hospital Foundation strives to support outstanding healthcare in our community today, and by looking towards future needs. The Rural Healthcare Student Scholarship was created to encourage students to consider a career in healthcare and will provide two $500 awards annually to support tuition costs.
Eligibility
- The applicant must have been accepted to an accredited college or university in Canada
- The applicant must be pursuing education in a healthcare related field
- The applicant must be a resident of Bruce or Grey counties with preference for the communities surrounding the Chesley Hospital
Application
If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please submit a 1–2-page application that includes your personal contact information, as well as your current high school and the accepted college/university you will be attending. Please also include the name of your program, the degree type and total length of studies.
Your application should include why you have chosen a career in healthcare and provide examples of how you feel rural healthcare differs from that of an urban centre in no less than one paragraph and no more than 1.5 pages.
Scholarship Conditions
Applications accepted starting April 1st, 2023 and may be submitted by mail or email or in-person at our office until May 31st , 2023, 8pm EST.
Contact Us
For more information, contact us at chesleyhf@sbghc.on.ca or by phone at 519-363-2340 x 3140. Our office is located inside the Chesley Hospital at 39 2nd St SE, Chesley, Ontario.
Chesley Hospital
The Chesley and District Memorial Hospital was originally opened in 1944 in the Elliot House, which had been purchased by the Chesley Kinsmen Club for $3,800 and donated to the Town. The Hospital was created to replace the Buckland Private Hospital, which had been forced to close in 1943 due to the wartime shortage of professional and domestic staff. The Town of Chesley appointed a provisional Board and an architect was engaged to design the necessary alterations to the Elliot House.
In June 1944, a public meeting resulted in the establishment of a Board of Governors; a charter was applied for and received in September 1944. The Board, in December 1944, instructed an architect to prepare plans for a 22 bed replacement facility. Construction began in April 1948 and the first annual Board meeting convened in March 1950.
On April 15, 1976, the Hospital was officially closed by order of the government of the day, which had embarked on a program of health care spending reductions. Due to the public outcry, which had continued since the announced closures in November 1975, the government reversed its stand on hospital closures throughout the Province of Ontario.
In 1980, the Board of Governors commenced proceedings to replace the existing facility and after obtaining approval from the Ministry of Health and extensive fundraising, the sod turning ceremony occurred on October 6, 1982 and the existing bed facility was officially opened October 12, 1983.
OUR Foundation
In 1994, what is now known as the Chesley Hospital Foundation was created to receive and maintain funds for the benefit of the Chesley Hospital.