New SickKids research centre promises hope for the future

Sep 17, 2013 | News

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By Sarah Rea

Health care is taking a step forward as today marks the opening of the Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning.

Described as the largest children’s health research tower in the world and spread across 750,000 square feet on Bay and Elm Street, the new building holds 2,000 scientists, trainees and researchers.

Peter Gilgan, founder and CEO of Mattamy Homes and Canada’s largest homebuilder, donated $40 million to The Hospital for Sick Children in March 2012 to help construct the facility. The total construction cost was estimated at over $400-million.

John Tsai, a canvasser for Toronto’s SickKids Hospital told Humber News he believes the most pressing issue in the public eye is to provide better health care, and with this new research centre attracting the best professionals, it is safe to say that it will lead to many improvements in all fields of child health care.

 “I have had many responses from families that the spending of SickKids seems mystified, this, however will give them a tangible item which will show the public what they are donating towards.”

Ted Garrard, President and CEO for SickKids Foundation said in a press release, “the campaign was fuelled by the generosity of the community who saw the potential of bringing child health researchers together under one roof.”

“On behalf of everyone at SickKids, we extend our sincere gratitude to Tim Hockey, Campaign Chair, Peter Gilgan for his transformational gift, and the more than 13,000 donors who contributed. Their support has been inspirational and we can’t thank them enough.”

Gilgan’s donation is the biggest contribution ever made to SickKids hospital.