Your Impact

Donors funded St. Joseph’s first da Vinci robot in 2005. Nearly 20 years later, they’re doing it again. In 2008, St. Joseph’s urologist Dr. Stephen Pautler was invited to mentor a Toronto surgeon completing his first robotic surgery. During the media scrum that followed, a reporter asked Dr. Pautler...

Down-to-earth, quietly generous, and community minded are just a few of the words that come to mind when you think about Beverly and the late James (Jim) Thompson and their family. Along with the generations of the family that came before them, they have been enriching communities across Ontario for...

For 17 years, Anne Toal and Paul Brisson have been supporting the purchase of modest items that deliver an immediate impact on patient care. Anne Toal was a newly-minted Parkwood Foundation Board member in 1992 when a funding request arrived: staff had identified a research project to enhance the...

This June, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation hosted its annual Hall of Heroes celebration, an event highlighting the unwavering support of the community and the inspiring spirit of Canada’s Veterans. The Veterans Care Program at Parkwood Institute is home to nearly 100 Veterans and service men and...

Ryan Finch is deeply committed to making transformational change to mental health care. His drive to stand up for mental health is fueled by personal experiences and what he sees happening in the community - and he’s in it for the long term. In June 2023, he took his decade-long support of mental...

Ask the farming Heeman family about their giving philosophy and the response is fittingly down to earth – both literally and figuratively. “The community is a lot like a plant – if you nurture it, invest in it and care for it, it will thrive and prosper,” says Will Heeman. Sitting around the table...

Tarra Smith, an RPN in the Veterans Care unit at St. Joseph’s Parkwood Institute, didn’t expect a “whole lot” from her single entry into the staff lottery. She had heard in the past about a few coworkers who’d won Whole Lotto Love, and decided to sign herself up through payroll deduction. “I looked...

Growing up, Natasha Smids loved sports and animals. A natural athlete, she played everything from soccer and badminton to rugby and basketball. And with more than one pet at home and surrounded by farms, she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian technician specializing in large animals. And so, once...

Working as a nurse for more than 35 years, Jeannette Lydestad, RN, has taken many opportunities to further her education. “Learning new things always keeps your mind active and young,” she says. Recently, Jeannette realized her family needed the security of a full-time role – something not available...