Heather Wright/The Independent

The head of the Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital Foundation expects the community will have to raise even more than expected for the renovations at the Petrolia hospital.

Mark Braet made the comments as the Bluewater Health Foundation unveiled the 2026 Dream Home for its annual lottery.

The new home north of Highway 402 and west of Modeland Road is expected to bring up to $450,000 in profit to be split between the Bluewater Health Foundation and the CEEH foundation.

Last year’s home brought nearly $300,000 to CEEH, Braet said. That was put toward the emergency room renovation project in Petrolia.

“Hopefully that’ll start digging in the spring of next year,” Braet said.

“We don’t know the price tag yet, because the government has to come back with the okay to go, and then has to go for tender, and that’s where the truth will be told as to how much it’ll cost.”

Right now the CEEH Foundation is trying to raise $3.1 million to pay for equipment and furnishings in the newly renovated space.

Braet said he wouldn’t be surprised if the escalating cost of construction will mean the foundation will need to raise over $4 million in the community.

“We’ll have a few years to do it.”

Braet says the community has already been very generous, donating $1 million already.

And he says just recently the foundation received a large donation from an estate. Braet said the Lambton county family had given $100,000 when the family returned and said another $100,000 was still coming from the estate.

Braet says he was “amazed” when her son told him and how people are inspired to give.

“It is the subject matter – health care – you can’t deny it – it’s important to all of us.”