To those who are homebound at St. Ann’s, getting out and about means more than you can know. Close to 90% of residents are in wheelchairs. Because of Joe Remai and the Joseph Alfred Remai Family Foundation, St. Ann’s residents will be able to use a new Handi Bus to go on those excursions they love so dearly. They can go and visit the greenhouses in spring. Or go on a trip to see the changing of leaves into beautiful fall colours. Or, in winter, they can travel to go see the lights at Christmas. These outings may seem like simple pleasures, but they are so meaningful to those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to get out into the community.

St. Ann’s celebrated the arrival of the new Handi Bus on September 27th. When asked about why his Foundation donated the Handi Bus, Joe Remai says that it fulfilled a particular need for the Home and that he could fund it in its entirety right away. “It feels good to make things happen quickly.  For example, we were able to complete the funding for an ‘O-Arm’ (portable 3-D scanner that can assess the entire body at once) at Royal University Hospital and it was available to help in the assessment of the victims of Humboldt Broncos accident.  That made me feel good,” says Joe.

Hard work is what Joe admits has enabled him to give at this time in his life, “At 7-years-old my first job on the farm was to round up 14 cows for milking twice a day.” Hard work continued throughout his lifetime and to this very day.

Joe’s kindness, commitment to his Catholic faith and health care as a priority for giving has allowed St. Ann’s Home to be the beneficiary of this marvelous gift.

Thank you, Joseph Alfred Remai Family Foundation, for your gift of $150,000 to ensure the St. Ann’s residents will have the mobility to get out and about into the community.