Archives des Creating Tomorrow | The Ottawa Hospital Foundation

Story Highlights

Rockland resident and financial advisor Mathieu Chatelain has always been ambitious — he even built his own home at 19

Active in the community, he was deeply moved when hearing a patient testimonial at our Foundation's President's Breakfast

Unbeknownst to him, there was a meaningful connection between him and the doctor sitting next to him at that breakfast

Determined to help ensure a healthier future, he has decided to support the Campaign to Create Tomorrow by raising $100,000 and running 100 km in 12 hours

Published: July 2025

Ambition — it’s a part of Mathieu Chatelain’s character. It’s been a driving force in the way he’s lived his life, and it was a driving force through some of the biggest challenges he’s faced to date. Now, it guides him to help others. One way he’s decided to do that is to support the region’s largest fundraising campaign — the $500 million Campaign to Create Tomorrow.

Mathieu developed an excellent work ethic early on while growing up in Navan. He began working when he was just 12, and within seven years had already started his own construction business. Then, while he studied architecture in college, his ambitious plans continued to grow, and he built his first home by the time he was 19. Always one to immerse himself in learning, Mathieu picked up the book Mastery by Robert Greene. “It explains how you become a master of your own art, and by my late 20s, I decided the business of construction wasn’t for me,” he explains.

Finding ways to give back and help others

He went back to what had interested him most when he was young — money. Throughout high school, Mathieu was known as “Mr. Budget” and his favourite game was Monopoly. So, he decided to dive into the world of finance and help navigate clients through the world of financial planning.

It was that reinvention of himself and decision to change the trajectory of his life that moulded him into the person he is today. Financial advisor, father, husband, and someone dedicated to supporting others in his community.

“I remember saying how I wanted to get involved in the community and make a positive change.”

— Mathieu Chatelain

It was during those transition years when he was first introduced to The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. Mathieu participated in Race Weekend to support our hospital, and he also volunteered at THE RIDE, an annual cycling fundraiser. “I remember saying how I wanted to get involved in the community and make a positive change.”

Emotional connection at the President’s Breakfast

Then, Mathieu was invited to attend his first President’s Breakfast — our Foundation’s annual fundraising event that brings together business and public service leaders. It was an experience he won’t soon forget. He recalls Natasha Lewis on stage, telling her story about learning she had a brain tumour, and how The Ottawa Hospital saved her life and got her back to her children.

“I was crying as I listened — really crying because this one hit home. The gentleman next to me asked why I was crying,” recalls Mathieu. “I explained how it reminded me of when I was eight years old, and my dad was going to the hospital to have a tumour removed. He said he’d be back in two days. Only after hearing Natasha speak did I realize the extent of what my dad must have been going through.”

The gentleman, a physician at our hospital, looked at the surname on Mathieu’s name tag and asked him to text his dad to see if it was Dr. Schramm who operated on him.

Mathieu texted his father, who confirmed his surgeon was, in fact, Dr. David Schramm, now Head of the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery.

“I happened to be sitting next to the surgeon who operated on my dad 30 years ago. I was able to hug Dr. Schramm to say thank you for bringing my dad back.”

— Mathieu Chatelain

“I happened to be sitting next to the surgeon who operated on my dad 30 years ago. I was able to hug Dr. Schramm to say thank you for bringing my dad back,” says Mathieu as his voice cracks remembering the special encounter that morning.

Belief in the plan to reshape the future of healthcare

Now, Mathieu wants to help other families. “I’m not a doctor; I’m not a nurse. I’m not in the healthcare system. But I know there’s a way to help,” he explains. “I’ve heard about plans for the new hospital campus and Cameron Love’s message about changing the system and the process, and that resonated with me. It’s about more than building four walls. I want to help another parent come home to their family, like my dad did.”

"I want to accomplish something that’s greater than myself, for our community to be aware of the need to support this great cause.”

