Local philanthropists raise $3 million to transform surgical care
Vancouver, BC – Local philanthropists from the Chinese-Canadian community in Vancouver joined together on Saturday, February 1, to raise $3 million towards transforming surgical care at Vancouver General Hospital and UBC Hospital. More than 300 philanthropists, and health care and community leaders attended the 2020 Lion Way Properties Time to Shine gala on Saturday for an evening of splendour, celebration and fundraising in support of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s Future of Surgery campaign. By the end of the night, the fundraising total of $3 million broke past the $60 million goal of the campaign.
“The Future of Surgery campaign has garnered tremendous support from thousands of donors across the province,” says Angela Chapman, President & CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “I would like to especially thank the Chinese-Canadian community of Metro Vancouver for their generosity to this campaign, including William Lin and An-Nien Lu, whose $1 million gift at the 2020 Lion Way Properties Time to Shine gala was instrumental in closing this campaign.”
“The surgeons at VGH do incredible work, but in order to best treat patients, they need the best surgical environment,” says William Lin, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation Board Member. “Philanthropy can have an incredible impact on the health care of our families, friends and community. Donor funding is already saving lives, and the impact will only grow with further support.”
The Future of Surgery campaign launched in 2016 with the goal of reducing wait times for surgical procedures, equipping the hospitals with groundbreaking technology, enhancing surgical spaces, and optimizing recovery for faster and improved patient outcomes. Because of the generosity and support from thousands of donors from across BC, the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Surgical Centre at VGH is on track to open in early 2021. Renovated surgical spaces are already open at UBC Hospital.
“As a committed, long-term member of the community, we at Lion Way Properties are dedicated to bettering the lives of people in BC,” said Willie Li, founder and CEO of Lion Way Properties Ltd. and title sponsor of the Gala. “We are honoured to partner with VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation to help reach the fundraising goal for the Future of Surgery campaign.”
VGH and UBC Hospital are centres of surgical excellence caring for 60% of all adult trauma cases in BC. With 50% of surgical patients from outside Vancouver, over 30,000 surgeries are completed each year — saving and improving the lives of our loved ones.
To ensure our medical teams have the best environments to undertake their life-saving work, a $145 million transformation of the surgical facilities at VGH and UBC Hospital is under way. And while Vancouver Coastal Health and the provincial government are funding the majority of the costs, the Future of Surgery campaign has raised $60 million.
Donations have already been put to use — saving the lives of patients every day.
Event Photos
Future of Surgery Photos
About VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is Vancouver Coastal Health‘s primary philanthropic partner, raising funds for specialized adult health services and research for all British Columbians. We partner with donors to drive innovation and sustainable health care at VGH, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and Vancouver Community Health Services.
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Contact:
Sam Smith
Officer, Marketing & Communications
Office: (604) 875 4676 ext 69680
Cell: (778) 389 4897
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
Email: sam.smith@old.vghfoundation.ca
Thanks to all our angels
Thank you. Together, we raised over $680,000!
It takes an entire community to transform health care. Heartfelt donations and personalized messages to honour Angels make an incredible difference in supporting our hospitals and health care teams.
Donor support through the holiday season enables our hospitals to purchase critical equipment and fund high-impact research projects to advance patient care. It is because of your generosity that patients like Jon Sedman are given a second chance in life.
On behalf of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, thank you for being our Angels and for helping lift the spirits of patients and their families during the holiday season.
Learn more about the Angel campaign.
Time to Shine Gala Aims to Close $60M Campaign to Transform Surgical Facilities
Vancouver, BC, January 9, 2020: VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation aims to close its $60 million Future of Surgery campaign for the $145 million transformation of surgical facilities at both hospitals at its upcoming Lion Way Properties Time to Shine gala on February 1.
The Future of Surgery campaign aims to strengthen the resources of both VGH and UBC Hospital to support a single, state-of-the-art, efficient, effective surgical program. This includes building a 40-bed perioperative care unit, 16 new operating rooms at Vancouver General Hospital, and enhanced inpatient units at UBC Hospital.
The Lion Way Properties Time to Shine gala will connect supporters and philanthropists from the Asian community in and around Metro Vancouver to help ensure our medical teams have the best technology and equipment to undertake their life-saving work.
Since its launch in 2015, the gala has raised a total of $15.4 million to support the Future of Surgery and other urgent needs in health care. This year’s gala is especially noteworthy as the Foundation is in the final stretch of the campaign and the Lion Way Properties Time to Shine gala aims to close the final fundraising gap.
