A Banner Year for the Bring a Doctor Home Hockey Tournament and Bursary

From January 21-26, 2013, the Essar Steel Algoma Bring a Doctor Home Hockey Tournament took place at the John Rhodes Arena in Sault Ste. Marie. Every year, volunteer players raise funds for the Bring a Doctor Home Student Bursary, which provides financial support to eligible medical students with ties to the community of Sault Ste. Marie and area studying at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM).

At a volunteer recognition event on January 24, Tournament Director, Hal Mogg, and NOSM’s Advancement Manager Gail Brescia unveiled hockey “banners” or pennants featuring the annual fundraising successes and the growing support of the Bring a Doctor Home Hockey Tournament since 2006. Mogg then presented Dr. David Marsh, NOSM’s Associate Dean of Community Engagement and Senior Associate Dean at NOSM’s East Campus, with a cheque for $24,241. This brings the total raised by the tournament to $121,713, and with the Ontario Trust for Student Support (OTSS), the value of this endowed bursary is $210,650.

“For many, this tournament is more than playing a bit of hockey,” explained tournament Financial Director and Treasurer, Brent Lamming. “We have the opportunity to showcase our community and encourage our youth to choose medicine as a future career.”

“The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is humbled by the tremendous amount of support shown to our medical students by the organizers and participants of the Essar Steel Algoma Bring a Doctor Home Hockey Tournament,” said Dr. David Marsh. “On behalf of NOSM, I extend a congratulations to all involved on a banner year of raising funds for the Bring a Doctor Home Student Bursary, and for their commitment to supporting learners from the North who wish to pursue medical education in the North.”