NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE Medicine Hat's Ronald McDonald House is expected to open officially in March next year. Most of the work still to be completed is in inside.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade
Work on Medicine Hat’s Ronald McDonald House has reached the final stages and there will be a special event on site Dec. 12.
At 6 p.m. that evening the Christmas lights on the exterior of the home, near the intersection of Fourth Street SW and Sixth Avenue, will be illuminated. The public is welcome to attend.
“They’ll be serving hot chocolate. It’s a way to celebrate. It’s not open (the house) yet but it is coming,” said Suzanne Pescod, director of marketing and communications Ronald McDonald House Charities Alberta.
Related:Dunmore Christmas light display to support RMH
The official opening of Ronald McDonald House is expected to take place some time in March 2020. Pescod says the electrical work took a little longer than expected accounting for the delay.
Most of the outdoor work on the building is complete and the focus is now on the interior. There was a tremendous response from the community with many sponsors picking up the tab for furnishing and decorating every single room in the house, about 19, including the laundry, said Pescod.
“(The response) been incredible,” said Pescod. “It’s incredible that these spaces were covered before the doors are even open. It just blows us all away.”
One room in the house is called the “magic room.” It is a place where children staying there can go and choose a gift for themselves but it goes way beyond that to make it a magical and memorable experience.
“It is a special experience for every child … It could be their first day staying at the house, the day they finished medical treatment, it could be they’ve had a difficult day,” said Pescod.
Each Ronald McDonald House across the province has a uniquely themed “magic room.” The theme for Medicine Hat has yet to be officially revealed but someone has been appointed to come up with an unforgettable design and experience.
The local Ronald McDonald House was created from an older home that was purchased to create a “new” 4,100 square-foot home that will be for those with sick children receiving medical care at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.
There are six private family suites, a communal kitchen, utility area, laundry room and games room. It will be accommodation for those coming to Medicine Hat for medical treatment or day services for families already living in the Hat.
Ronald McDonald House was made possible thanks to a donation of $800,000 from the Yuill Family Foundation to cover construction costs. An event announcing this took place in early April this year.
Medicine Hat’s Ronald McDonald House is the fourth to be built in Alberta after Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer.
Many volunteers will help with the day-to-day running of the house and the response from the community in this regard has been tremendous, said Pescod. There is also a local fundraising employee and a general manager for the house is still to be hired.