“We have seen tremendous support from communities across BC, including the Chinese-Canadian community and the real estate development sector. We are greatly inspired by the generosity we have received in the past four years at the Time to Shine gala,” said Angela Chapman, President and CEO of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “We look forward to gathering together with the community and celebrating our achievement at the upcoming gala with the aim of drawing to a successful close the $60 million Future of Surgery campaign.”
This year’s title sponsor for the Time to Shine gala is Lion Way Properties Ltd., a Vancouver-based real estate development company. Its founder and CEO, Willie Li, immigrated to Canada 11 years ago and is the first title sponsor of the gala from mainland China.
“At Lion Way Properties, we are committed to building a better — and healthier — community,” said Willie Li, founder and CEO of Lion Way Properties Ltd. “This is why we are proud to partner with VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation in making the Future of Surgery a reality.”
The Lion Way Properties Time to Shine gala will take place on February 1 at the Fairmont Pacific Rim. The evening will feature fine dining from Chef John Carlo Felicella and the BC Culinary team in collaboration with Chef Glenn Thompson, as well as contemporary décor and an exclusive selection of unique auction items.
“We are currently less than $5 million away from reaching our $60 million campaign goal,” says Chapman. “We believe we can breakthrough that total at the 2020 Lion Way Properties Time to Shine gala, and bring the Future of Surgery to British Columbia.”
VGH and UBC Hospital are centres of surgical excellence caring for 60 per cent of all adult trauma cases in BC. With 50 per cent of surgical patients from outside Vancouver, more than 30,000 surgeries are completed each year — saving and improving the lives of our loved ones.
About VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is Vancouver Coastal Health‘s primary philanthropic partner, raising funds for specialized adult health services and research for all British Columbians. We partner with donors to drive innovation and sustainable health care at VGH, UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, and Vancouver Community Health Services.
About Lion Way Properties Ltd.
Lion Way Properties Ltd. is a Vancouver-based real estate development company creating distinct, innovative spaces for people to build their life story. Headed by accomplished developer, Willie Li, Lion Way Properties brings over a decade of experience to the development and execution of properties across the Lower Mainland.
Combining the talents of best-in-class architects, designers, and builders, Lion Way Properties’ upcoming The Landmark will bring a boutique styled luxury retail and office project to the heart of Richmond, the likes of which the city has never seen before.
Media Contacts:
Joanna Frandsen
Edelman Vancouver
joanna.frandsen@edelman.com
604-648-3428
Daisy Xiong
Edelman Vancouver
daisy.xiong@edelman.com
604-648-3405
Elizabeth Moffat
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
elizabeth.moffat@old.vghfoundation.ca
604-616-5023
David’s Story
Grizzly bear attack puts hiker in the fight of his life
One morning in July 2019, Colin Dowler was returning to his boat parked at a logging camp in Ramsay Arm east of Campbell River. He had spent the previous day mapping out a route to climb Mount Doogie Dowler — a local mountain named after Colin’s late grandfather that he and his brother planned to hike together.
Nearly seven kilometres out from his boat, Colin’s life changed forever. While riding down the trail he came across a grizzly bear.
“The bear looked into the bush a couple of times, and I was hoping that it was just going to step off into the forest, but it didn’t,” says Colin.
Colin got off his bike, took off his backpack and extended a hiking pole — he had heard of another hiker once fending a bear off with one and figured it couldn’t hurt to have it in hand.
Colin kept his composure and watched the bear as it walked towards him and then seemingly right past. They made brief eye contact, and Colin breathed a sigh of relief as the bear continued to walk past him.
“The bear was maybe four feet away. It was really close,” says Colin. “It walked almost all the way past, like his rump was about to pass by my rear tire of my bike. At that point he did a one-eighty turn so I turned in kind and extended the pole out towards the bear. With my bike in between us and he did a little shudder. Then the bear advanced towards me.”
Colin tried to poke the bear between the eyes with the hiking pole, but it bit the pole and pulled it away. Colin then tried to toss his backpack over to entice the bear with the food inside. It didn’t take.
What happened next was the single most terrifying experience of Colin’s life — the bear charged Colin.
Colin threw his bike at the bear, but it crashed over top, barreled into him and bit the side of his torso. It gripped Colin’s body in its jaws and tossed him. It picked Colin up again and carried him nearly 50 feet. He soon find himself being crushed underneath the weight of the bear, and it began chewing on Colin’s leg and foot.
