For more information please contact Nina Greco at ngreco@vaughanhealthcarechc.com or at (905) 303 8490 ext 130.

“We cannot help but be sceptical with the announcement today ‘a new hospital approved for Vaughan’ without any mention or knowledge of funding committed nor of moving the process along to Stage 2 of the 5 stage process.” said Michael DeGasperis, Chair of the VHCC.  “During the April 2007 announcement, Minister Smitherman went as far as asking the Central LHIN to draft a plan in the next 12 months for the hospital, with construction beginning in the next four years (http://www.thestar.com/news/article/209445–hospital-set-for-vaughan).  Now four years later, is this announcement real or is it just another stop in this long agonizing journey to build a
hospital for the people of Vaughan?

Today’s announcement had no mention of these critical points and the astute people of Vaughan will recognize this. We continue to petition for this on behalf of the people of Vaughan, they deserve nothing less.” said DeGasperis In saying that, we must thank our group of committed volunteers who have been working tirelessly over the past eight years towards bringing better health services to Vaughan, including a hospital.  It is also important to thank the people of Vaughan who have been patiently waiting for better health services.

This announcement appears to be Mr. Sorbara’s recycled pre-election announcement from past years on bringing a new hospital to Vaughan.  The people of Vaughan want to know when they will be able to walk through the front doors of a new Vaughan Hospital so patients and families will be able to receive the care they so desperately need!  This is well overdue!

It is clear that the people of Vaughan need better health services, including a hospital; the Government of Ontario can take the lead by committing major funding along with the City of Vaughan’s contribution of $80 million, the Region of York’s contribution of over $150 million and the Federal Government’s contribution to the VHCC of $10 million; and work together in bringing us towards achieving the vision of creating a thriving and dynamic Campus of Care to support sustainable health services in Vaughan, through a common vision of integration, innovation and excellence for the Citizens of Vaughan.

We look forward to working with the City of Vaughan and other partners along with support from all levels of government to move forward together, as partners, to achieve the realization of a hospital and a Campus of Care on the 87 acre site, at the corner of Major MacKenzie Drive and Jane Street.
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For further information contact:

Jey-son Edwards

905-303-1998 x223

• Vaughan Health Campus of Care
• Vaughan Health Care Foundation
• Vaughan Community Health Centre

We are seeking community members committed to improving health care services in the City of Vaughan and willing to serve as directors of these organizations or as members of committees appointed by their boards.

For more information and details on how to apply please call 905-303-1998 or email resumes@vaughanhealthcare.com.

Application form (PDF):VHSG_Volunteer_Application

 Since 2003, the Vaughan Health Care Foundation, a charitable organization, and the Vaughan Health Campus of Care, a not-for-profit organization, both governed by the Ontario Corporations Act and run by community volunteers, professionals and City representatives have been working to bring a new hospital and additional health services to Vaughan. Both organizations are rigorous in ensuring that all of their activities are done transparently and in the best interest of the community. The staff and boards have a wide breadth and depth of experience to carry out the development of a Life Sciences Cluster/Campus of Care.

For more information, please contact:

Vaughan Health Campus of Care
(905) 303-1998

www.vaughanhealthcare.com

This investment is very much appreciated and welcomed by the Vaughan Health Campus of Care and the citizens of Vaughan. This investment in the Campus will bring new jobs and innovation in healthcare and economic diversification to Southwest York Region.

The VHCC will continue to support the City’s position to “form a cluster of medical health industries and a wide variety of jobs in health care, health research, health education, medical laboratory and other related industries” on the Campus lands as well as continue to work with other health care service providers to expand services in Vaughan.

Together we will bring the realization of these goals for you, the people of Vaughan.

Il governo federale, attraverso FedDev Ontario recentemente ha annunciato un contributo di $10 milioni al Vaughan Health Campus of Care per la pianificazione, disegno, preparazione del sito ed infrastrutture per lo sviluppo del nuovo Life Sciences Cluster che sara’ ubicato sul Vaughan Health Campus of Care. Questi soldi sono governati da parametri di programma molto specifici e devono essere spesi in modo aperto, giustificabile e trasparente. Le discussioni con FedDev sono iniziate nelle tarda estate del 2010. La richiesta, Stage 1 Application, nell’ambito dell’iniziativa Prosperity fu allora presentata, e successivamente fu approvata il 5 gennaio 2011. Una richiesta completa , Stage 2 application di oltre 200 pagine, e’ stata presentata a sostegno della domanda iniziale e l’approvazione di questa richiesta e’ stata annunciata il 16 marzo 2011.