— Mathieu Chatelain

As a father of three with another on the way in August 2025, he wants to ensure a healthy future for not only his family, but also for those he meets through his work as a financial advisor — families who are often facing healthcare challenges and their need to access specialized care.

“Throughout my life experiences, I’ve learned that to make a difference, I have to do something that’s above and beyond me. I want to accomplish something that’s greater than myself, for our community to be aware of the need to support this great cause.”

An ultramarathon for $100,000

Driven to go above and beyond, Mathieu has decided that if he can raise $100,000, he will run 100 km in 12 hours. The funds raised will go toward the Campaign to Create Tomorrow — the largest fundraising campaign in the history of the region in support of the largest healthcare infrastructure project, the new hospital campus.

The idea to run 100 km came after reading the book Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds by David Goggins. Mathieu describes him as the human Superman and when he runs, this author’s words are in his ears. “The key will be training. I know my body, and I’m listening to my body, but I have built a plan to be able to get to 100 km.”

“I don’t go a week without learning about someone who needs care at The Ottawa Hospital. That’s my motivation. That’s what I’m thinking about with each training run.”

— Mathieu Chatelain

Over the course of the next year, Mathieu will dedicate himself to the training. Even with a newborn arriving soon, he plans to do the 100 km run in the fall of 2026 in Rockland, where he lives and runs his business today.

As that training progresses, the motivation will be those stories he hears from his peers who are struck by a critical illness. “I don’t go a week without learning about someone who needs care at The Ottawa Hospital. That’s my motivation. That’s what I’m thinking about with each training run.”

Categories: Creating Tomorrow, Donors, New Campus Development

Sometimes shopping pays off. The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) Auxiliary just generously donated another $1.425 million thanks to funds raised, including through their retail spaces.

This incredible contribution will help provide urgent support to patients and frontline teams through the purchase of an EBUS, used to help diagnose cancer in the nodes around the lungs; neonatal ventilators, to help our smallest and most vulnerable patients breathe and develop; and an emergency fund for patient needs.

“The Ottawa Hospital is the regional centre for therapeutic respiratory procedures, and without quality equipment, we could not provide this care to our patients. Thank you TOH Auxiliary and all who shop at their stores!”

– Joni Ettinger, Director of Critical Care and Allied Health at The Ottawa Hospital

For more than a century, the TOH Auxiliary has been a driving force behind patient comfort and care — and their impact deepens every year. They are able to continue these transformational donations thanks to the proceeds from a network of retail spaces — including on-campus gift shops, a medical supply store, and a growing online store.

Over the last decade, they’ve donated more than $16 million to The Ottawa Hospital, supporting everything from emergency clothing to cardiac monitors to advanced navigation systems for brain and spine surgery.

“The Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary fills an essential role in our hospital family,” says Catherine Higgens, President of the Auxiliary Board of Directors. “They’re more than volunteers — they’re champions of care, always finding new ways to support patients, families, and frontline teams.”

This latest gift will have a profound impact — not just in dollars, but in the compassion and commitment behind every hour volunteered, every gift wrapped, and every meaningful patient and family interaction in their shops.

Simply put, the Auxiliary inspires us all. They remind us of what’s possible when generosity and volunteerism meet purpose — and our hospital community is stronger because of it.

To learn more or shop in support of their work, visit www.tohauxiliary.ca.

WE ARE CREATING TOMORROW

CONNECT, INSPIRE, TRANSFORM

Our Foundation’s strategic plan charts an ambitious path in support of The Ottawa Hospital and, ultimately, the patients, donors, and community members we serve. We are committed to helping reshape the future of healthcare for our region and creating a better tomorrow.

The strategic objectives of our plan are:

Inspire the community’s generosity to advance the TOH mission and vision to reshape the future of healthcare

Successfully complete the Campaign to Create Tomorrow

Prepare for futures philanthropic priorities supporting the strategic plan of The Ottawa Hospital

Empower our team to meaningfully connect with donors and volunteers

Increase the profile and reach of the TOH brand

Promote The Ottawa Hospital’s regional healthcare strategy, national research and innovation leadership, and global recognition.

