A former patient has gone the distance to make Canada Day special for patients receiving care at Grand River Hospital as well as their families
Diane Bonfonte and the Flag Wavers of Waterloo Region have provided hundreds of hand-held Canadian flags and pins to be handed out to GRH patients on Canada’s 151st birthday.
For Diane, the idea started during her stay in the hospital on Canada Day in 2005.
“A few days earlier, I went to Grand River’s emergency department because I woke up and could not move my right side. I was admitted and diagnosed later that day with multiple sclerosis,” she explains.
“I remained in hospital to recover my movement. For Canada Day, my friends brought flags and treats that we shared with patients and staff. I’ll never forgot how staff and other patients were so appreciative to celebrate Canada Day… they did not feel left out by being in hospital.”
Over the years, Diane has unofficially brought flags to the unit on which she received care. Working with other like-minded Canadians, she helped organize a massive distribution of flags and pins on Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. Diane was recognized with a CANADA 150 award for three decades of efforts in supporting Canada Day community groups.
“I always get a kick out of seeing Canada flags in the hospital,” she adds. “In November 2016 for example, I saw a staff member pushing a cleaning cart with a flag attached. I commented to her about it and she just beamed to have it on her cart. She an immigrant and likes to show her love of Canada!”
Thank you to Diane and the Flag Wavers of Waterloo Region for their extra effort in making Canada Day special for the GRH community.
See more in the Flag Wavers of Waterloo Region's documentary on Youtube: Let's Celebrate Canada's Flag (opens in a new window).