Media Advisory/Photo Opportunity - SickKids embarks on one of world's largest
capital projects dedicated to child health research

TORONTO, May 4 /CNW/ - The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) is taking research to new heights TODAY with the official groundbreaking of its new 21-storey Research & Learning Tower.

The state-of-the-art Tower, designed by award-winning Toronto-based Diamond and Schmitt Architects Inc., with HDR Inc., will be the eastern gateway to Toronto's Discovery District and a magnet for scientists and clinician-scientists from around the world.

This event will celebrate achievements in child health at SickKids, as SickKids enters a new era, building on its reputation as a research powerhouse. SickKids patients and their researchers will share what discovery means to them.

    
    Who:      Mary Jo Haddad, President and CEO, SickKids
              Ted Garrard, President and CEO, SickKids Foundation
              Constance Sugiyama, Chair, SickKids Board of Trustees
              The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and
              Technology
              Dr. Eliot Phillipson, President and CEO, Canada Foundation for
              Innovation
              Tim Hockey, Chair, Campaign Cabinet
              SickKids researchers
              SickKids patients

    When:     Tuesday, May 4 at 11 a.m. sharp

    Where:    Site of the future Research & Learning Tower
              Northwest corner of Bay and Elm St.

    (xx) In case of inclement weather, the event will take place at SickKids,
    555 University Ave. (Elizabeth St. entrance). Please check in at the
    Information Desk in the Atrium. (xx)

    Photo/Interview opportunities:

              Signing of a ceremonial beam

              SickKids patients and researchers will fill a Wishing Wall with
              messages of thanks for the breakthroughs to date and hopes for
              future discoveries

              One-on-one interviews with speakers, patients and researchers

    B-roll of architects' renderings, animations and researcher interviews
    will be available.
    

For further information: Matet Nebres, The Hospital for Sick Children, [phone], [email protected]; Sandra Chiovitti, SickKids Foundation, [phone], [email protected]