Dear Friends,
I hope like me, you are enjoying the warmer (albeit unpredictable) weather and the gentle return to social gatherings. Tomorrow is Canada Day with many of us able to enjoy a long weekend and perhaps reflect on what Canada has given us. As a country, we must strive to improve the lives of all who reside here, especially those in need of refuge. Let’s give thanks for health care workers and first responders who will be working and providing care throughout the celebrations of the next three days.
Exciting progress towards the “next” North York General
It’s been a wee while since I have updated you on what’s been inspiring the Foundation team. We see it every day as our colleagues in the hospital continue to manage high volumes in our Emergency Department and adopt new ways to manage the health care journey of all our patients, now two and half years into COVID-19.
With a renewed dedication to an emerging “next” North York General, our Foundation staff and board are growing as we ready ourselves for the largest expansion in North York General’s history.
Let’s review the highly anticipated new patient care tower and emergency, which will be developed where the current parking garage resides, nestled between Leslie Street and the 401. Anticipated to open in 2029/30, it will feature 110 new inpatient beds in 100% private rooms bringing the total to 350+ beds at the General site. It will include a new Emergency Department, a new Labour and Delivery Unit & NICU, and expanded Critical Care and Surgical Units. Planning for the largest campaign in our history is underway (it’s what we call the ‘Quiet Phase” ironically) and we can’t wait to engage the community and share how the next NYGH will better serve our patients and families.
More immediately, we are advancing the design of our new Seniors’ Care Home, expected to open by 2027 and built right on our main site. It will be one of the largest in Toronto and among the first designed with insights from the pandemic in mind. Philanthropy will enable 100% private rooms and ensuite bathrooms, the only one in Ontario to have this feature. The home-like build will be fully integrated with the hospital and will have special focus on culturally diverse programming, resources and food to meet the needs of the many communities we serve. It will be a nexus of clinical services for seniors in the community and in the Care Home. Fundraising for the new home is underway and we are actively seeking a lead donor to secure naming rights for the facility.
We are also embarking on a fundraising endeavor to redevelop (in my limited building lingo – “a tear down”) our existing half century old Maternal & Newborn Post Partum Unit (where one goes after they deliver). With large private rooms a plenty and the integration of digital assets to dramatically improve the care experience, we are excited at the opportunity to support our tiniest patients and their mothers. Architects will be engaged soon and we can’t wait to share what our next Maternal Newborn Program will offer.
We hope our community will be inspired to support North York General 2.0! Please connect with me if you or your organization would like to discuss any of these projects.
Donors accelerated acquisition our new MRI!
Our donors enable so much at our hospital and earlier this year we completed fundraising for the new MRI unit and its associated construction. This incredible lifesaving machine, will be housed in the Gulshan & Pyarali G. Nanji Family Foundation Centre for Medical Imaging, recently dedicated in honour of the Nanji family’s outstanding leadership donation.
In anticipation of the new unit arriving in the late summer and looking like a scene from Mission Impossible, the old MRI was removed at the end of May. If you have passed by the hospital recently, you will see a MASH style structure at our front entrance which is actually a portable MRI unit operating throughout construction.
With the next version of North York General on our minds, “bricks and mortar” take on a significance not experienced since 1968 when we opened the hospital, thanks to the vision, heart, and drive of community philanthropists. It’s truly an exciting moment for the next North York General and we invite you along with us.
My best wishes to you for a safe and joyful Canada Day weekend,
Terry
P.S. We’re back live for Rally in the Ravine on October 1st!
After two years of ‘Rallying’ from afar, I’m so pleased that this year’s Rally in the Ravine, presented by Concord, will be held in person on our main campus and the surrounding trails.
Come run with me on October 1st. There is a 1KM or 5KM run/walk and by popular demand, a new 10KM distance. Bring the whole family to celebrate North York General and enjoy great food, activities, and the Kids Mini Rally. You can register at RallyInTheRavine.ca and walk/run along with our many doctors, nurses and health care professionals who make #NorthYorkGeneralStrong.
P.P.S. Or if golfing is more your jam, come golf with me on October 6th at Bayview Country Club. Our incredible partner Aethos is staging a golf tournament in support of NYGH and you can find more information here or sign up!
