MONTREAL, May 15, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Officials from Shriners Hospitals for Children- Canada® were joined by Shriners from across Canada and the northeastern US, as well as by family members and patients whose lives have been transformed by the Montreal hospital's innovative and lifesaving treatments. They gathered on the Glen Campus, future site of the new Shriners hospital to provide a construction update and to launch a first-ever $130 million fundraising campaign in Canada.
According to Jerry Gantt, Member of the Boards of Directors for Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children and Liaison for the Montreal hospital construction project, construction of the new, 207,000-square-foot Shriners Hospitals for Children- Canada began this past April. Excavation is already underway and installation of the first crane is scheduled to take place in May. In early June, the foundation work and installation of the second crane will take place. As early as September, the building will be above ground level, and December will mark the completion of the building's concrete structure. Throughout 2014, the exterior envelope, inside finishing and electro-mechanical work will be completed. In January 2015, installation of equipment and furniture will begin and the commission period will start the following May. The hospital's official opening will take place in the fall of 2015, as planned.
Once completed, the eight-floor facility will house a nearly 30,000-square-foot research space, almost double its current size. An Inpatient Unit housed on the 4th floor will provide 22 single-patient rooms and a four-bed step-down unit. The third floor will house four operating rooms, two more than the current facility.
An Exceptional campaign
"What makes this hospital so different? At Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada, kids and their families from coast to coast in Canada, the U.S. and abroad are treated like nowhere else," said Dr. Deborah Josephson, who is co-chairing the Exceptional Care for Exceptional Kids campaign along with Peter Letko, Carolyn and Richard Renaud. "This seemingly small hospital is a center of excellence in pediatric orthopaedics and is recognized internationally for its world-class research and bone-disease treatment."
Shriners Hospitals for Children - Canada is an integral part of a world-class health care system of 22 establishments in operation since 1922 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. In that time, Shriners members have financed all hospital activities. Today, however, the Shriners called upon the public in Canada and the northeastern US to help complete the financing for the construction of these new, ultra-modern facilities.
"The goal of the Exceptional Care for Exceptional Kids campaign is $130 million which includes the $3 million for the Francis Glorieux Chair in Pediatric Musculoskeletal Research, and $127 million for construction and equipment costs. To date, we are proud to announce that we have reached $111,204,864.00 ", shared co-chair Richard Renaud. Shriners International has raised $97 million and an additional $5 million has been committed over the next five years by Shriners from Canada and the northeastern US.
The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation is donating an additional $5 million to the hospital, whose services will complement those of the neighboring Montreal Children's Hospital. The hospital board members, staff and physicians have committed another $406,000.
The Exceptional Care for Exceptional Kids campaign will also have an important online component at www.exceptionalcare4kids.com. Donations in Canadian and American funds will be accepted. Supporters will be able to create a personalized fundraising page and be able to share updates and information about the construction and the progress of the campaign with their contacts - everywhere across the continent.
Exceptional Kids
Joining the Shriners at Wednesday's campaign launch were present and former patients whose lives have been transformed by the existing hospital's leading-edge care: Alyssa MacLeod from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, who has lived with cerebral palsy since she was diagnosed at age 2; Maya Sotollichio, from Montreal, who underwent extensive care to lengthen one of her legs; Hunter Caron from Peru, New York, who was born without his right forearm; Carter Brown, from Estevan, Saskatchewan, and Jacinta Whyte, from Toronto, whose daughter Rachel and she have both benefitted from treatments pioneered at the hospital for brittle bone disease and scoliosis.
"The hospital's mission is to provide the highest-quality treatment to children, train health care professionals and conduct breakthrough research in a compassionate, family-centered and collaborative environment," said Exceptional Care for Exceptional Kids campaign Co-Chair Peter Letko, "Giving each and every child in our care the chance to live healthy, productive lives."
Located on the Glen Campus of the McGill University Health Centre, the new Shriners Hospital for Children - Canada will allow the dedicated team to pursue and enhance the long-established tradition of excellence.
Image with caption: "Shriners Hospitals for Children®- Canada staff Michel Chartrand takes part in announcing the $130 million dollar campaign objective and $111 million dollar raised to date (CNW Group/SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (CANADA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130515_C7204_PHOTO_EN_26779.jpg
Image with caption: "Chairman of the Board of Governors of Shriners Hospitals for Children®-Canada, Paul Frank and Jerry Gantt, Member of the Boards of Directors for Shriners International and Shriners Hospitals for Children and Liaison for the Montreal hospital construction project (CNW Group/SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (CANADA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130515_C7204_PHOTO_EN_26776.jpg
Image with caption: "Hunter Caron, patient ambassador from Peru (New York), Alyssa MacLeod, patient ambassador from East Boulardie Island (New- Brunswick) and Carter Brown, patient ambassador from Milestone (Saskatchewan) (CNW Group/SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (CANADA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130515_C7204_PHOTO_EN_26777.jpg
Image with caption: "Hospital Leadership, patient ambassadors and campaign leadership launch the Exceptional Care for Exceptional Kids Campaign! (CNW Group/SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (CANADA))". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130515_C7204_PHOTO_EN_26778.jpg
SOURCE: SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN (CANADA)
Emmanuelle Rondeau
Communications & Marketing Manager
Shriners Hospitals for Children- Canada®
T: 514-282-6990
C: 514-207-1057
Source:
Charles Pitts
For Shriners Hospitals for Children- Canada®
514-697-9111
514-984-5614 c
877-990-9044
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