Mayor Bevilacqua attends unveiling of Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital

Urbantoronto.ca
June 18, 2020

The following statement was issued by Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua to mark the official naming of Vaughan’s first hospital:

“Today, I joined Premier Doug Ford and other dignitaries to acknowledge another milestone in our healthcare journey at the official naming ceremony of the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.

“Like many men and women who immigrated to Canada, the Cortellucci family have spent their lives giving back, helping all people, especially our most vulnerable citizens. Their exceptional generosity and support for the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital is an example of what we can achieve when we work together. The Cortellucci family are philanthropic leaders and Vaughan’s first-ever hospital will stand as a testament to their inspiring legacy of unwavering public service.

“The City has a long-held funding strategy in place to help fund, build and complete construction of this state-of-the-art facility. My commitment to seeing it through is the reason why I chair the Mackenzie Health Foundation’s $250-million Ultimate Campaign. I am proud to announce that more than $177 million has been raised toward reaching our goal and it is with great appreciation that I thank our generous donors for their unwavering support of this unprecedented city-building initiative.

“Providing accessible, front-line care for all citizens is among our top priorities in Vaughan, and we continue to work in support of this mission every day. We are taking an innovative approach to 21st-century healthcare to meet the current needs of our city and to forecast for our growth.

“Long before the world had ever heard of COVID-19, the City of Vaughan began preparing for a future with healthcare at the heart of city-building. The new $1.6 billion Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital will mark a series of firsts. It will be Vaughan’s first hospital and Canada's first smart hospital.

“Construction of Vaughan’s first hospital continues to progress, and we are now less than a year away from opening the doors and welcoming our first patient. The 1.2-million square-foot facility is the first in the country to feature fully integrated smart technology systems and medical devices that can speak directly to one another to maximize patient care. Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital will house up to 550 beds and will have a full-service emergency room, surgical services and operating rooms, technologically advanced diagnostic imaging and specialized ambulatory clinics. It has been built with the patient and caregiver experience in mind, and with a flexible design to allow for adaptation over time as new technologies and industry standards emerge.

“In addition to providing citizens with access to healthcare, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital will generate more than 1,800 jobs in the community, supported by the talent pool necessary to deliver these essential services. With the addition of Niagara University in Vaughan, we are ensuring we have the workforce to sustain and advance the capabilities of this unique facility for years to come.

“Furthermore, the lands surrounding the hospital are being primed to serve as a breeding ground for education and innovation - called the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. It is a first-of-its-kind initiative that will bring medical services, modernization and jobs to our growing community. Last October, we signed a memorandum of understanding with Mackenzie Health, York University and ventureLAB to identify transformational opportunities to maximize the best use of lands surrounding the hospital through a feasibility study. The high-tech institution will support other uses, including medical offices, labs and research spaces, incubators, and education and conference rooms. It will be a place for thought leaders and subject matter experts to come together to advance a shared vision of healthcare innovation. Creating opportunities for improved services in Vaughan ultimately comes down to effective partnerships.

“The Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital will provide individuals and families with the comfort of knowing reliable and exceptional care is right here in our community. I look forward to the day when we will open the doors and mark the arrival of top-tier healthcare to Vaughan. For our city, the best is yet to come.”