Reach key segments of donors in our community with innovative approaches for engagement

Sustain a community presence that nurtures The Ottawa Hospital brand and supports and cultivates gifts by acquiring, valuing, and retaining donors at all levels

Connect meaningfully with our donors, volunteers, and community

Deliver an exceptional donor experience

Build an exceptional volunteer team that reflects the diversity in our community

Advance the responsible use of technology

Invest in leading-edge infrastructure, technology, and processes to enhance the donor experience and optimize effectiveness

Develop and implement a comprehensive data strategy for the Foundation

Investigate and implement new tools incorporating AI to connect with our donors

Empower our people

Commit to a rewarding work experience and talent management program for employees, positioning the Foundation as the leading charity employer in the region

Build an inclusive staff team that reflects the diversity in our community

Message from our President & CEO and Board Chair

In 2022, we launched our Campaign to Create Tomorrow — the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the history of our city — with a goal of $500M. We’re now more than 70% of the way there and remain committed to achieving our goal over the next three years.

But it is more than just a fundraising target — it’s a shared commitment to help The Ottawa Hospital reshape the future of healthcare for today and for generations to come. Our Foundation’s strategic plan is critical to that vision, so we remain focused on the successes that are still to come.

Thank you for walking this path with us. Together, we are building a future where extraordinary care isn’t just a goal — it’s a promise.

Inspire the community's generosity to advance The Ottawa Hospital's mission and vision to reshape the future of healthcare

Successfully complete the Campaign to Create Tomorrow
Prepare for futures philanthropic priorities supporting the strategic plan of The Ottawa Hospital
Empower our team to meaningfully connect with donors and volunteers

Increase the profile and reach of The Ottawa Hospital

Promote The Ottawa Hospital’s regional healthcare strategy, national research and innovation leadership, and global recognition.
Reach key segments of donors in our community with innovative approaches for engagement
Sustain a community presence that nurtures The Ottawa Hospital brand and supports and cultivates gifts by acquiring, valuing, and retaining donors at all levels

Connect meaningfully with our donors, volunteers, and the larger community

Deliver an exceptional donor experience
Build an exceptional volunteer team that reflects the diversity in our community

Advance the responsibile use of technology

Invest in leading-edge infrastructure, technology, and processes to enhance the donor experience and optimize effectiveness
Develop and implement a comprehensive data strategy for the Foundation
Investigate and implement new tools incorporating AI to connect with our donors

Empower our people

Commit to a rewarding work experience and talent management program for employees, positioning the Foundation as the leading charity employer in the region
Build an inclusive staff team that reflects the diversity in our community

Highlights of our success

To hear how we’re progressing on our Campaign to Create Tomorrow, visit: creatingtomorrow.ca

Our vision

We will strive to be the most efficient, effective, and respected hospital foundation in Canada, providing optimal support to The Ottawa Hospital.

Our mission

We are a team of professional staff and community leaders passionately committed to inspiring, enabling, and celebrating community support for The Ottawa Hospital, in the pursuit of discovery and with exceptional kindness and courage, our hospital colleagues bring hope to every patient through world-class care and research.

Our values

We strive to inspire and help the community support The Ottawa Hospital.

We are donor-centered in all our activities.

We work hard to build lifelong relationships with our donors.

We are committed to serving our community in both of Canada’s official languages.

We are committed to being accountable to all our stakeholders.

Published: June 2025

Between a quarter to a third of people having major liver surgery, often due to cancer, will need a blood transfusion. Now, imagine being able to reduce the need for this type of transfusion and the impact it would have on a global scale. This has been a vision for Dr. Guillaume Martel, a surgeon and scientist, who holds the donor-funded Arnie Vered Family Chair in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Research at The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa.

