February 13, 2007/- Valentines Day came early to Hotel Dieu Hospital today with the announcement of a major gift by the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph. The gift to the University Hospitals Kingston Foundation – the fundraising arm of Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston General Hospital and Providence Continuing Care Centre – will support the redevelopment plans for Hotel Dieu Hospital.

“What a better way to celebrate Valentines Day than a gift from the heart by the sisters of the Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph to the hospital they founded and cherish – Hotel Dieu,” said Roger Wright, Chair of the Foundation. “For all of their help in supporting Hotel Dieu Hospital now and in the past I want to say thank you. Their belief in our hospitals and our vision for redevelopment is very welcome.”

The significant gift, which was not disclosed, will support Hotel Dieu Hospital’s plans to complete work on creating Canada’s leading ambulatory health care centre. Some 36,000 square feet of existing space will be renovated into leading-edge ambulatory space that will provide highly specialized outpatient clinics in one location for patients from across Southeastern Ontario.

“The Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph believes in Hotel Dieu Hospital, its staff and patients. We welcome this opportunity to invest in its future,” said Sister Sheila Boase, spokesperson for the Order. “It is our hope that our gift will inspire others in the community to make a donation to one of Kingston’s hospitals – they are all important to the community.”

The redevelopment plans of the university hospitals of Kingston include projects across all three institutions. The KGH component is expected to begin in 2008 with the expansion of the Cancer Centre of Southeastern Ontario and construction of a new Inpatient Mental Health Unit. Other KGH components include redevelopment of Central Processing Services (which provides sterilization support to operating rooms), the relocation of the Pediatric Inpatient Unit, expansion of the Intensive Care Unit and medical/surgical inpatient capacity and expansion of the Dialysis Program. The Providence Continuing Care Centre component includes construction of a brand new hospital to replace PCCC’s St. Mary’s of the Lake Hospital and Mental Health Services sites.

The Religious Hospitallers of Saint Joseph (RHSJ) were founded more than 370 years ago in France . They have been in Canada since 1659 and in Kingston since 1845. They are presently located in France, Canada, United States, Peru, Dominican Republic and Mexico. Their mission is to help the poor, the sick and the most needy with love and dedication. In Kingston they continue this mission by sponsoring Hotel Dieu Hospital and meeting other needs in the community.

University Hospitals Kingston Foundation celebrated its first anniversary in October. In the last year, some $4 million from almost 13,000 donors has been raised for patient care, new equipment and research. The Foundation raises money for programs, equipment, education and research that benefit the 500,000 people in Kingston and Southeastern Ontario served by its three teaching hospitals.

To find out more about giving opportunities or to make a donation go online to www.uhkf.ca or call 613-549-5452.

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Contact:
University Hospitals Kingston Foundation
John Suart
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Phone: (613) 549-5452 Ext. 5908
Mobile: (613) 583-3062
Email: john.suart@uhkf.ca