Humber River Hospital to change name after ‘transformational’ $50M donation

An artist's rendering of the newly named Hennick Humber Hospital is pictured. (Handout)

Humber River Health is getting a big injection of cash to improve its services.

The hospital network says it has received a staggering $50 million donation from the Hennick Family Foundation -- the largest single donation in the hospital’s history.

“Jay and Barbara Hennick’s extraordinary generosity will have a lasting impact on the patients and communities we serve,” Barb Collins, President and CEO of Humber River Health, said in a release.

“Their transformational gift will allow us to build on our strong foundation of innovation and accelerate the future of healthcare. By investing in advanced technologies, clinical programs, research, and education, this support will empower our teams to continue delivering the safest, highest quality care for our patients.”

The hospital said the donation will allow it to sustain and scale its current work, while bringing improved models of care, new technologies, and new ideas forward sooner.

To recognize the donation, the organization is renaming its flagship site near Wilson Avenue and Keele Street to Hennick Humber Hospital.

Founded by philanthropists Jay and Barbara Hennick, the Hennick Family Foundation focuses on health care, education and the arts. The family has also made large contributions to Sinai Health, York University, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM), and other major institutions.

Speaking at the announcement, Jay Hennick praised hospital staff and said he and his wife are thrilled to be able to give back to the communities where they grew up.

“Over the past decade, you’ve built something that you should be incredibly proud of; a hospital that consistently punches above its weight,” Hennick said, addressing the staff.

“Innovative, compassionate and deeply committed to the communities it serves, including Bathurst village and Bathurst Manor, communities that both Barbara and I grew up in. You are the reason this hospital works.”

The announcement was attended by Premier Doug Ford and other dignitaries Friday morning.

Addressing the Hennicks, Ford said “there’s probably a list of a dozen other areas that you donate to, and we’re forever, ever grateful.

“On behalf of the people of Ontario, on behalf of the doctors, nurses, patients and their families, thank you for helping us build something special.”

Ford said the donation is “close to our heart,” recalling that he and his siblings were all born at Humber Health’s Church Street site, near Jane Street and Black Creek Drive.

“I’ll never forget driving up to the Church site with my dad and my mom was in the second storey. She waved out the window,” Ford said. “That was the time when they used to keep the mums in the hospital for three or four days, and that was when Rob was born. And I remember there was no Tim Horton’s back then. My dad, to celebrate, bought us Country Style donuts.”

He added “I think the world of everyone that works at the hospital.”

Humber River Health is comprised of the Wilson campus, the Finch Campus, the Church Campus, a Research Institute, and the Schulich Family Medicine Teaching Unit.

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones also spoke at the announcement. She noted that Humber River was Canada’s first fully digital hospital and said the fact the Hennicks see the hospital as a worthwhile investment is testament to the efforts of those who work there every day.

“It’s an incredible endorsement of what Humber River and your family and your teams have done that the Hennick family have committed such an impressive and generous gift. Thank you so much,” Jones said.

Collins said Humber River has been at the forefront of using new technology to improve outcomes, including emergency room flow and surgical wait times.

“Real time data, artificial intelligence, advanced robotics keeps care moving,” she said. “But what’s most important is it gives our teams time where it matters most; with our patients and their families.”