Fundraising campaign raised $3.723 million last year for Bowmanville Hospital redevelopment

The campaign to raise $110 million from the community for the Bowmanville Hospital’s redevelopment is moving along on schedule, with groundbreaking for the expansion set for sometime next year.

The foundation announced that $2,697,321 was raised from donors and another $1 million-plus from investment income for the We Care We Can campaign in the fiscal year ending in April, including a $1 million donation from the Vanhaverbake family and a $250,000 pledge from Delpark Homes.

Bowmanville Hospital Foundation CEO Frank Cerisano said the funds raised will directly support the campaign and thanked all donors at the foundation’s annual general meeting last month.

“Your presence and participation are vital as we invest in the future of healthcare in Bowmanville,” he said. “Together, with passion and dedication, we are charting a path towards a healthier community.”

The We Care, We Can campaign, the largest fundraising initiative in the foundation’s history, was launched in 2019 to raise funds for the redevelopment, expansion and equipment needs of the Bowmanville Hospital.

The redevelopment, which will include a mix of new construction and major renovations and a new emergency department, is expected to more than double the size of the facility.

The project will also enhance health-care access in Clarington and across the region by adding 178 more beds, expanding critical care services to Level 3 Critical Care capacity (the highest level of care provided in hospitals for critically ill patients) and introducing state-of-the-art facilities like an Ambulatory Care and Haemodialysis Centre.

The redeveloped hospital will also include modern patient-centred design, including private rooms and bariatric rooms; a new parking garage; additional green space; and a new permanent roof-top helipad.

The total cost of the redevelopment is an estimated $736 million, with a community component of $110 million.

Fundraising received a major boost last year when the late Harry Locke, a former Bowmanville businessman and longtime standardbred racehorse owner, gifted the hospital foundation $3.8 million – the largest planned private donation in the foundation’s history.

Clarington has gifted the hospital $7.5 million to date and the Region, which included a dedicated levy of nearly $2 million in the 2022 budget, chipped in with more than $37 million in 2021. That year the Province – which gave a green light to the project in the 2019 budget – threw in another $2.5 million for planning.

Queen’s Park expedited the expansion three years ago by moving the project to Stage 2 in the planning process, which puts shovels in the ground by the fall 2025.

“This achievement is a source of immense pride for us and a testament to the community’s belief in the impactful work of the Foundation and our hospital,” noted Mathew Sylvestre, the foundation’s marketing and communications director. “The revenue generated reflects the generosity of our donors, who understand the critical role of a well-supported hospital. Donations have come in various forms, including multi-year pledges, planned gifts, mailings, monthly contributions, general donations, sponsorships, and third-party initiatives. Each contribution, regardless of size, is deeply valued and vital to our mission.”

Laura Sciore was also named new Chair of the foundation’s board at the June 19 meeting, which included a keynote address from Greg Westlake, the captain of Canada’s national Para Hockey team. Sciore takes over from Peter Hobb, who has been a dedicated volunteer for the hospital foundation since 2002.

For a look at the foundation’s financials, visit annual report.