[Timmins], ON – Timmins and District Hospital will celebrate its 25th anniversary of service at its current Ross Avenue location on Friday, November 9, 2018 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. in the Hospital Lecture Theatre. The public is invited to help celebrate this milestone and to witness the unveiling of a new physician recognition plaque. Historical Hospital items, photos, videos and other significant items will be available for viewing and refreshments and celebratory cake will be provided after the plaque unveiling.

“This anniversary is celebrating more than just this facility. It’s about honouring the staff, physicians, and volunteers, past and present, who helped make the Hospital what it is today”, said Blaise MacNeil, President and CEO, Timmins and District Hospital. “With their support and dedication over the years we’ve been able provide quality health care to residents of Timmins and surrounding communities”.

In 1986 the Timmins and District Hospital fundraising campaign was initiated and in1988 Porcupine General Hospital, St. Mary’s General Hospital and the Timmins and District Hospital amalgamated into one corporate board. On October 15th, 1993 a “dream came true” as the newly constructed Timmins and District Hospital officially opened. Many dignitaries were on hand to take part in the opening ceremony including Bob Rae, then Ontario Premier. Three weeks later on November 6, 1993, St. Mary’s officially closed with patients transported to the new facility. 

The new Hospital had 165 beds and state of the art equipment. Off-site programs at St. Mary’s including the Mental Health unit, the Timmins Regional Evaluation Centre, and the Workfit clinic were relocated to the new Ross Avenue site. Its opening ushered in a new era in health care with an emphasis to more outpatients and ambulatory care and community services leading to enhanced partnerships in the district.

The anniversary celebration coincides with a new original physician recognition plaque being unveiled in the Hospital promenade. The plaque recognizes the contributions made by physicians beginning in the early 1900’s to present day. The project, spearheaded by Dr. Larry Malo, began 3 years ago out of a realization that there wasn’t anything in the Hospital that recognized physicians who have provided care and contributed to the community’s health and wellness.

“I was thinking about my mentors and physicians who’ve made impacts on my career one day. They spent their medical careers in Timmins but there was nothing recognizing them or their contributions. That realization got me thinking which evolved into a project to create something to acknowledge the physicians in our community over the many years”, said Dr. Larry Malo, General Practitioner and Anesthetist, Timmins and District Hospital. “The idea of a plaque came to me and a committee was formed to begin an exhaustive search of past records to get every physician and years worked in our community. If a physician worked in Timmins, South Porcupine, or Porcupine for 4 years or more beginning in the early 1900’s to present day, their name was added to our plaque”. I’m really pleased with the outcome of this labour or love and hope it’s location in the main promenade can be viewed by staff and visitors for many years to come”.

Maggie Matear, Chair of the Hospital Board, agrees with Dr. Malo’s sentiments by saying “What a fantastic way to acknowledge doctors in our community who’ve provided exceptional care to its residents over the years. To have this comprehensive plaque unveiled during the 25th anniversary celebration is significant and a perfect addition to our promenade for all to see”.

The Timmins and District Hospital (TADH) is a level C, fully accredited community, referral and teaching hospital serving the residents of the City of Timmins and Cochrane District as well as the adjoining areas of the Temiskaming, Sudbury and Algoma districts. The hospital offers a full range of medical, surgical, critical care, maternity, newborn, pediatric, mental health and diagnostic imaging services.

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For more information please contact:
Quinn Thomson
Timmins and District Hospital
705-267-6331
qthomson@tadh.com