$1.6M reasons to celebrate

Every swing in golf counts and every gesture of support at this year’s Mike McCann Charity Golf Tournament will help score a win for The Ottawa Hospital .

Hosted by CLV GROUP and InterRent Real Estate Investment Trust (IIP.UN) , the Mike McCann Charity Golf Tournament raised more than $1.6 million dollars on September 21 for several charities in our region, including our Foundation — helping amplify support for our Campaign to Create Tomorrow.

Beyond its immediate impact, the legacy this tournament carries is remarkable. The Ottawa Business Journal reported that since its inception 25 years ago, the tournament has raised more than $6 million for charitable causes — becoming one of the largest events of its kind in Canada.?

With roughly 130 sponsors taking part, including BMO Capital Markets and Scotiabank , it brings together multiple business leaders who are driven to impact their communities — leaders like Mike McCann, whom the tournament was named after in 2019.

?A prominent figure in Ottawa and the owner of Velocity Media, Mike exemplified the essence of giving before passing away from cancer in 2019 at age 63. Prior to joining The Ottawa Hospital Foundation, I led marketing at the Canadian Museum of Nature - Musée canadien de la nature , and every year we advertised extensively outdoors throughout the city through Mike and Velocity Media. I considered Mike not only a business partner, but a friend – as he was to so many.

Though he left us too soon, his legacy continues to touch countless lives at our hospital and throughout the wider region. Thank you, Mike!

This is a great article to share with your networks. Public support from influential industry leaders not only inspires others in the community, but also raises awareness of our plans to reshape the future healthcare here and across the country.

Celebrating a $1-million gift from the Saikaley family!

Earlier today, we announced an incredible $1M gift from Charles and Majida Saikaley and family to the Campaign to Create Tomorrow. Proud of their Lebanese roots and their city, this is just one example of the impact they’ve made in Ottawa.

Read their story to learn why they’re inspiring their community to give back and join us in celebrating their generosity.

Moving kidney research forward, one step at a time

On September 20, CTV Morning Live featured one of our very own patients and donors, June Jones, to raise awareness for yesterday’s annual Kidney Walk — a fundraiser that supports kidney research at TOH.

Earlier this year, the Jones Family Foundation donated a transformational $10-million gift to our campaign to shine a light on the need for kidney research and organ donations for patients like June.

Finding answers to the question of cancer

An article published in the current edition of The Walrus argues that cancer’s complexity has, and will, hinder medical progress in finding cures.?

Holding little hope for new medical advances, it advocates that society would be better served if spending on research were reallocated to prevention through healthy lifestyle public awareness initiatives and to improved palliative care for those with little or no chance of a cure.?

Interestingly, it also recognizes cancer as the leading cause of death, citing that “one in two Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes; one in four will die of it”, and that “though the rates of diagnosis and mortality have declined, the number of cases will increase as the population grows and ages”.

It then provides interesting detail on medical breakthroughs in successfully fighting cancer, including highlighting CAR-T therapy and the work of Dr. Natasha Kekre, The Ottawa Hospital's new Research Chair in Advanced Stem Cell Therapy.

My own understanding is that the pace of medical innovation has accelerated, and will continue to, with more medial breakthroughs anticipated in the next decade as have been realized in the last half century.?That lens surely provides a different perspective.

Congratulations, Jennifer Van Noort!

As I mentioned last week, our own Vice-President of Philanthropy, Jennifer Van Noort, CFRE , was recognized as the Women’s Business Network’s Businesswoman of the Year Award in the Enterprise Category.

Leave her a note of congratulations here — she’s an amazing colleague and an inspiration to us all.