Warner cares

Warner Rentals in Kamloops, B.C., has had the respiratory department of a new wing at the Royal Inland Hospital named after it following a $500,000 donation. The gift was part of a larger fundraising drive by the hospital’s foundation that gathered $37 million from B.C. businesses. The donations went to state-of-the-art equipment for the expanded hospital, which serves as the trauma centre for a large area of north-central B.C.

Level 2 of the Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Tower contains the Warner Rentals Respiratory Services Unit which includes pulmonary function laboratories, acute care and a state-of-the-art bronchoscopy suite. This area also contains three recovery bays, one of which can be converted into a negative pressure room when needed. For respirologists and respiratory therapists, having all of the respiratory services in one place is truly fantastic as it greatly improves efficiency when treating patients.

“It’s nice having our department moved into the Phil and Jennie Gaglardi Tower as it is a brand new space for all of our staff to enjoy. With us all being together, we can provide better continuity of care for our patients and feel more connected as a team,” said Samantha, one of the respiratory therapists working in the unit.

Warner owner, Ralph Warner, is on the cabinet of the foundation and saw the need for the community to step up to help update the aging hospital. “At some point, everyone is going to go through the hospital,” Warner explained. “It’s important to have the latest and greatest care. We’ve had great success as a company and really grown and flourished and now it’s time to give back. We’ve always taken great pride in being good corporate citizens.”

The big donation is only the start of an ongoing commitment to community support by Warner. The company has also launched #warnercares, a program that lends equipment to worthy community causes across the B.C. interior. Each of Warner’s three stores will have a skid steer loader branded for a particular charity. Ten percent of all rentals of the loader will be donated to the charity. Warner says he expects to generate up to $250,0o0 in donations per year. “We are very proud of this program,” Warner said. “It was developed in consultation between the ownership group and staff to give back to the communities we are proud to be from and so very grateful to be in.”