When Dr. Martel was training as a fellow in Montreal, he witnessed a technique for liver surgery that was new to him. It reduces the amount of blood loss during a liver operation, and the idea both fascinated and intrigued him. But when he did some digging, the young doctor realized there wasn’t much background on the technique and there were no clinical trials — no concrete evidence to prove its value.

In August 2019, Dr. Guillaume Martel was announced as the first Arnie Vered Family Chair in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Research. Dr. Martel is a gifted surgeon at The Ottawa Hospital who has saved and prolonged the lives of countless patients, particularly those with cancer. An international search conducted for this Research Chair found the best candidate right here in Ottawa. This Research Chair provides the opportunity for innovative clinical trials and cutting-edge surgical techniques that will benefit our patients for years to come. This was made possible through the generous support of the Vered Family, alongside other donors.

“When Arnie got sick, he needed to travel to Montreal for treatment. It was so hard for him to be away from home and our six children. We wanted to help make it possible for people to receive treatment right here in Ottawa. This Chair is an important part of his legacy.” – Liz Vered, donor

Launching the largest trial of its kind

When he arrived at The Ottawa Hospital, it became a personal mission to learn more about the technique, known as hypovolemic phlebotomy, where a controlled amount of blood is removed from the patient before liver surgery, then reinfused back into the patient afterward. Once he and his team, including anesthetist Dr. Chris Wherrett, perfected the technique, they decided to do their own research, in order to have concrete evidence showing the impact of this practice-changing medicine.

Often, donations from the community help get the early phase research projects off the ground, attracting large-scale funding through grants to launch in-depth investigations. Once Dr. Martel’s team had tested the safety and feasibility of the technique in major liver surgery as part of a phase 1 trial at our hospital, they launched the largest trial of its kind, thanks to funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

Over five years, ending in 2023, 446 people were recruited at four Canadian hospitals, including The Ottawa Hospital, to participate. “Once under anesthetic, patients were randomly selected to receive either hypovolemic phlebotomy, to decrease blood transfusions, or to receive usual care,” explains Dr. Martel.

Only the anesthesiologist knew which patients were in which group. 

Raising her hand to participate in research

One of those patients enrolled was Rowan Ladd, a former analyst for the Department of National Defence, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2020 at age 44.

“I was so scared and fearful — fearful that I was going to die.”

— Rowan Ladd

In the time leading up to her diagnosis, she recalls having many signs that she shrugged off as stress-related, so when the mother of two heard she had cancer, she was shocked. “I was so scared and fearful — fearful that I was going to die.”

Within three months of her diagnosis, she had a colectomy, a surgical procedure that removes all or part of the colon, and four months later she was back to work.

However, two years later, a regular MRI check showed a spot on her liver. Her cancer had spread, it was devastating news, and that’s when she met Dr. Martel. “You hear stage 4, and you think that’s it. But Dr. Martel explained that not every stage 4 means immediate death. He had patients he operated on who were alive years later,” says Rowan.

“I’m a big proponent of research. This study sounded interesting because they had great results in the pilot trial.”

— Rowan Ladd

When it came time to remove the tumour, Rowan didn’t hesitate to raise her hand to participate in the clinical trial. “I’m a big proponent of research. This study sounded interesting because they had great results in the pilot trial,” says Rowan. “You’re told before surgery that the liver is so full of blood vessels that there are risks of major bleeding. I thought it was great that researchers were trying things to reduce those risks.” 

It was one thing to say yes to the trial, but Rowan was hopeful to be picked for the technique. Her surgery took place in October 2022, and later learned she was in fact randomly selected to have hypovolemic phlebotomy.

Reducing the risk of blood loss

For patients in the hypovolemic phlebotomy group, the anesthesiologist removed the equivalent of one blood donation (about 450 mL) into a blood bag before surgery. If the patient needed blood during surgery, their blood was used first. Otherwise, it was re-infused before they woke up.  

