By: Chris Traber
beingwell magazine Fall 2007

The brothers Beswick are as astute as they are altruistic.

Owners of King-based Beswick Group, a multidisciplinary amalgam of commercial and residential real estate and mechanical and electrical contracting companies, Dave and Kevin Beswick are two of Southlake’s most stellar supporters.

“It’s been a long and reciprocal relationship,” said Dave Beswick.

His three children, and his seven nieces and nephews, were born at Southlake. The emergency department was there for various kids’ bumps, bruises and cuts. And, on a sad note, his father, Walter, passed away from cancer at the hospital two years ago.

“The treatment he received there was very good,” Mr. Beswick said

Accordingly, the Beswick family, including wives Dawn and Tracy, have committed to help the hospital’s cancer centre fundraising campaign pledging a donation of $1million between now and 2012.

“We have been associated (with Southlake) from a fundraising point of view for about 15 years,” Mr. Beswick said. “First off, we've been successful in the community and we’re able to afford to do this. When you’re in that position, it’s good to give back to the community we belong to.”

The family’s philanthropic largess will benefit the community at large and potentially themselves, he said.

“We’re all fortunate to have the services they provide,” he said. “It’s a good fit. We have relatively young families. We’ve used their help. Southlake also has great cardiac and cancer care. It’s good insurance for the future, directly and indirectly.

“We have also done business with Southlake and we have an intimate knowledge of how well it’s run. We know we’re dealing with a good local cause and that our funds are being put to good use in an efficient manner that will benefit the community and our family.”

The Beswicks have no set formula for how they devised the amount and delivery schedule for the donation. Mr. Beswick does know, however, that private funding is as necessary as government support.

“It’s very important,” he said. “A lot of people don’t realize that hospitals require (donated) funding. We’re lucky to have Southlake in the community. It’s the only non-teaching hospital with both cardiac and cancer facilities. Unless we support that, we can’t expect that level of continued care. As the community grows, so does the need for that level of community support."

Southlake’s $60 million fundraising campaign for the regional cancer program got a huge boost with the announcement of the $1 million gift from the Beswick Group and its families. The Beswicks also give generously of their time to support Southlake. Kevin Beswick and his wife Tracy are both active members of volunteer committees raising money to support Southlake through special events.

Dave Beswick was a director on the Southlake foundation’s board for many years and co-chairperson of the successful Southlake Partners in Health Golf Tournament. His wife, Dawn, is the volunteer chairperson of the 2007 Southlake Gala, leading a team of about 100 volunteers  to plan an event that will raise money for Southlake’s regional cancer program.

“We are sincerely grateful to the Beswick family for their community leadership and for making cancer care a priority for this region,” said Neila Poscente, president and CEO of the Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation. “Our entire community has benefited from their generosity to Southlake and we believe that they set a wonderful example for other young leaders in our region”.

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