Partnership to Rebuild BC Children's Hospital
April 14, 2008
VANCOUVER – Premier Gordon Campbell joined mining executive Don Lindsay today to announce plans to rebuild BC Children’s Hospital. Lindsay, who is president and CEO of BC-based Teck Cominco Ltd., participated in the announcement as chair of the Campaign for BC Children, a $200-million fundraising initiative launched today by BC Children’s Hospital Foundation to support the construction of a new Acute Care Centre.
“The health of B.C.’s children and future generations is a high priority for this government,” said Campbell at an event attended by about 200 people at Children’s Hospital. “In the 2008 speech from the throne, our government committed to upgrading and expanding Children’s Hospital. In B.C.’s 150th anniversary year, it seems fitting to announce this legacy for our children. What’s good for our kids is good for our province. We are ensuring our kids have healthy futures, and this means having a world-class facility that will continue to attract top medical professionals and researchers from around the world.”
“We have already had expressions of support from several prominent organizations and individuals, but we have a long way to go to reach $200 million,” said Lindsay. “BC Children’s Hospital belongs to everyone and we are looking to every man, woman and child in the province to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure our children have a healthy future.”
“We are pleased to support the BC Children's Hospital Foundation with their tremendous commitment to our youngest citizens,” said Health Minister George Abbott. “A new BC Children's Hospital builds upon many investments we've made in children’s health care since 2001, including new and upgraded neonatal intensive care beds in hospitals throughout British Columbia, provincewide early childhood screening programs and a new mental health facility for B.C. children.”
“The team at Global TV BC has worked closely with BC Children’s Hospital Foundation for many years,” said Global general manager Brett Manlove. “When we learned of the Campaign for BC Children, we immediately saw an opportunity to be an integral part of securing a healthy future for the children of B.C. We all knew it was something we had to do. We’re proud to be part of creating this legacy for our children and grandchildren.”
BC Children’s Hospital is the province’s only full-service acute care hospital and serves the one million children living in B.C. and the Yukon. All children who are seriously ill or injured are referred to Children’s Hospital and are either treated at the hospital facility in Vancouver or, with consultation from Children’s specialists, in their home community. Last year, more than 72,000 children were treated at Children’s Hospital. BC Children’s Hospital Foundation received donations from more than 82,000 people last year and had revenues of over $54.4 million. Funds raised by the foundation are used to support BC Children’s Hospital, Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children and the Child & Family Research Institute.
