September 19, 2025

JONN, DENISE COOPER DONATE $100,000 TO GRAVENHURST ‘HEALTH HUB’ TO ASSURE ‘DREAM A REALITY’

GRAVENHURST — When John Cooper thought he was “checking out” last year he consulted his family physician at the Cottage Country Family Health Team.

And lucky he did.

Yesterday he told how Dr. Chris Richardson got him through to this year.

And how his associate Dr. Adam MacLennan is also keeping his wife, Denise, in good health so the Coopers can take care of each other “and help our community.”

That’s why the love the Gravenhurst ‘Health Hub’ growing on top of the CCFHT clinic.

And why they donated $100,000 to top the first phase funding of $750,000 to make the community “dream” come alive.

Next month with the local steering group headed by the Rotary Club are set to send out a request for tenders to contractors to convert the empty second floor into office space to bring more primary care physicians to town to help one in two residents without proper health care.

Cooper said he, too, had a good year in the market.

“Not as good as (Bracebridge Rotarian) Bob Jacob,” who recently donated $1 million to South Muskoka Memorial Hospital and who regularly attends the Gravenhurst club’s weekly meetings.

As Rotarians stood to applaud John and Denise Cooper after they signed the ceremonial cheque, he spoke of his confidence and support of the local doctors and appealed for more in the community to join them in donating and supporting the second and third phases yet to come.

President Tom Long thanked the Coopers for their generosity and said their donation secures the first phase funding and makes the “dream a reality now.”

He said the Coopers and other — including large sum gold, silver and bronze donors — will be suitably recognized with an appropriate plaque of some sort.