“Blood loss is a major concern in liver surgery. Taking out half a litre of blood right before major liver surgery is the best thing we’ve found so far for reducing blood loss and transfusions,” says Dr. Martel. “It works by lowering the blood pressure in the liver. It’s safe, simple, inexpensive, and should be considered for any liver surgery with a high risk of bleeding.” 

“Being part of this trial was a really positive experience, and the team was wonderful. I’m so glad I was picked, and I’m glad it will help other people.” 

— Rowan Ladd

For Rowan, she was thrilled to be selected. She did not need a blood transfusion, and after four days in hospital, she was back home with her family in Dunrobin. Now, two years later she remains cancer-free.

“I looked at this surgery like it saved my life. I was unlucky to get cancer, but it woke me up. Now I live life, and I really enjoy it, where before I was just existing,” she says. “Being part of this trial was a really positive experience, and the team was wonderful. I’m so glad I was picked, and I’m glad it will help other people.” 

The cost of saving blood for those who need it most

Liver surgery is considered a major operation. There is a higher-than-average risk of major bleeding and a consequence of that is the need for a blood transfusion during the operation to help keep the patient alive, help them recover, and thrive.

“Blood transfusions can save lives, but if you don’t need one to save your life then it’s better to avoid it,” says Dr. Dean Fergusson, senior author on the study and Deputy Scientific Director, Clinical Research at The Ottawa Hospital.

Meet Dr. Dean Fergusson

Learn more about Dr. Dean Fergusson, senior author of the study and Deputy Scientific Director of Clinical Research at The Ottawa Hospital.

Read our Q&A with Dr. Fergusson

“There’s not an infinite amount of blood available in hospitals — it’s a precious resource.”

— Dr. Guillaume Martel

One blood transfusion in Canada costs about $500, mainly in human resources. The blood bags and tubes used for hypovolemic phlebotomy cost less than $30. As Dr. Martel points out, “There’s not an infinite amount of blood available in hospitals — it’s a precious resource.”

He also raises that blood collection has a considerable carbon emission. “We take it from donors and clinics, then we transport the blood. It needs to be processed and separated into components in a facility, then it needs to be stored. That all adds up to a pretty significant carbon footprint,” adds Dr. Martel.

What does this mean for patients?

Hospital blood bank data and patient medical records show 7.6% of those who received hypovolemic phlebotomy had blood transfusions in the 30 days after surgery compared to 16.1% of those who received usual care. Hypovolemic phlebotomy caused no more complications than usual care.  

“With this technique, your odds of requiring a blood transfusion drop by half, without any added risk to you. So, it's a win-win.” 

— Dr. Guillaume Martel

Surgeons also say the technique made surgery easier because there was less blood obscuring the places they needed to cut.

According to Dr. Martel, this is a gamechanger for patients anywhere having major liver surgery. “With this technique, your odds of requiring a blood transfusion drop by half, without any added risk to you. So, it’s a win-win.” 

Now the goal is to spread the word and educate surgeons around the world. The hospitals that participated in the trial, including The Ottawa Hospital, have implemented the technique as standard of care, and it’s believed other hospitals globally will start to adopt it when they learn about the transformational results.

Listen to Dr. Guillaume Martel in episode 40 of Pulse Podcast discuss complex abdominal surgeries and the Arnie Vered Family Chair in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Research.

Listen Now:

Categories: Cancer, Patient Care, World-Leading Research

Published: May 2025

The Ottawa Hospital is creating a comprehensive epilepsy program — a one-stop shop, if you will — that will have a huge impact on patients. As a complement to this specialized care, the hospital completed its first-ever stereoelectroencephalography (stereo EEG) procedure on January 13, 2025. This minimally invasive surgery identifies the precise areas in the brain where seizures originate and provides care teams with detailed information to develop more targeted and effective treatment plans for those with epilepsy.

