MONTREAL, May 13, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, officials announced that one year after the beginning of the construction of the new Shriners Hospitals for Children®-Canada, the building structure is complete and currently being enclosed, electrical, mechanical and plumbing work is advancing, all of this on budget. The Hospital's Exceptional Care for Exceptional Kids Campaign is also progressing well, having reached $115,567,961. Many corporate partners have come onboard, one of which is MEGA Brands that has made a $500,000 pledge to the Campaign. To further support the Campaign and to raise awareness in all the communities served by the hospital and to celebrate the commitment of the Shriners Fraternity to their philanthropy, the hospital is launching the Exceptional Care Odyssey, a 66-day cross-continent trip with 55 events planned in local communities in Canada and the north eastern United States.
Construction Update
Construction officially began on April 15, 2013 and is currently 35% complete and on budget. While extreme cold weather slowed down the concrete pours in December and January, the team began the mechanical, electrical and plumbing work inside the structure in the two basement levels and ground floor. The concrete structure of the building was completed on February 28, 2014, including the roof or seventh floor "penthouse'' which is the main building utilities room. All of the pieces of large equipment, were delivered prior to the last of the two cranes being removed this past weekend. According to Jerry Gantt, Liaison Officer for Shriners Hospitals for Children responsible for the construction of the new hospital, the goal is to enclose the structure, complete the installation of the curtain wall, insulation and windows by next fall so inside work can proceed during the winter.
Exceptional Care for Kids Campaign recognizes MEGA Brands
National Co-Chairs Richard and Carolyn Renaud, Peter Letko and Deborah Josephson, M.D. announced the Exceptional Care for Exceptional Kids Capital Campaign has reached $115,567,961 towards its $130,000,000 goal. They reported that over the next few months the hospital will be announcing some of the leading supporters of the Campaign. Leadership from MEGA Brands was present today to make the first of these announcements, sharing their commitment to Shriners Hospitals for Children – Canada, which will be recognized in the main play area of the new hospital. "MEGA Brands is thrilled to partner with Shriners Hospitals for Children in support of their remarkable efforts with kids in our communities. We are excited to introduce our limited edition Mega Bloks Shriners Block Buddy toy to help fundraise, and offer Shriners families a fun, colorful and creative building playroom in the new hospital," explained, MEGA Brands spokesperson Bisma Ansari.
Exceptional Care Odyssey – meeting patients and Shriners in their communities
"The Exceptional Care Odyssey is an opportunity to inform parents from coast-to-coast about the specialized orthopaedic care provided to infants, children and teens for such conditions as scoliosis, brittle bone disease, club feet, hip dysplasia, leg length discrepancies and cerebral palsy," reported hospital Board member James Templeton. The Odyssey will give us an opportunity to talk about the ties we have with local children's hospital with whom we partner to ensure patients receive the highest quality care available in their own community, and when needed at the Canada Shriners Hospital.
The Exceptional Care Odyssey, which is made possible thanks to the support of the Shrine Fraternity, Cam Clark Ford, MEGA Brands and the Air Canada Foundation, kicks off today on a 66-day whirlwind car trip. A red Ford Explorer decorated like a Shriner's Fez, tassel and all, will leave from Shriners Hospital for Children-Canada and travel to Atlantic Canada, the north eastern United States, eastern Canada and all the way to British Columbia where the voyage culminates in Victoria in mid-July. Altogether the Odyssey will cover over 17-thousand kilometers, hundreds of Shriners, 55 cities and towns, more than 40 patient representatives and their families, 17 Shrine Temples, 8 parades, 2 countries and 1 red car dressed as a Fez.
The public has the opportunity to follow the Odyssey by watching and reading daily updates and video clips at www.exceptionalcare4kids.com, Twitter.com/ShrinersCanada and Facebook.com/shrinershospitalsforchildrencanada.
Video with caption: "Video: Robert Nadeau - interview in French". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20140513_C1701_VIDEO_EN_2134.mp4&poster=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.newswire.ca%2Fimages%2F20140513_C1701_VIDEO_EN_2134.jpg&order=1&jdd=20140513&cnum=C1701
Video with caption: "Video: Jerry Gantt - interview in English". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20140513_C1701_VIDEO_EN_2135.mp4&poster=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.newswire.ca%2Fimages%2F20140513_C1701_VIDEO_EN_2135.jpg&order=2&jdd=20140513&cnum=C1701
Video with caption: "Video: MEGA brands presents its pledge to Shriners Hospitals for Children®-Canada". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20140513_C1701_VIDEO_EN_2136.mp4&poster=http%3A%2F%2Fphotos.newswire.ca%2Fimages%2F20140513_C1701_VIDEO_EN_2136.jpg&order=3&jdd=20140513&cnum=C1701
Image with caption: "Exceptional Care for Exceptional Kids campaign (CNW Group/Shriners Hospitals For Children)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140513_C1701_PHOTO_EN_2130.jpg
Image with caption: "MEGA brands presents its pledge to Shriners Hospitals for Children®-Canada (CNW Group/Shriners Hospitals For Children)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140513_C1701_PHOTO_EN_2131.jpg
SOURCE: Shriners Hospital for Children (Canada)
Source: Emmanuelle Rondeau, [email protected], W: 514-282-6990, C: 514-207-1057
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