Colin tried fighting back, attempting to peel the bear’s gums but the bear bit his hand and pinned him down harder.
“I was kind of at a loss of what to do,” says Colin. “I was yelling aloud, Why? Stop! Thinking all the horrible thoughts you have. Is this it for me? Bye to my wife and kids. Am I going to succumb to being eaten by this bear? Am I going to die of my injuries after he’s done mauling me?”
Then Colin remembered his pocketknife.
Mustering all the strength he had, he dragged his arms from underneath the bear, reached into his pants pocket, pulled the knife out and opened it.
He drew back his arm and stabbed down at the bear’s neck.
“Amazingly, the bear immediately let go of me and retreated back,” says Colin.
After a few moments, Colin used his knife to cut off his shirt sleeve and made a tourniquet for his leg, all while watching the bear as it stood at a distance looking back at Colin. After what felt like an eternity, the bear scampered into the woods.
Colin dragged himself over to his bike, propped it up and tried to mount it, but he fell over top.
Laying in the dirt, Colin was bloody, beaten and exhausted. He didn’t know if he could get up again. But then he started to pump himself up.
“I told myself, You’ve got one chance to do this,” says Colin. “Time to muster what you have. So I got back on the bike, it was actually surprisingly easier the second time. I got on and got pedaling, and it was successful. I just started pedaling away.”
Colin thought back on his time as a long-distance runner in high school. He knew the feeling of exhaustion, and more importantly, he knew how to fight through it.
He rode and rode, and rode some more. He rode for three and a half kilometres until he hit a downhill slope, and flew down into the logging camp. The camp workers immediately called 9-1-1.
The BC Air Ambulance arrived and flew Colin to the only place that could treat the severity of his wounds — Vancouver General Hospital (VGH).
World-class coordinated and specialized care
At VGH, Trauma Surgeon Dr. David Ko assessed the extent of Colin’s injuries: multiple puncture wounds from teeth and claws with the most extensive damage on his left side. Dr. Ko and the specialized vascular team at VGH worked together to surgically repair Colin’s badly mauled body.
“The injury on his left flank was only one cell layer away from the kidney, and from all the internal organs,” says Dr. Ko. “Colin was very fortunate that didn’t pierce.”
To prevent infection, Dr. Ko examined, sterilized, cleaned and sutured all of Colin’s many puncture wounds. Colin also required extensive assessment to ensure he had no unidentified intra-abdominal or kidney damage. The complexity of Colin’s injuries required expert and coordinated care from many specialized teams at VGH, including infection control.
Recovering from the attack
Colin’s stay at VGH lasted 24 days. During his time in hospital he was cared for by a myriad of physicians, nurses, and specialists whose mission was to make Colin recover as best as possible.
He is now back at home to continue his recovery in Campbell River with a comprehensive outpatient care package, which he continues to follow to this day.
“I feel so grateful to whole team at VGH,” says Colin. “They were there for me when I needed it most, and returned me home to my wife and children.”
Thalia’s Story
Top stories of 2019
Your support is vital in impacting the successful care and recovery of our patients.
This was made clear as we reflected on some of the most incredible stories from 2019. Stories of resilience and recovery of patients young and old alike, fighting through the most complex and rare conditions right here at VGH and UBC Hospital.
Read below for a list of the most read stories from this past year, in celebration of the care we made possible together.
1. Wildland firefighter saved with donor-funded Brain Bolt
Ryan was driving to fight a forest fire when he suffered a terrible car accident that stopped his heart for 35 minutes. At VGH, Ryan was the first patient in Canada to receive the Brain Bolt to help treat a cardiac case.
2. Ritchie’s astonishing recovery
Ritchie was out snowmobiling near his home in Squamish when suddenly the snow shifted from underneath. He crashed down 30 feet and on impact cracked his back on a metal bracket of his snowmobile, shattering his spine. At VGH, Dr. Brian Kwon led a complex five-hour surgery to repair Ritchie’s spine.
3. Revolutionizing ovarian cancer care and prevention for women worldwide
Dr. Dianne Miller is a medical visionary, leader, and health care innovator. Her work has revolutionized the care and prevention of ovarian cancer for women in BC and all over the world, resulting in countless lives saved. And her journey began right here at VGH.
4. Canada’s top dogs eradicating C. diff at VGH
Angus and Dodger are Canada’s top dogs when it comes to seeking out and preventing the spread of Clostridium difficile, commonly known as C. diff. Thanks to their incredible noses, VGH is leading the way in discovering new and innovative ways to reduce C. diff infections. The team is also growing with the introduction of new puppies in training!
