Kerry McCluskey
Northern News Services

IQALUIT (May 11/98) - Baffin Regional Hospital got a little something extra from Cominco mines last week.

According to Nancy Sevenhuysen, the hospital's patient-care supervisor, the hospital received an $8,000 donation from Cominco.

"They flew down to make the donation and it's money earmarked specifically for pediatrics," said Sevenhuysen.

She said the hospital plans to purchase a non-invasive blood-pressure machine and an oxygen-saturation monitor with the funds.

"This is a yearly donation and usually Stanton (Regional Hospital) gets it but because of division, (Cominco) is on our side," said Sevenhuysen.

Joe Nicholson, president of the Polaris mine High Arctic Club -- the employees' social association -- said that as an Eastern Arctic company, they felt it made more sense for the dollars to stay in the East.

"We're part of Nunavut and we feel that's where the money is best suited. Yellowknife already has a nice hospital and the money will have more use here than there," said Nicholson.

The 250 Cominco employees raised the money by holding raffles for prizes.

"We have fun and raise money for any causes that we feel are good. We're up in the middle of nowhere and we're still thinking about the people down here," he added.

Planning for next year's raffle will begin over the next couple of months. "The tickets are just sold on the island and it's just the people up there putting money in," Nicholson said.

"Over the last eight to 10 years, we've raised about $80,000 for Stanton. If we can raise about eight to 10 thousand a year, it'll really help out."

The company matches whatever the employees' association raises. This year, the proceeds of the raffle were $4,000, according to Bill Thorp, superintendent of personnel and administration at Cominco.

"It made sense to direct our energies to the east. We've had a great tour here today and we're delighted with what the folks are doing with what they've got and we're happy to keep supporting it," he said.