BRAMA, Oct 6, 2005, 2:00 pm ET
Press Release
Eugene Melnyk Donates $5 million to St. Joseph’s Health Centre Improves Patient Access to one of Toronto’s Oldest Hospitals
Hospital Celebrates Official Opening of the Vera & Ferdinand Melnyk Pavilion
St. Joseph's Health Centre recognizes Eugene Melnyk, Executive Chairman of the Board of Biovail Corporation, for his $5 million contribution to the Health Centre's redevelopment. This represents the largest donation in the Health Centre's 84-year history. St. Joseph's new main entrance has been named in honour of his parents, Vera Melnyk and the late Dr. Ferdinand Melnyk.
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Toronto, October 5, 2005 – St. Joseph's Health Centre Toronto celebrated the opening of its new main entrance and
thanked Eugene Melnyk, Executive Chairman of the Board of Biovail Corporation for his long-standing support for the hospital.
Mr. Melnyk’s generous gift of $5 million represents the largest donation in the Health Centre’s 84-year history and is helping to
support the hospital’s ongoing multi-million redevelopment initiative. The Health Centre’s new main entrance has been named in
honour of his parents, Vera Melnyk and the late Dr. Ferdinand Melnyk.
“My family has been closely associated with St. Joseph’s Health Centre for over 50 years. Over this time, I have witnessed with
great admiration, how St. Joe’s has worked so tirelessly to serve the health care needs of the community where I was born and
raised. It is truly a hidden gem within Toronto’s health care system,” said Melnyk.
Dr. Ferdinand Melnyk was a family physician at the Health Centre for more than 28 years. A native of Ukraine, Dr. Melnyk was
instrumental in creating the hospital’s first emergency room department that now services the largest volume of patients of any
single site hospital in the Greater Toronto Area. Today, some of Eugene Melnyk’s family members still call West Toronto their
home and St. Joseph's Health Centre their community hospital including his mother, Vera.
Eugene Melnyk hands 11-year-old Liam Stanfield a St. Michael's
Majors jersey to congratulate him on helping to raise $1,000 for St.
Joseph's Health Centre (SJHC).
Liam's fundraising efforts started last year when he was admitted to
SJHC's Paediatric Emergency Department with a severe foot injury
suffered during a hockey practice. After months of physiotherapy
treatment at the Health Centre, Liam was finally able to play hockey
again. As a way to say thanks for the treatment and care he received at
SJHC, he wrote a personal fundraising letter to fellow students and his
hockey association to help raise money for the Health Centre.
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Mr. Melnyk’s donation to revitalize and renovate the main entrance will improve patient care and access to the hospital’s many
services. Features include:
- Improved wheelchair and stroller access;
- Enlarged passenger pick-up and drop-off zone;
- New volunteer/concierge information desk to help direct patients and family members; and
- Ample visitor and patient seating overlooking Lake Ontario.
“I want to personally thank Eugene Melnyk for his donation to the Health Centre and to acknowledge the support of the
Government of Ontario and all of our donors. This is philanthropy and government working hand-in-hand to advance health
care,” said Ken Deane, President and CEO, St. Joseph's Health Centre.
From Left: Ken Deane, CEO of St. Joseph's Health Centre, Vera
Melnyk, Eugene Melnyk, and Bob Schultz, Chair, Medicine and Beyond
Campaign cutting the ribbon to St. Joseph's Health Centre's new Main
Entrance.
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St. Joseph’s Health Centre’s Foundation is also thanking the many donors who have given to their community hospital with a
new Donor Recognition System and interactive computer kiosk inside the main entrance.
St. Joseph’s Health Centre
30 The Queensway
Toronto, Ontario M6R 1B5
www.stjoe.on.ca
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