Giving Cruise Night raises more than $300,000 for Kincardine Hospital capital campaign

By: Liz Dadson August 1, 2026 730

Giving Cruise Night raises more than $300,000 for Kincardine Hospital capital campaign

It was a hot, humid, hazy evening as more than 350 antique and vintage vehicles filled downtown Kincardine for the second Cruise Night of the summer, Friday evening.

But the highlight was the Giving Cruise Night tent where donations were pouring in as matching funds, up to $50,000, were provided by Wayne and Janet Palmateer, and Dotty McClelland.

By 6:30 p.m. the total was at more than $62,000 which surpassed the matching funds.

Then, much to the surprise of the crowd, John and Diane Satosek of Canadian Tire Kincardine stepped up to the plate and donated another $50,000 in matching funds.

John Satosek said supporting the hospital expansion is a great cause. "We all need the hospital so this project is very important, and we're almost to the $18-million mark. Everyone is helping to reach that goal and it is greatly appreciated."

With the prospect of raising a total of $200,000 for the Kincardine Hospital redevelopment and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) machine, the community responded and by the end of the night, a total of $204,715 had been donated, plus the $100,000 in matching funds for a total of $304,715!

Kathryn Freimanis of the capital campaign committee said she was thrilled with the result as the Kincardine and Community Health Care Foundation is closing in on the finish line to raise the $18-million local share for the project.

"We have so many people to thank in the coming days," she said, in a Facebook post, "but tonight, we just want to share this amazing total and send our first round of gratitude to everyone who made it happen."

Meanwhile, a huge crowd attended Cruise Night which featured several intriguing vehicles, including a 1930 Cadillac Roadster owned by Steve Plunkett of London, a 1926 Cadillac Roadster owned by Jerry and Theresa Fabian of Kincardine, a 1917 Rauch and Lang Electric Dowager's Coupe owned by Francis Hogan of Point Clark, a 1951 Ford Business Man Coupe owned by Alex Dawes of Durham, a 1947 Buick Super owned by Dave Middleton and Jason Finner of Sun Life Financial, a 2003 Audi TT owned by Barry Collins of Kincardine, and the 1929 Chevrolet that belonged to Ab Wylds (Mr. Ripley) now owned by Dave Mackay of Kincardine.

Wylds' Chevrolet three-window coupe was purchased for $595, featuring the new in-line, six-cylinder overhead valve engine (194 cubic inch), producing a heart-pounding 26 miles per hour. This one was built in Oshawa and was last plated by Wylds in 1954.

It was purchased from Wylds' estate by Dave Mackay, disassembled, reworked, rebuilt and replaced. Murray Yungblut, a master in his trade, resurrected all the wooden structure from the windshield back, top to bottom, while Mackay nailed and screwed it all back together. It debuted under its own power at the 2025 Ripley Reunion.

Another vehicle of interest was a 1928 Chevrolet Capitol Truck, originally from Leader, Saskatchewan. The cab wood millwork was done by Ryan Mahood, grain box by Bill Bowers and metal prepping and painting by Rob Hoffele. The restoration of the truck was done by Jack Nancekivell in memory of his long-time friend and business associate, Bev Bryant.