Previously, patients from our region needed to travel to Southern Ontario for this type of procedure. Now, care can be delivered closer to home, saving patients time, money, and allowing them to stay close to family.  

“We’ve all seen it on TV or in the movies.”

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder, and a seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain that causes a temporary disturbance in the way brain cells communicate with each other. The kind of seizure a person has depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected by the electrical disturbance.

A seizure may take many different forms, including a blank stare, uncontrolled movements, altered awareness, odd sensations, such as smelling something that’s not actually there, or convulsions.

Dr. Tadeu Fantaneanu, the Medical Director of the Epilepsy Program in our EEG laboratory, explains the latter is known as tonic-clonic seizure, previously called a grand mal seizure. “That’s when the person falls to the ground, foams at the mouth, and shakes. We’ve all seen it on TV or in movies.”

Our program serves approximately 13,000 people living with epilepsy in our region. We also have what’s called a transfer and transition clinic with CHEO. “Those are patients who have had epilepsies since they were quite young, potentially since birth or later on in their childhood years or adolescent years, and they get referred to us when it comes time to transfer into adult care,” he says.

According to Dr. Fantaneanu, epilepsy can affect anyone at any age, but there are two peaks — prior to age six and over 65. In young patients, it’s usually because of genetics, and in older patients, it’s often because of the damage that a brain will accumulate over a lifetime.

Building a comprehensive epilepsy program

In the last five years, our hospital’s Epilepsy Program has grown tremendously, thanks to a partnership with the Ministry of Health and a $12-million grant, as well as donations from the community. As Dr. Fantaneanu explains, the goal of the grant is for The Ottawa Hospital to become a regional epilepsy surgery centre. That’s a provincial designation and it will ensure that we will have the ability to perform high-level surgeries that are not currently available in this region.

Dr. Fantaneanu says this is something patients in Eastern Ontario desperately need. “They could have their tests and care done here, but eventually, if surgery was needed, they would be a referred to a hospital in Toronto or London — as many as seven to eight hours away.”

Travel that takes time, money, and patients away from their loved ones and careers. “Patients would have to be away from their families at a vulnerable time in their lives, when they’re admitted in the hospital, potentially after a brain surgery,” he adds.

Over the course of the past several years, Dr. Fantaneanu and his team have built up testing capabilities for patients and the monitoring unit continues to grow. It’s where the team evaluates patients who have seizures. It’s currently a four-bed unit and at the new hospital campus it will be a six-bed unit — all private rooms. 

Attracting the best and the brightest in epilepsy care

It was the impressive plans to build a comprehensive epilepsy centre that attracted Dr. Alan Chalil to our hospital in 2024, to become the Surgical Director of the Epilepsy Program. He is a neurosurgeon with training focused mainly on epilepsy and surgical treatment of epilepsy — that includes implantation of stereo EEG. He completed his training in London, home of the largest surgical epilepsy centre in Canada, and Emory University in Atlanta.

“It was a very unique opportunity because it seemed like bringing in my training would be the last piece of the puzzle to fit into that whole picture in terms of how to treat epilepsy,” says Dr. Chalil. “Coming to a new team that’s being developed was a nice opportunity and also a big challenge.”

“Epilepsy surgery is about finding that delicate balance: freeing the patient from seizures while preserving the brain’s normal function. That’s why it means so much to me."

— Dr. Alan Chalil

As he explains, while epilepsy surgery has been practiced for over 80 years, the transition to stereo EEG in North America continues to highlight many unknowns. “Epilepsy doesn’t have to define a person’s life, but its unpredictable nature can still disrupt it in profound ways. Seizures can interfere with everything — work, relationships, social life, even financial stability,” explains Dr. Chalil. “Epilepsy surgery is about finding that delicate balance: freeing the patient from seizures while preserving the brain’s normal function. That’s why it means so much to me.”

