It’s Time: Ottawa Hospital celebrates innovative research, centenary and campaign for new health care hub

It was definitely time.

On Saturday, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation hosted a party for 450 supporters to celebrate its many accomplishments, from the best in innovative research to the 100th anniversary of the Civic campus to the ongoing progress of its $500-million campaign toward the new $2.8-billion healthcare hub that’s to be built in the heart of the nation’s capital.

The “It’s Time” celebration, presented by RBC and held at the Shaw Centre, was spectacular. This was no black-tie, stuffy affair. Rather, the dress code was summer chic. The decor was dynamic and visually engaging. As for Toronto-based cover band Dwayne Gretzky, it was irresistibly dance worthy  with its fun and familiar tunes. There was also an exciting musical performance involving a group of seven drummers to kick things off.

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The speeches were short but genuinely sweet as speakers focused on The Ottawa Hospital and the larger dream of building something bigger and better for generations to come. 

The new hospital hub will reshape health care, uncover new ways to treat people, build capacity, and attract and retain talent, attendees heard. Roughly 3,500 people have been recruited over the last three years, and the hospital plans to recruit at least that over the next decade, said hospital president and CEO Cameron Love.

“I’ve been doing this a long time, and you typically get one opportunity in a career—and definitely one opportunity as a community—to build a centre like this,” said Love. “It is absolutely a game-changer for how we provide care going forward.”

Tim Kluke, president and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, announced the $500-million Campaign to Create Tomorrow has reached the $331-million mark. Said Kluke: “That is the most money that any charity has raised for any project in this city. Why? Because it is the most important project that touches everyone in this city. If you’re sick, you go to the hospital. If you’re really sick, you’re coming to The Ottawa Hospital.”

The Campaign to Create Tomorrow stands as Ottawa’s largest campaign ever. The province has mandated that the community raise $500 million toward the multi-billion-dollar healthcare project.

“There’s a place for every gift in this campaign, no matter what the size,” said volunteer campaign chair Roger Greenberg, executive chairman of The Minto Group and driving force behind his family’s $25-million campaign gift. He has tirelessly solicited donations from donors over the past several years, after being recruited for the daunting task of an ask by the hospital’s former CEO, Jack Kitts.

“Now, some people have asked me, ‘Roger, have you fished out the ocean, yet?’ and I say, ‘Absolutely not’.”

As chair, he’s been assisted by a volunteer campaign cabinet of business leaders and by the professional fundraising team at TOH Foundation, led by Kluke. “It’s been an absolute pleasure,” said Greenberg, an Order of Canada recipient. “I’m delighted to have been able to play such a leading role in what I believe has been the most important funding campaign in this city’s history.

“In my view, a great city like Ottawa needs an exemplary hospital that aligns with its leadership, its innovation, its care and its compassion,” said Greenberg before offering his gratitude to those who have generously given. “For those who have not yet committed, we look forward to your support.”

The evening was emceed by Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng, an ICU physician, head of the Critical Care Department at The Ottawa Hospital, and a member of TOH Foundation’s board. He’s originally from Edmonton, which is why he couldn’t resist later donning an Oilers hockey jersey in support of the Stanley Cup contender.

There was a small circular stage strategically positioned in middle of the dining area, requiring some speakers to pivot continuously to address all sides of the audience. There was a feeling of constant motion to the evening, with images floating on and off the giant LED video walls. It was a very slick production executed smoothly by Angela Spicer from Event Design.

Dr. Kyeremanteng named each of the event’s corporate partners and table sponsors, noting how the long list “really illustrates how much the community is behind this new build, behind creating this new campus.” Interestingly, the Unionized Building and Construction Trades Council — which was among the sponsors — also helped with the construction of the Civic 100 years ago.

The evening was held in part to celebrate the Civic’s centennial anniversary. Organizers had a 1940s ambulance on display. TOH Foundation employee Heather McLean spotted the vehicle parked at a west-end gas station and asked the owner if they could borrow it for the night.

Marion Crowe, a member of The Ottawa Hospital board of governors, took to the stage to introduce the hospital’s top researchers of 2023. They were all gracious in their brief remarks, thanking their colleagues and mentors, as well as friends and family. 

Surgical oncologist and laboratory scientist Dr. Rebecca Auer received the Chrétien Researcher of the Year Award. She’s soon taking over from Dr. Duncan Stewart – whose exceptional leadership was publicly recognized by Cameron Love. Dr. Auer said she’s excited about her new role as executive vice-president of research and innovation at The Ottawa Hospital, and CEO and scientific director of the hospital’s research institute.

Dr. Shawn Aaron received the Grimes Career Achievement Award for practice-changing research in COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and other chronic lung diseases. The doctor, who’s been with the hospital for almost 30 years, expressed how “absolutely privileged” he feels to be part of the organization, surrounded by “world-class physicians and researchers”, and to be “helping the community and giving back every day.”

Ottawa has one of the best research-intensive hospitals in the country, said Dr. Aaron proudly before using a sports analogy. “If we were a hockey team, we would be the Edmonton Oilers, we’re that good.”

Dr. Colleen Webber received the Clinical and Applied Health Researcher in Training Award for her rigorous and empathetic palliative care research. Dr. Alvin Tieu, who was on-call and couldn’t make it, was recognized with the Worton Researcher in Training Award for his multidisciplinary research on life-threatening lung diseases.

Resilience trainer Komal Minhas was invited to the stage to speak about the care, compassion, and dignity she received at The Ottawa Hospital. In doing so, she touched on some of the features of the future campus, including  private rooms for all patients, with individual washrooms.

RBC was represented by regional president Marjolaine Hudon, who shared a powerful story involving The Ottawa Hospital staff that treated victims of the horrific 2019 Westboro bus station crash. Coincidentally, the health care professionals had just done simulation training, made possible through a donation by RBC,  to deal with these mass-casualty type situations. It’s believed the outcomes would have been “much, much worse” if not for the simulation-based education, said Hudon. 

Last fall, RBC made its largest-ever donation in the region with its $2.25-million gift to the hospital’s campaign, said Hudon while encouraging others to support the cause. 

The celebration was particularly uplifting for Solange Tuyishime Keita, president and CEO of Elevate International. “I love that we get to all unite, and that we have this feeling that we’re creating a better city, and that our kids will benefit from this,” she told OBJ.social.

caroline@obj.ca