The Ottawa Hospital has received a $50 million donation to support the construction of its new hospital, the largest philanthropic gift in Ottawa’s history.
The Peter Gilgan Foundation announced the $50 million donation to the hospital at the Ottawa Hospital General Campus on Tuesday. Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones travelled to Ottawa for the announcement.
“Ottawa is our nation’s capital, and it deserves health care that reflects the very best of what Canada can offer,” Gilgan said in a media release.
“The Ottawa Hospital’s new campus is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to set a new standard for patient care, and I’m proud to support that vision and help make it a reality.”
Gilgan is the founder of Mattamy Homes.
“I’ve started to really see, you know, health care not only for our citizens of our country and, you know, give me air, give me some water, give me some food, give me some shelter, and give me my health. Those are kind of the priorities in life,” Gilgan said.
“But I also see health care really as an ability of our province and our country to really advance through technology and working with several hospital CEOs.”
In honour of the gift, the Ottawa Hospital announced the Peter Gilgan Critical Care Tower will be built at the new hospital, which will house critical care services, including the Trauma Centre, emergency services and the ICU.
“The Peter Gilgan Critical Care Tower will strengthen The Ottawa Hospital’s role as a leader in health care in Canada,” Cameron Love, president and CEO of the Ottawa Hospital, said in a statement.
“It will bring together critical care teams, advanced technology and the resources they need to care for some of the most critically ill patients in our region, in an environment designed around the complex needs of patients and their families.”
Ford told the crowd it’s a “special day” for health care in Ottawa.
“I’ve been smiling ever since we took off from Toronto and landed here,” Ford said.
The premier added “there’s no one in Canada that has given back more to health care” than Gilgan.
The president of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation said Gilgan is “helping make history” in Ottawa.
“As a nation’s capital, Ottawa deserves healthcare that reflects the very best in what Canada has to offer. And this contribution, at this time, comes at a pivotal moment. Our campaign depends on leaders who believe in what is possible and are willing to make that happen through their investments,” Tim Kluke said.
“Peter, your gift is an excellent example of that, and it will inspire others in our community to look and see what we can achieve when we all work together. Today, you’ve changed the Ottawa philanthropic landscape forever.”
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The Campaign for Tomorrow is run by the Ottawa Hospital to raise $500 million to build the new Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus. As of Tuesday, $465 million has been raised to support the new hospital.
“This community has responded to our foundation and our campaign,” Kluke said.
“We’ve had over 50,000 individuals and families making gifts to the campaign. If fact, we’ve had many families and individuals and businesses make their largest philanthropic gifts ever. They’ve recognized the importance of this project.”
The new state-of-the-art health care and academic research centre on Carling Avenue was originally expected to cost $2.8 billion, with the Ontario government covering $2.1 billion.
Last week, Infrastructure Minister David Piccini said the provincial investment is now “just shy of $10 billion towards the hospital.” Piccini blamed an “increase in costs” for the rising price tag, along with supply chains and “municipally imposed fees.”
A spokesperson for Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the original price tag was based on “a years old submission” and the project’s scope has “since evolved.”
“The ministry has worked closely with the hospital to refine the scope and costs, accounting for factors that may not have been captured in the original submission, including the age and condition of existing infrastructure and the community’s evolving health care needs over the decades ahead,” the spokesperson said.
