The dance floor was a popular spot at an Indo-Canadian fundraiser for the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation’s campaign to provide medical equipment for the Penticton Regional Hospital expansion.

Image Credit: South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation

It was my first experience at Indo-style dancing.  Fortunately, I had a good instructor.

Preet Dhaliwal, a nurse at Penticton Regional Hospital, was one of the organizers of a recent dinner/dance fundraiser for PRH hosted by the South Okanagan’s Indo-Canadian community.

More than 200 people turned out to the South Main Drop-In Centre in Penticton – and many flocked to the dance floor. After a moment’s hesitation, my wife and I joined them.

“Light bulbs!” Preet enthused as she raised her hands into the air. “Just give them a twist.”

Suddenly I got it.  One arm goes up, an imaginary light bulb gets twisted.  The other arm shoots up and another light bulb is secure – all in time with the solid beat of Indo music generating on the dance floor. 

I won’t mention that I failed miserably at the “lawn mower start” and “pipe climbing” movements, but no one seemed to mind.  They were much too busy having fun!

The event raised more than $13,000 – part of the Indo-Canadian community’s goal to donate $500,000 to the South Okanagan Similkameen (SOS) Medical Foundation’s $20-million campaign to provide the medical equipment in the new PRH patient care tower.

Already, more than $350,000 in donations and pledges has been raised.  Organizers say they’re confident of reaching and perhaps exceeding their half-million dollar goal from hundreds of Indo-Canadian donors throughout the Valley. 

Carey Bornn, executive-director for the SOS Medical Foundation expressed sincere thanks to everyone involved for their fantastic support.

“It’s incredible how the Indo-Canadian community has responded so positively to our campaign,” he said. “It speaks so well to their generosity and support for our regional hospital.”

Construction of the $312.5-million PRH expansion is now well underway. The new six-storey tower should be ready for patients by early 2019. Work will then begin on a major expansion of the Emergency Department to almost four times its current size.

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