Innisfil residents were running wild for an important cause earlier this fall.
The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama'at Canada (Innisfil chapter) Run for Innisfil event, held Sept. 24, raised $12,000 for the RVH Foundation’s Keep Life Wild campaign. Representatives from the chapter and foundation held a cheque presentation at town council Nov. 22.
“We’ll continue this every year for the hospital,” chapter president Mahmood Chaudhry said, addressing Mayor Lynn Dollin. “Our services are available for you.”
Keep Life Wild was launched just over one year ago with a $100 million fundraising target. Proceeds will support three main efforts: Expanding the regional clinical programs (including heart, cancer, trauma, youth mental health and other specialized care) at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), building a new health care facility in Innisfil, and encouraging innovation with leading-edge medical education.
The total cost to build the south campus was estimated at $700 million in 2021, and councillors recently learned the local component required to proceed may potentially hit between $70 million and $210 million.
RVH's expansion plans also include doubling in size the existing campus on Georgian Drive in north-end Barrie. That portion of the project carries an estimated cost of $2.5 billion in 2021 figures.
Innisfil's proposed south campus has been in the works since 2017, with the property near the intersection of Innisfil Beach Road and Simcoe County Road 4 (Yonge Street) being selected about two years ago. A Minister’s Zoning Order to fast-track the development of the site soon followed at the request of town council.
The 83-acre parcel of land would, within a decade, house a “health hub” that focuses primarily on outpatient care; in 20 years, plans show a full-service hospital with an emergency room on the campus.
Foundation spokesperson Al Gilchrist called the presentation a “wonderful evening for us.”
“We’re working hard to raise money to provide a new hospital (to) Innisfil,” he said. “This event is one of many helping us reach that goal (so) thousands of people each year won’t have to travel out of town to wait in an emergency, or have their lives turned upside down for an overnight stay in the city. This is life-changing for residents of Innisfil and South Simcoe. Innisfil is filled with wonderful people and organizations.”
Dollin thanked the chapter for its work in the community.
“It was a beautiful day for a walk and a run; we enjoyed it very much,” she said.
— With files from Patrick Bales
