Also Gearing Up To Celebrate Milestone Anniversary Events
Brampton – William Osler Health System appeared before Brampton City Council yesterday as the City formalized the timing of its $60 million contribution and support for the revitalization of the new Peel Memorial for Integrated Health and Wellness. Over the past few months, Osler has been working closely with the City of Brampton on the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the schedule for the City’s $60 million contribution to the redevelopment of Peel Memorial.
“This vote on the MOU between the City and Osler represents just another milestone in Peel Memorial’s redevelopment journey,” said Matthew Anderson, President and CEO, William Osler Health System. “Our progress to date would not have been possible without the support of the City of Brampton and the vital partnership Osler has with Council.”
Osler is redeveloping and revitalizing the former Peel Memorial site to create the new Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness. In August 2011, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care announced the government’s commitment to Peel Memorial redevelopment. A public tender process followed in the fall to select a company to demolish and prepare the former hospital site for construction of the new Peel Memorial.
Peel Memorial will provide specialized, patient-centred care in a state-of-the-art facility to ensure the community has access to a wide variety of traditional and alternative health care services within one convenient location. Space will also be created for education classrooms where patients and family members can learn from health professionals about how to take a more active role in managing their own health.
Meanwhile, William Osler Health System hospitals are celebrating significant anniversaries this fall; these milestones are well underway with a number of activities and events planned in the community and in the hospitals over the weeks ahead.
Etobicoke General Hospital opened its doors on September 25, 1972 (40 years) after several years of grassroots community fundraising. Brampton Civic Hospital opened on October 28, 2007 (5 years) as the largest community hospital in Ontario. This year, Peel Memorial has also reached some noteworthy milestones in its journey of renewal. To commemorate these anniversaries and Peel Memorial’s 82-year legacy of caring, an Osler-wide celebration is planned for the week of October 29 – celebrating “Safe and Compassionate Care….Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.
The communities of Brampton, Etobicoke and the surrounding areas are invited to take part in Osler’s anniversary activities and events. The most visual and visible activity as part of the celebrations is the 2012 Osler Anniversary Mosaic, which is themed, I ♥ MY Hospital. The mosaic will be made up of messages from people in the community and across the hospital sharing congratulations, an expression of thanks based on an experience in an Osler hospital, or commemorating a loved one who was born at or cared for in one of the hospitals.
“We are proud of Osler’s rich history of medical excellence, innovation, and great care that makes a difference in the lives of patients and their families,” said Kay Blair, Board Chair, William Osler Health System. “The Osler Anniversary Mosaic is a wonderful way to bring our hospital community together so that we can all be part of Osler’s proud legacy of care.”
Mosaic sentiments can be a hand-written message or drawing, and must be received by October 5, 2012. Submissions need to be created on a white, 8.5 x 11 piece of paper and then scanned and emailed to anniversaries@williamoslerhs.ca or dropped off at Osler Foundation offices, just inside the main entrance of each hospital. Online messages, stories and photos can also be shared through Osler‟s anniversaries webpage, CelebrateOsler.com.
The community is also invited to commemorate the past and celebrate the future at Osler hospitals throughout the week of October 29 to November 3. Activities planned during the week include a multi-faith sunrise ceremony, displays of hospital archive items, and the unveiling of each hospital‟s Anniversary Mosaic. The events will culminate in a benefit concert for Osler on Saturday, November 3, at the Rose Theatre in Brampton.
To honour Peel Memorial‟s legacy and celebrate the next phase of its revitalization, a public event will also be held to unlock two Peel Memorial time capsules.
“These are exciting times for Osler with lots of great activities and events to look forward to as part of our anniversary celebrations,” said Matthew Anderson, President and CEO, William Osler Health System. “We encourage as many in the community as possible to complete a mosaic piece, submit a story about an Osler experience or memory, or join us in October for one of the events taking place across our hospital sites.”
