Image of doctors and nurses in Hospital Lobby

Transforming healthcare for our community

Work to rally support for Michael Garron Hospital’s dramatic transformation started over a decade ago. Fast forward to today, and we’re closing in on securing the hospital’s entire share of funding for redevelopment.*

Some of our generous donors recently had an opportunity to tour the new Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre which opens in January 2023.

“We were gob-smacked with the new facility and certainly appreciated the attention to detail to make every aspect of the patient care experience exemplary,” said Jennifer and James Werry.

“This is the power of philanthropy – your philanthropy – in action,” Mitze Mourinho, President of Michael Garron Hospital Foundation, told guests. “At Michael Garron Hospital, everyone who comes through our doors is treated like a neighbour. Thanks to donors, come early 2023, our new Thomson Centre will offer a warm welcome.”

With donor support, Michael Garron Hospital’s transformation also encompasses:

  • State-of-the-art equipment already in use in the hospital, like our new MRI machine;
  • A culture of learning where staff and volunteers are supported in continuing their education, for instance through our Tuition Assistance Program;
  • Community-based research designed for real-life impact;
  • Innovative programs aimed at helping our most vulnerable patients, and much more.

“These key differentiators will go a long way in attracting new and emerging talent in the midst of system-wide challenges to health human resources,” said Wolf Klassen, Interim President & CEO of Michael Garron Hospital. “Because of donors like you, our staff also have a once-in-a-career opportunity to work in the most modern healthcare facility in Ontario.”

With patients moving to the Thomson Centre in just a few months, hospital staff are preparing to transition to modern workspaces with innovative technology that will usher in a whole new way of working.

In the meantime, staff, physicians and midwives who donate in support of the hospital received a special video message from His Worship John Tory, Mayor of Toronto.

“I’m grateful to know that the very same excellent level of care that you provide here at the hospital will be reflected in your surroundings when the Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Centre opens early next year,” he said. “I had the privilege of knowing both Ken and Marilyn Thomson very well and they would be very proud to have their names on such a fantastic new building as this.”

JHLC plaque

Another preview event honoured members of the recently renamed Joseph H. Harris Legacy Circle, a community of supporters who have included gifts to Michael Garron Hospital Foundation in their future plans. They saw the unveiling of a new plaque acknowledging their meaningful commitment.

“What we are building will have a lasting legacy,” said Wolf. “Certainly we are keeping our eyes on the horizon, knowing full well that our community continues to grow and change. Michael Garron Hospital will be here ready to serve everyone who needs us, thanks to the continuing support of donors like you.”

We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your continued support of the Heart of the East. Please share what Michael Garron Hospital means to you on social media using #HeartOfTheEast to invite your friends and followers to contribute. There’s still time to be part of this transformational moment in our history by donating at MGHF.ca/donate. Naming opportunities are also available, please email @email for details.

*At time of writing, $9 million of a total $122 million has yet to be secured towards our hospital’s redevelopment.