Opening of RVH's Phase 1 expansion and the Regional Cancer Care Centre

May 17, 2012

MP Brown celebrates the opening of RVH's Phase 1 expansion and the Regional Cancer Care Centre with MPP Rod Jackson, Mayor Jeff Lehman, RVH CEO Janice Skot and members of the RVH Board and Foundation.  This is a day that has been long awaited by our community and MP Brown was pleased to bring Greetings on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Government of Canada:

Almost exactly 115 years ago - in 1897 - this community gathered to open Barrie's very first Royal Victoria Hospital, a 13-bed facility in the city's downtown. 
That hospital was named to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. 
And here we are today, opening the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre expansion as we celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee.
Months ago, Dr. Rob Ballagh, the President of RVH's Medical Staff wrote to congratulate Queen Elizabeth, and  to let her know about the historic opening celebration of the health centre named after her great, great grandmother, Queen Victoria.


I have the privilege today - on behalf of the Government of Canada - to read the reply Her Majesty wrote personally to Dr. Ballagh.
"Your kind message of congratulations, sent on behalf of the members and guests of the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre on the occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of my Accession to the Throne, has been gratefully received.
I was interested to learn of the grand opening of the Simcoe-Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre and send my warmest good wishes for a most memorable and enjoyable event.
(signed)
ELIZABETH R.


My own family has a deep and positive history with RVH.
My late grandmother Edna Tascona was a volunteer for the ladies auxiliary at RVH for 45 years. I keep her volunteer recognition certificate on my desk in Ottawa. She was a proud 'blue coat' who saw the tangible benefit in helping others on a daily basis. It was a big part of her life... her identity....RVH has been a big part of the identity of Barrie for over a century now and will continue to be for many, many years to come.

I remember as a youngster visiting my grandmother at work back when RVH was still downtown on Ross St. The hospital was old, cramped and always incredibly busy.
The busy part hasn't changed but certainly we have come a long way when we look around at this fabulous facility today.

But it wasn't easy to get here. This project took a long time to come to fruition. It took many dedicated people, volunteers, corporate and individual donors to make it happen.
It took years of fundraising, small and large to transform our health care services in Barrie. But we believed in the cause. We believed in better health care for our region. We believed in our hospital.
Every family has had a moment or will have a moment when they need our hospital for a loved one. And it is great to know that we have a state of the art hospital we can all depend on.
Everyone involved should feel very proud today of their efforts.
Bravo.

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