L’investimento e’ apprezzato moltissimo ed e’ benaccetto dal Vaughan Health Campus of Care e dai cittadini di Vaughan. Tale investimento nel Campus portera’ nell’area sudovest della Regione di York nuovi posti di lavoro ed innovazione nella sanita’’e diversificazione economica .

Il VHCC continuera’ ad appoggiare la posizione della Citta’ per ” formare un agglomerato di industrie medico sanitarie ed una vasta varieta’ di posti di lavoro nel settore delle cure sanitarie, ricerca sanitaria, istruzione sanitaria, laboratori medici ed altre industrie correlate” sui terreni del Campus, cosi’ come continuera’ a lavorare con altre istituzioni che forniscono servizi sanitari per ampliare i servizi in Vaughan.

Insieme realizzeremo questi scopi per voi, cittadini di Vaughan.

Grazie per il vostro continuo sostegno, un’organizzazione non a scopo di lucro, entrambe governate dalla legge Ontario Corporations Act e gestite da volontari della comunita’, professionisti e rappresentanti della Citta’ hanno lavorato per portare a Vaughan un nuovo ospedale ed ulteriori servizi sanitari. Ambedue le organizzazioni sono rigorose nell’assicurare che tutte le loro attivita’ siano condotte in modo trasparente e nel miglior interesse della comunita’. Il personale ed i direttivi hanno una esperienza profonda e a largo raggio per realizzare lo sviluppo del complesso sanitario Life Sciences Cluster/Campus of Care.

VAUGHAN, Ontario – March 16^th, 2011 – Earlier today and on behalf of the Government of Canada, the Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology and Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), and the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of State for Seniors and MP for Vaughan, announced $10 million in financial support for the planning and development of a new Life Sciences Cluster in Vaughan.

To be collocated with the new Vaughan hospital and envisioned to be an integral part of the Vaughan Health Campus of Care, located on the north side of Major Mackenzie Drive between Highway 400 and Jane Street, the Cluster will bring new jobs and innovation in health care to Southwestern York Region.

“We graciously applaud Minister Fantino, Minister Goodyear, and the Government of Canada for making this commitment to generate prosperity and support a dynamic life sciences cluster in Vaughan,” said Michael DeGasperis, Chair of the Vaughan Health Campus of Care (VHCC).  “This investment will enable the VHCC and its partners in bringing the very much needed additional health services, including a hospital to our community more quickly, through a common vision of integration, innovation and excellence. Our plans include a focus on a continuum of care for seniors and the aging, as well as geriatric medicine and many other health and wellness related services”

The FedDev Ontario support announced today will be used to begin the planning and development preconstruction, site preparation and infrastructure work.  Efforts will now commence to identify and secure the specific services and partners that will be anchored in the Cluster.  It is envisioned that priority will be given to providers of care for seniors and aging, reflecting regional demographic statistics and identified priorities for health care in Vaughan.

“It will be important during the initial phase of work to reach out to necessary stakeholders and gain their input into the specific opportunities that might exist for the Cluster,” said DeGasperis.  “We look forward to working with experts, leading stakeholder groups, and the general public, to further our goals and bring our vision for enhanced health services in Vaughan to reality.  This announcement will enable our organization to create a strategic health and economic cluster that will result in advancing a sustainable and diversified regional economy, focused on high skilled, high paying jobs, and a state-of the-art continuum of care, including a hospital.”

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VAUGHAN, ONTARIO - The Board of Directors of the Vaughan Health Campus of Care (“VHCC”) is pleased to appoint Melinda Gorgenyi to serve as its first Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Gorgenyi will be joined by Mr. Peter Meffe in the role of Vice President of Planning and Development. These additions to the Executive Team will help further the mandate of the VHCC to bring much needed and expanded health services to Vaughan, including a new hospital, and in creating Canada’s first truly integrated health campus system.

Ms. Gorgenyi has over 20 years experience in healthcare, government relations and business. Most recently, she was the Director of Facilities and Engineering at Halton Healthcare Services, where she was a key player in the planning for the new Oakville Hospital.

Ms. Gorgenyi has a strong background in strategic planning, sustainable development and corporate social responsibility. She is a licensed Professional Engineer and currently enrolled in the Masters program for Health Policy Management and Administration at the University of Toronto.

Mr. Meffe is a long time Vaughan resident with significant involvement in numerous municipal and regional planning and development initiatives. He is the past Chair of the Board for PowerStream, as well as a former Councillor for the City of Vaughan. As a Councillor for sixteen years, Mr. Meffe played a significant role in transforming Vaughan into one of the largest suburban municipalities and most rapidly growing economies in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Ms. Gorgenyi and Mr. Meffe will be integral in the VHCC’s collaboration with York Central Hospital to guide the planning and development of new hospital services in Southwest York Region. This will include bringing a new state-of-the-art hospital to Vaughan, and additional much needed ancillary health services. By working together, the VHCC and York Central Hospital will achieve their shared vision to bring expanded health services to our communities.

