Ivan Cottreau and the Wall of Honour

Ivan Cottreau and the Wall of Honour

The Yarmouth Hospital Foundation’s Wall of Honour, located in the lobby of the Yarmouth Regional Hospital, is a testament to the generosity found throughout our area. On this wall are placed the names of donors who have given $5,000 and above towards our region’s healthcare system. It’s a great way to say thanks — but it wouldn’t have been possible without the skill and expertise of the craftsman who created the piece!

Local business owner and carpenter Ivan Cottreau (owner of E&J Millworks Inc.) was first approached in 2010 by the managing director at the time, Paulette Sweeney-Goodwin. “The idea to seek out the existing design of the new wall came about when the foundation saw various designs presented at an annual Association of Healthcare Philanthropy conference,” explains Paulette. “We felt strongly that we would prefer to enlist someone local, and it didn’t take us long to discover Ivan Cottreau’s gift in cabinet making and finish work.  Ivan took pride in what he does, and his attention to detail was evident.”

But there was more to the selection than his careful craftsmanship. Paulette continued. “Equally important, he understood from the outset how important the Wall of Honour is and what it represents to the community. Ivan was so committed that he donated his time and talent to see the project through to completion. Ivan and his wife Nancy truly have the hearts of donors.”

“It was a big job,” Ivan told us. “I probably spent three weeks’ worth of evenings and weekends creating the original piece — and then it took three evenings to just put the name plates on. There have been a lot more donors recently, so in 2022 I also made an extension to the wall.”

But this year, current managing director Mary Surette noticed something. “I was thrilled to see that Ivan and Nancy’s donations had recently crossed the $5,000 threshold required to put his name on the Wall of Honour he himself had created! We reached out to him immediately in order to commemorate the special event.”

Ivan and Nancy Cottreau at the Wall of Honour.

Ivan is soft-spoken and modest about his creation, but we at the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation are incredibly grateful for the pride he takes in his work. The Wall of Honour will stand for many years as a beautiful way to honour the incredible donors who make our work possible. “When visitors to the hospital see the memorial wall, it acts as a strong reminder of the power that each and every donor has to enact positive change,” says Mary. Paulette agrees. “By recognizing our donors in such a public way, the Wall of Honour often inspires others to make a donation towards our community’s health. Whether they’re aware of it or not, foundation donors lead by example.”