Our healthcare team has been working hard over the past year to care for the community through the pandemic. The Belleville General Hospital Foundation Love Locks installation is a commemorative opportunity for the community to express love and gratitude for our amazing healthcare workers at Quinte Health Care Belleville General Hospital.
As a European-style tradition the ‘Love Locks’ phenomenon can be seen across a number of continental destinations. No one seems to know where or how the initiative began but stories across the pond point to a Serbian tale of two lovers separated during the First World War.
Paris is most famous for the locks, which began appearing in the city in 2008. It’s become somewhat of a tradition for visitors to ‘The City of Love,’ inscribing their names onto the padlocks then affixing them to one of the many Parisian bridges across the City. The locks, meant to symbolize unbreakable love, have sweethearts’ names written on them with an important date like an anniversary or the date the lock was added.
“The installation is a celebration of love and unity, paying homage to the tremendous efforts of our front line workers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says BGHF Executive Director Steven Cook. “Generously created and donated by Bellevue Fabricating, supporters can decorate the 8 ft by 8 ft heart by purchasing their own personalized padlock online at bghflovelocks.ca. Each coloured padlock represents a donation value and is intended to express the communities’ love for our amazing front line heroes.”
With a donation of $25, $50, $100, $150 or $250, the BGH Foundation will add your personalized lock to the heart for one year. All funds raised will be directed towards the highest priority medical equipment at Belleville General Hospital and matched dollar for dollar by up to the value of $100,000 by The Johnston Family.
“Our teams have been through a lot over the past year, steadfastly caring for our communities through the most difficult of times. The Love Locks installation offers an amazing visual reminder to our teams that our community cares and recognizes each person who works at BGH for their incredible commitment and care,” added Quinte Health Care CEO and President Stacey Daub.
Supporters will have to be quick, demand is expected to be high and the large steel structure holds a maximum of 1300 spaces for support. Once attached, donors are encouraged to visit the installation situated directly to the right side of the Emergency Entrance at BGH.
Visit bghflovelocks.ca for more information.
(Belleville General Hospital Foundation Press Release)