“Melinda and Peter bring a wealth of experience and insight to the VHCC,” said Michael DeGasperis, Chair of the VHCC. ”Their professionalism and expertise will be essential in helping to enhance the delivery of healthcare in Vaughan and to meet the growing health care needs of our community. We look forward to working with our elected officials, staff, and the public in realizing our collective objectives as quickly as possible.”

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The Open House was held in advance of the City’s Official Plan Amendment to re-designate the property on the north side of Major Mackezie Drive between Jane Street and Highway 400 from “theme park” to “major institutional,” “special study area” and “natural area.” This will allow for the establishment of the new hospital and other much needed health care services.

Those in attendance provided their input on various design themes for the property – such as open spaces, water courses, public spaces, accessibility and parking at various workstations set up around the room. There was an informational presentation and residents were given an opportunity to give their recommendations and ask questions of senior VHCC representatives, architects and urban planners.

“We are building this health campus for the people of Vaughan and Southwest York Region, and their interests, ideas, and concerns play a key role in the development process,” said Michael DeGasperis, Board Chair of the Vaughan Health Campus of Care.  “We are committed to keeping the public informed and engaged during the many development stages of the future Vaughan Health Campus of Care.”

Residents who attended the event appreciated the opportunity to ask questions, give their opinions, and be included in the process.

“It was a very informative event.  They are trying to educate the public with the process and how it will impact people and the end results,” said Kleinberg resident Ken Schwenger.  “I think it is a good idea to include a number of health care elements as part of the campus including an educational component. It would be wonderful to have onsite training and mentoring of young health care providers.”

“I think the Vaughan Health Campus of Care is on the right track,” said Vaughan resident Anna Bortolus who attended the session.  “The public process is timely and will make a difference in how health care services are delivered to the people of Vaughan.”

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Council also requested that the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care grant approval to the Vaughan Health Campus of Care to proceed to the Master Planning and Functional Programming stages of hospital approval in conjunction with the Central Local Health Integration Network.

“The City of Vaughan has long supported efforts to bring additional health care resources to our community,” said Michael DeGasperis, Chair of the Vaughan Health Campus of Care and Vaughan Health Care Foundation.  “Without their determined support, we could not have achieved all the success we have realized thus far.  This support will move us to the next level, in helping to bring a hospital to fruition as quickly as possible.”

The City of Vaughan has played an integral role in establishing health care services in Vaughan.  In January 2003, Vaughan City Council created the Vaughan Health Care Facility Study Task Force, which identified the precise need for a hospital and the vision of an innovative comprehensive health network called the Vaughan Health Campus of Care.  Subsequently, Vaughan City Council passed in January 2005 a resolution setting out the commitment of the City to work toward the development of “a health-care facility and system that will serve the needs of our rapidly growing community, while being a catalyst for innovation and change in the delivery of health-care services.”

“The Foundation and the Vaughan Health Campus of Care commend Council for its vision and continued support,” said DeGasperis.  “The unanimous efforts of Council and the City staff have been instrumental in our success.  Council has always supported our efforts to bring additional health services to Vaughan; from the announcement to develop the first Vaughan Community Health Centre in 2006, to the provincial government announcement of support for a new hospital in April 2007, and now with their financial commitment and request to the Province to move forward with the Master Planning and Functional Programming stage.”

The Province funds 90% of the construction costs for the facility. The community is responsible for 10% of the construction costs and 100% of other ancillary costs associated with hospital development, including costs associated with medical equipment, furniture and fixtures, and land acquisition.

The Vaughan Health Campus of Care is continuing the Capital Planning Process as defined by the provincial government, in conjunction with the Central Local Health Integration Network.  Master Planning will complete the necessary assessment of the precise scope of services, staffing levels, and service delivery models that will be employed in the new hospital.  Functional Programming will include all of the necessary architectural, construction design, and engineering work for the hospital development process.

“We must work together with our City leaders, to ensure that all additional health services in our community are coordinated, aimed at a common vision of integration, innovation, and excellence in health services delivery and patient care,” said DeGasperis.

The Vaughan Health Campus of Care will continue to work with the City and the broader Vaughan and York Region communities, to ensure that community input is reflected in this process.  The community’s financial support is also needed, so that we can meet our required goals as quickly as possible.

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