5. ECMO machine saves patient from “widowmaker”
Simon Smith was heading into work when he started to feel winded. An unusual feeling for the healthy man who regularly biked to work. He had no idea that in a few hours’ time he would be fighting for his life. At VGH, the invaluable and donor-funded ECMO machine would save Simon from the deadly “widowmaker” heart attack.
6. VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation announces new President & CEO
After seven and a half years as the Foundation’s pivotal leader, Barbara Grantham has stepped down to explore her next professional chapter. The Foundation’s current Chief Development Officer, Angela Chapman, has been appointed the new President & CEO, carrying on the Foundation’s vital mission to inspire donors, transform health care, and save lives.
Looking to learn more about the impact donors like you can have on health care? Read our 2018-19 annual report.
Dr. Jacqueline Saw, Canada’s leading expert on SCAD
Dr. Jacqueline Saw is a leader through and through. Her incredible body of work in SCAD research and care is world-leading, and is helping the medical community uncover new ways to treat this relatively unknown condition which affects young and otherwise healthy women.
Let’s meet her.
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised in Singapore. We immigrated to Vancouver when I was 16.
How long have you worked at VGH?
I started working as a resident at VGH in 1996 after graduating from medical school at the University of Ottawa. I did both my internal medicine and cardiology residencies at UBC. After completing my interventional cardiology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, I returned to VGH to be on faculty in 2004.
Why are you so interested about SCAD/heart health?
SCAD affects mostly young women who are otherwise healthy, without traditional cardiac risk factors. Being in the same age group, I feel connected to these women like sisters and friends. I find it incredibly rewarding to be able to help these women find answers for this relatively rare and poorly understood disease.
What do you like most about your job?
I love working with my hands. Doing complex procedures is a passion. I am also very inquisitive, and love doing research to uncover new findings. I also enjoy analyzing data and writing in solitude.
Who or what inspires you?
When I was a medical student, I did an elective with Dr. Doris Kavanagh-Gray. She was the first female cardiologist at a sister Vancouver hospital and subsequently became the Head of Cardiology. Her compassion, decisiveness and determination was truly inspiring. She is an amazing role model for women in cardiology, and I hope to follow her footsteps and help inspire and support women colleagues and trainees in cardiology.
Remembering VCH Leader, Ida Goodreau
Ida Goodreau’s leadership as president and CEO helped shape VCH as an organization.
It is with great sadness that we share that former Vancouver Coast Health (VCH) President & CEO, Ida Goodreau has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
Ida was a partner to the Foundation during her seven years at VCH (2002 – 2009), during which she transformed the way health services were delivered throughout the communities served by VCH.
Ida worked with VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation on several notable projects during this time, including the opening of the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre at VGH, extensive renovations to the VGH Emergency Department, and the opening of donor-funded CT and MRI machines.
“Ida truly believed in transforming health care in order to better meet the needs of citizens across British Columbia,” says Barbara Grantham, President & CEO, VGH & UGH Hospital Foundation. “During her time at VCH she fostered an environment of change, ushering in numerous groundbreaking ideas and facilities.”
During her leadership, she also led the establishment of the Centre for Surgical Innovation at UBC Hospital, oversaw the opening of groundbreaking facilities such as Insite (North America’s first supervised injection site) and the Burnaby Centre for Mental Health and Addiction, among others.
“It was a privilege to have worked alongside her and she will be long remembered,” says Mary Ackenhusen, Vancouver Coastal Health President & CEO. “We are grateful for her years of leadership, which helped shape who we are today as an organization.”
Following her time at VCH, Ida served as the President & CEO of LifeLabs Medical Laboratory Services. Throughout her career she served on multiple boards including Streetohome, Canada West Foundation, the Vancouver Foundation, and she most recently served as Chair of the Board of Directors at Fortis BC.
Ida was recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network three times, been chosen as the 2009 Consumer Choice Awards Vancouver Business Woman of the Year, and received a Business in Vancouver Influential Women in Business award in 2010.
“Ida was a valued leader of our philanthropic community,” says Barbara. “She will be missed by everyone who had the benefit of knowing and learning from her.”
Sources:
https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2005-2009/2007health0087-000919.htm
https://www.rebootcommunications.com/speaker_info/ida-goodreau/
http://www.streetohome.org/2019/02/13/one-on-one-with-ida-goodreau/