Vaughan/Richmond Hill, ON (December 1, 2023) – Mackenzie Health leadership, local government representatives, donors and community leaders came together at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital today to celebrate a remarkable achievement for Mackenzie Health – 60 years of caring for the community!
On November 28, 1963, York Central Hospital opened its doors as a community hospital in Richmond Hill. Sixty years later, what was once a single hospital operating 126 beds, is now a two-hospital system operating more than 800 beds, encompassing Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, a network of community-based locations and a long-term care home supporting more than 550,000 residents across western York Region and beyond.
“Just as it took an entire community to build the original York Central Hospital, it took our entire community to help us expand and grow Mackenzie Health into the two-hospital system it is today,” said Altaf Stationwala, President and CEO, Mackenzie Health. “Thank you to our community for supporting us on this incredible journey.”
It was a community of women who initially formed the York Central Auxiliary, the predecessor of the Mackenzie Health Volunteer Association, and dreamed of bringing a hospital to their community. They laid the groundwork to make it happen by rallying the community and raising funds to achieve the local share needed to build the hospital. The Redelmeier family also made a significant contribution when they sold the Don Head Farm, the land that would become home to the first hospital in Richmond Hill serving southern York Region.
Becoming the first hospital in Richmond Hill was just one of many firsts the hospital would later achieve. In 1976, York Central Hospital became the first computerized hospital in Ontario, linking all patient units with lab, pharmacy and diagnostic imaging services. In 1977, the York Central Hospital Foundation was established as one of the first community hospital foundations in Canada with community leader Douglas H. Storms, the first Chair of the Board of Trustees, engineering the fundraising campaign that helped build and equip the hospital.
In 2012, with an expanded mandate to build a second hospital in Vaughan, the Mackenzie Health brand was introduced and York Central Hospital was renamed Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital.
In 2017, Mackenzie Health became the first hospital system in Canada to launch a full-suite Epic electronic medical record system, giving clinicians access to real-time, integrated clinical information about their patients. In 2018, it became the first acute-care hospital in Canada to achieve EMRAM 7, the highest level of electronic medical record adoption from the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society. In 2021, Mackenzie Health opened its second hospital, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital – the first net-new hospital to be built in Ontario in more than 30 years.
“Mackenzie Health has come so far over the past six decades, growing and evolving to provide necessary health care services while becoming an integral part of the community and its residents’ lives,” said David West, Mayor of Richmond Hill. “Countless babies have been delivered and many more families have experienced poignant moments as their loved ones received the care they needed.”
In 1963, 679 babies were delivered at York Central Hospital, there were 4,424 visits to the Emergency Department and 4,400 surgical procedures were completed. By contrast, projections for 2023/24 will see more than 3,800 babies delivered, more than 231,000 Emergency Department visits and more than 13,000 surgical procedures conducted across Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. Additional milestones and highlights from Mackenzie Health’s history can be found on the historical timeline online.
Mackenzie Health owes its long history of providing care in Richmond Hill, Vaughan, King and beyond to its community of donors, government and community partners, vendors and contractors, members of the community, staff, physicians, volunteers and patients. To hear from a few of them in their own words about their experiences and memories as the organization has grown and evolved, view Mackenzie Health’s 60th anniversary video.
Mackenzie Health continues to make improvements to its physical spaces and expand the programs and services it delivers in an effort to keep up with its growing community’s needs. York Region’s population is expected to grow by more than 35 per cent over the next 20 years and Mackenzie Health continues to plan for future expansion and growth as it looks towards the next sixty years.
“We’re excited for what lies ahead,” said Fay Lim-Lambie, Chair, Mackenzie Health Board of Directors. “We can’t wait to bring everyone along with us on the next phase of our journey together to deliver the health care services residents across western York Region need and deserve.”
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Additional quotes:
“As we celebrate the remarkable milestone of Mackenzie Health’s 60th anniversary, it's an honour to witness the enduring dedication and exceptional care provided to our community. This anniversary marks not only a testament to the hospital's legacy but also a reflection of our collective commitment to healthcare excellence and innovation. Together, we forge ahead, inspired by the past and dedicated to the continued health and well-being of all those we serve.”
