Hospital rally draws huge crowd despite bad weather

By Shannon Quesnel

About 150 people, and hundreds of drivers, hollered and honked today in support of the Penticton Regional Hospital's patient care tower.

Doctors, nurses, citizens and politicians formed a rally in front of the hospital. Everyone waved their hands and signs on both sides of the Government Street and Carmi Avenue intersection.

Drivers tooted their horns. A passing ambulance fired up its siren. The weather was cold, sleet was falling and most were dressed for warmth. A few wore pieces of medical equipment to help enforce the image of an ailing medical facility. Free hot coffee was handed out.

This rally is the second event arranged by the Penticton Medical Society. Doctors such as society chair Dr. David Paisley, want a new $300-million expansion to modernize the aging hospital. The doctors want to make enough noise to force the province to pay its share of the proposed patient care tower.

This story will be updated.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065.