The University of Toronto has announced a C$75 million ($54.9 million) gift from Orlando Corporation, Canada’s largest privately owned industrial real estate developer, to strengthen health care and health education in Scarborough and the eastern greater Toronto area (GTA).

The largest gift in SHN history includes C$50 million ($34.6 million) to address mental health needs and other urgent priorities at the Scarborough Health Network (SHN) Birchmount Hospital and C$25 million ($18.3 million) in support of constructing the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH). In addition, C$15 million ($10.9 million) of the gift will match donations from the community dollar for dollar in support of SHN’s areas of greatest need. Funding will help create the Orlando Corporation Emergency Department, part of SHN’s no-wait emergency department, and establish the Orlando Corporation Mental Health Centre of Excellence, which will focus on a recovery-oriented model of care. The gift also will support redevelopment of the hospital, including a new patient care tower.

As part of its support for SAMIH, the gift support construction of a building and health sciences hub at University of Toronto Scarborough, which will be equipped with the state-of-the-art facilities for Scarborough Academy’s advanced health training programs. And C$10 million ($7.33 million) will match community donations.

“Every resident in Scarborough and the eastern GTA deserves to live a healthy life and to have access to excellent health care whenever they need it,” said Orlando Corporation president Blair Wolk. “The Scarborough Health Network and the University of Toronto are two institutions that can help make this goal a reality and we’re pleased to be able to support them.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Ridofranz)