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# Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary presented with fashion show proceeds
- URL: /mindemoya-hospital-auxiliary-presented-with-fashion-show-proceeds/
- Published: 2026-06-14T11:00:52.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-14T11:00:52.000Z
- Description: Freshwater Boutique owner Samantha Cooper donated $2,000 to the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary, raised from a May 2 fashion show. The funds will directly support local patient care and equipment.
- Author: Expositor Staff
- Tags: News, Arts and Heritage, Community, Mindemoya

MINDEMOYA—The owner of Freshwater Boutique presented the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary with a $2,000 donation recently, with the funds raised through a highly successful fashion show the business hosted at the Freshwater Community Church on May 2\. 

“We want to thank you for all your efforts,” stated Margaret Cadieux, president of the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary after the group was presented with the donation by Samantha Cooper, owner and general manager of Freshwater Boutique. “We definitely appreciate Freshwater Boutique continuing with the fashion show and supporting the auxiliary.” The funds will go toward patient care at the hospital.

“The government doesn’t provide hospitals with funding for things like hospital equipment for small hospitals,” said Ms. Cadieux.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/45/6945cc49-bc3b-4cc3-bace-d0f9afcaa217/content/images/2026/06/freshwater-hosp-1.jpg)

Lucie McCutcheon was one of the models at the Freshwater Boutique fashion show

“I am definitely grateful for the great work the hospital auxiliary does,” said Ms. Cooper. “Having been in the Mindemoya hospital previously I’ve seen the many things the auxiliary does to improve things for patients care at the hospital,” she said.

There was a decided air of anticipation at the Freshwater Church on May 2 as a large audience gathered to watch a parade of ladies wearing the latest fashions, an event to not only raise funds for the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary but to showcase clothing at the Freshwater Boutique store in Mindemoya.

Named Freshwater Boutique, the business is owned by Samantha Cooper and is situated in the building previously owned by Cindy Wright, Cindy’s Fashions. Ms. Cooper is a teacher at Manitoulin Secondary School (MSS) and she is married to Islander Barry Cooper. They have three sons.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/45/6945cc49-bc3b-4cc3-bace-d0f9afcaa217/content/images/2026/06/freshwater-hosp-4.jpg)

Freshwater Boutique store manager Avery Lentir left and store owner Samantha Cooper are shown wearing some of the stores newest fashions.

“The boutique has undergone a thoughtful transformation under new ownership to reflect a fresher, more modern approach to fashion for real women,” said Ms. Cooper. “The name captures both its geographic connection to the world’s largest freshwater island and its renewed, uplifting energy.”

“This rebrand represents a new chapter built on authenticity, freshness, and inclusivity while maintaining deep respect for community and customer loyalty,” said Ms. Cooper. “The Northern Blue Iris was chosen as the brand icon for its natural symbolism of beauty, strength, and confidence. Its soft elegance and resilience reflect a timeless femininity that celebrates individuality, mirroring clothing that helps women feel comfortable, expressive, and authentically themselves,” explained Ms. Cooper.

The new shop has both casual and business clothing as well as dresses to wear for weddings in sizes from zero to 24 and also features a jewelry line from a Vancouver company. Many of the clothes are made by a Canadian designer. 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/69/45/6945cc49-bc3b-4cc3-bace-d0f9afcaa217/content/images/2026/06/freshwater-hosp-2.jpg)

The owner of Freshwater Boutique, Samantha Cooper, presented the Mindemoya Hospital Auxiliary with a $2,000 donation, with the funds raised from a successful fashion show the business hosted. In photo from left are auxiliary members Kathy Graham, Joanne Carlisle, Annette Murphy, Margaret Cadieux, Marilyn Honess, Freshwater Boutique owner Samantha Cooper, auxiliary members Ronda McDonald, Shelley Lanktree.

The Freshwater Boutique is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 5 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am to 3 pm with a Monday opening come summertime.

by Betty Bardswich 

with files from Tom Sasvari