- Daisy Wai, MPP for Richmond Hill
“For more than 60 years Mackenzie Health has been caring for the well-being of our community. This significant milestone underscores the hard work and dedication of the staff, volunteers and Board members who have served over half a million people across York Region and continue to build on a legacy of invaluable support in our community for future generations.”
- Michael Parsa, MPP for Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill
“Expanding healthcare and improving the quality of life of families in our community has been our top priority as a government, which is why we were so proud to open Mackenzie Health's second hospital in Vaughan, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. We thank the hard-working staff at both Mackenzie Health hospitals for caring for local families and seniors for the past six decades, and well into the future."
- Stephen Lecce, MPP for King-Vaughan
"This is an incredible milestone for Mackenzie Health. I am grateful to the incredible staff and volunteers that keep our community healthy and bring so many of Thornhill's newborns into this world. I want to thank President and CEO, Altaf Stationwala, for his leadership, and I look forward to what the next 60 years will bring."
- Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill
“On behalf of York Regional Council, The Regional Municipality of York and the countless patients who have benefited from your compassion and expertise, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable milestone of 60 years of service. This is a momentous achievement that reflects Mackenzie Health’s unwavering commitment and long-standing history of caring for the community. We look forward to our continued partnership in creating strong, caring and safe communities.”
- Wayne Emmerson, York Region Chairman and CEO
“On behalf of the City of Vaughan, I am pleased to congratulate Mackenzie Health for delivering quality, compassionate care to people in Vaughan and throughout York Region for six decades. This incredible milestone serves as a testament to all Mackenzie Health staff, volunteers and supporters who have gone above and beyond to ensure the health and well-being of our communities. Every day, people rely on Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and Mackenzie Health’s team of professionals for exceptional care, and we are grateful for their ongoing commitment to uphold the quality of life in Vaughan and beyond.”
- Steven Del Duca, Mayor of Vaughan
About Mackenzie Health
Mackenzie Health is a dynamic regional health care provider. Mackenzie Health includes Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, each with a full-service emergency department, core services such as surgery, medicine, critical care and medical imaging along with specialized programs. Its community-based locations and services continue to provide additional support to western York Region. In December 2022, the organization maintained its Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada for its commitment to safety and quality patient care. This is the highest rating a Canadian health care provider can receive. Guided by a vision to create a world-class health experience, Mackenzie Health has an unrelenting focus on the patient and is dedicated to patient needs now and in the future. Mackenzie Health is proud to serve western York Region, one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in Canada with more than 550,000 residents. For more information, please visit www.mackenziehealth.ca.
Media contact:
Christina Cindric
Senior Communications Consultant and Public Affairs Lead, Mackenzie Health
christina.cindric@mackenziehealth.ca
905-883-1212, ext. 7490
Mackenzie Health President and CEO Altaf Stationwala delivers remarks at Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital for its 60th anniversary celebration.
L to R (top): President and CEO of Mackenzie Health Altaf Stationwala, Chair of the Mackenzie Health Board of Directors Fay Lim-Lambie, MPP for Richmond Hill Daisy Wai, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health Dawn Gallagher Murphy
L to R (bottom): Mayor of Vaughan Steven Del Duca, MPP for Thornhill Laura Smith, Mayor of King Steve Pellegrini, President and CEO of Mackenzie Health Foundation Nicole McCahon, and Mayor of Richmond Hill David West
Virginia Wainman, a volunteer with 40 years of service at Mackenzie Health, views a historical timeline of milestones from its 60-year history.
From L to R: Dr. Bharat Nathoo, Mackenzie Health staff member Pamela Rosano, volunteer Virginia Wainman, donor Nancy Coxford, and Past President of the Mackenzie Health Volunteer Association Zina Villamagna pose for a photo to mark their long history of service to Mackenzie Health.