When Michel Poirier recently established the Fondation Famille André & Michel Poirier, he did so as a way of giving back to the community that has been part of his family’s story for generations. Through a gift of $250,000 to the HGH Foundation, he is helping bring leading-edge cardiac and breast imaging services closer to home for local patients while honouring a legacy that began with his grandfather, René Carrière.
The gift marks a new chapter in a story that spans three generations of entrepreneurship,
community involvement, and now philanthropy.
Michel Poirier was the third-generation owner of Carrière & Poirier Equipment, a company
founded by his grandfather, René Carrière, and later built alongside his father, André Poirier.
Following the recent sale of the business, Michel chose to establish a family foundation to
continue giving back to the community that helped shape both his family and its success.
For Michel, the donation is rooted in gratitude. Gratitude for the community that supported
the family business over the years. Gratitude for the care his family received at the
Hawkesbury and District General Hospital (HGH), from the births of his two daughters to
the cancer journeys of both his parents and his brother. And gratitude expressed through
action.
“Our family has been fortunate to build a business here and raise our family here,” said
Michel Poirier. “Over the years, we have also relied on HGH when we needed it most. When
the time came to make one of the first major gifts through our family foundation, supporting
HGH was a natural choice. If this gift inspires others to support local healthcare, then
together we can create something much larger than any one donation.”
The donation is funding the acquisition of a new GE Vivid Pioneer echocardiography system
and an advanced MRI breast coil, two important investments that will enhance HGH’s
diagnostic capabilities and improve access to care for patients across the region.
The GE Vivid Pioneer represents the latest generation of cardiovascular ultrasound
technology, providing exceptional image quality and advanced diagnostic tools that help
clinicians diagnose and monitor heart disease with even greater precision. With the
acquisition of this system, HGH becomes only one of a handful of hospitals in Ontario to
offer this leading-edge technology, further strengthening its role as a leader in innovative
community healthcare.
The MRI breast coil will support advanced breast MRI examinations, an important tool in
the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. By introducing this capability at HGH, more
patients will be able to access specialized breast imaging closer to home, reducing the
need to travel outside the region for these critical diagnostic exams. This advancement will
improve access to care while allowing more patients to receive specialized diagnostic
services in their own community, surrounded by the support of family and loved ones.
“What resonates most about this gift is the spirit behind it,” said Erin Tabakman, Executive
Director of the HGH Foundation. “Michel’s decision to invest in local healthcare is rooted in
gratitude, community, and a desire to make a lasting difference for others. His generosity is
helping bring some of the most advanced diagnostic technology available today to our
community. This investment will help ensure local patients can access exceptional care
closer to home for years to come.”
Michel and his spouse, Véronique, recently visited HGH to see the equipment firsthand and
meet members of the healthcare team who will use this technology to improve the patient
experience and support better health outcomes.
“Healthcare touches every family at some point,” said Poirier. “This is our way of saying
thank you.”
About the HGH Foundation
The HGH Foundation builds lasting relationships and inspires generosity that strengthens
healthcare at Hawkesbury and District General Hospital. Through the support of donors,
partners, and community members, the Foundation helps fund priority equipment,
innovative technology, and projects that enhance patient care throughout the region