Children’s Heart Centre takes giant leap forward

(October 8, 2019) – The heartbeat symbolizes life. Sixteen months ago, the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba made a plea to the community to help the hearts of so many children and their families by building a new Children’s Heart Centre. The community response was overwhelming. Members of the community came together like a force to be reckoned with. Today, it was announced that the heartbeat strengthened when The Price Family announced a $2.5 million donation to support the new, leading-edge Children’s Heart Centre.

“Thank you, Dr., and Mrs. Price. Your story will inspire generations to come and your giving spirit will ignite the community to come together in this last step of this campaign,” said Karen Cornejo, Past Chair, Board of Directors, Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba. “Every moment will be realized because you took the time to care. Thank you for showing such heart.”

In May 2018, the original request for funding for the new facility was $3.5 million, but after closer examination, it was realized that an updated cath lab was also in need of completion. This would result in families not having to travel out of province for smaller procedures, saving the Province of Manitoba millions of dollars, and resulting in significantly less disruption for patients and their families. The campaign was further increased to $10.9 million to also establish an overarching Equipment Innovation Fund in support of pediatric care needs, and provide on-going financing for research at the world-class Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.

Also, during this time, the Manitoba government announced its support for the clinic project had grown from $500,000 to $2.3 million.

“The new Children’s Heart Centre will allow children to receive better cardiac care sooner, right here in Manitoba,” said Premier Brian Pallister. “This meaningful project will make possible a better life and brighter future for young cardiac patients from across the province.”

Pediatric cardiology services are currently located at 685 William Ave. They will be relocated to the new HSC Diagnostic Centre of Excellence building next to and connected to the Children’s Hospital-HSC Winnipeg. This relocation allows for improvements, including two additional examination rooms, four cardiologist offices and dedicated spaces for services such as ultrasound, EKG testing, and counselling, which currently occupy shared areas.

“As Manitoba’s Hospital, HSC Winnipeg provides the unique, vital, and specialist services children and adults across the province need,” said Ronan Segrave, Chief Operating Officer, HSC Winnipeg. “We are grateful to the Price family, our partners in government, and indeed all of the donors across our communities who have so generously supported this campaign.”

The current clinic, built in the mid-1980s, was designed for roughly one-third of the present clinic volume and significantly less complicated patient requirements. Fast forward 30 years, and services are needed more than ever.

To date, the campaign has raised over $8.9 million, with support from the Province of Manitoba.
Construction on the space is expected to begin in the spring 2020. Construction will be completed by Bockstael Construction after successfully winning the RFP.

To support this transformation in pediatric heart health care, visit goodbear.ca. Let’s make anything possible.

About Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba

The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba is dedicated to ensuring that every child treated at the Children’s Hospital receives the best medical care possible.

Since 1971, with incredible donor support, the Foundation has raised more than $100 million to improve the lives of sick and injured children from Manitoba, Northwestern Ontario, and Nunavut. Funding supports important programs that bring comfort to sick children during difficult times, the purchase of life-saving equipment, and the advancement of pediatric health research that will improve the lives of children everywhere. Learn more about the impact you make at goodbear.ca.

About HSC Winnipeg

HSC Winnipeg is a Shared Health facility, and is Manitoba’s provincial tertiary centre for trauma, transplants, burns, neurosciences, complex cancer care and pediatric care. Every clinical hospital-based service available in the province is offered at HSC, with the exception of cardiac surgery and eye surgery. This means the majority of Manitobans’ tertiary care is provided here, regardless of which community our patients call home. More than 8,000 staff, physicians and volunteers care for patients. Highly-skilled interdisciplinary teams provide complex, specialist (“tertiary”) acute care, including diagnostic, outpatient and inpatient services to adults and children across Manitoba, north-western Ontario and Nunavut. To learn more, visit hsc.mb.ca.