Meet neurosurgeon Dr. Alan Chalil

Learn more about how our experts in The Ottawa Hospital’s life-changing Surgical Epilepsy Program are giving patients their lives back every day.

Read our Q&A with Dr. Chalil

The first stereo EEG at The Ottawa Hospital

An EEG is the recording of brain waves by putting small electrodes on the patient’s head, which are connected to a computer, and recording electrical activity in the brain. It helps diagnose a variety of brain conditions.

In contrast, the stereo EEG places these electrodes inside the brain through tiny pinholes. In January 2025, Dr. Chalil performed our hospital’s first-ever stereo EEG. This minimally invasive surgery identifies the precise areas in the brain where seizures originate.

“There could be anywhere between 10 to 20 electrodes per patient. We make a small nick in the skin, like a pinhole, and then drill into the skull,” he explains. “We have a defined trajectory — we know exactly where we are going and what structures we’re going to pass through to get to our target. Then we put the electrode in. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes per electrode.”

Once the patient wakes up, with the implanted electrodes, they get a CT scan. From there, Dr. Chalil will build a model for his colleagues on the neurology team that tells them where each electrode is placed in the brain. This helps determine where the seizure is starting and where it is spreading.

“The patient is then admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) for a week or up to a month, sometimes even longer, until we get enough seizures to study,” he says.

The team then correlates the electrical signal they saw from the electrodes during a seizure, along with their previous information, and come up with a treatment plan. Treatment options can vary from removing a small section of the brain, to deep-brain stimulation, or even a newly acquired piece of technology called the radio frequency generator.

This new tech can be brought right to the patient’s bedside where Drs. Fantaneanu and Chalil can send an electric signal to generate a lesion that’s about 3 to 5mm thick. “It’s very small, but it’s very effective. And that lesion could cause a disruption in the epilepsy network and eliminate seizures up to 30% of the time,” Dr. Chalil explains.

While that number isn’t huge, he adds it’s reasonably effective because no other surgery is required.

“It's the last piece in a big picture to make Ottawa a centre of excellence for treatment of epilepsy.”

— Dr. Alan Chalil

As the team continues to further establish the program, they look to add new laser technology to provide patients with even better results, which can eliminate seizures from 60 to 75% of the time, depending on the type of seizure. They also hope to use these techniques in the coming year, driven in large part by an ongoing randomized controlled trial. “It’s called the slate trial, and it will give us a definitive number of comparisons between temporal lobe resection and laser ablations in treating a specific type of temporal lope epilepsy,” says Dr. Chalil.

For now, the completion of five stereo EEGs is a significant step. “It’s the last piece in a big picture to make Ottawa a centre of excellence for treatment of epilepsy. If we demonstrate that we can do it, interpret it safely, and produce meaningful surgeries out of it, then these patients will not need to travel anywhere else,” says Dr. Chalil.

Learn more about The Ottawa Hospital’s Epilepsy Program in episode xx of Pulse Podcast with Dr. Tadeu Fantaneanu.

Listen Now:

Categories: Innovation and Technology, Patient Care, Strengthening Critical Services, Technology

Published: April 2025

Three times a week, you’ll likely find Chantal Theriault kickboxing to stay in shape — physically and mentally. It’s a sport she picked up easily from her father, Jean-Yves “The Iceman” Theriault — a world kickboxing champion. It’s the strength she developed from this sport, along with her sense of humour, that helped her navigate through an astonishing medical diagnosis five years ago. At the age of 37, Chantal learned she had early-onset Parkinson’s disease — this was one hit she didn’t see coming.

The distressing news for this otherwise healthy young woman was delivered during the peak of the pandemic in the summer of 2020. Initially, there were many more questions than answers. Still, never one to back down from a challenge, no matter how insurmountable this one appeared to be, Chantal came to terms with the news, educated herself, and put her trust in the committed physicians and researchers at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH).

Chantal is all too familiar with our hospital but from a different vantage point. She’s a program coordinator in the Critical Care Department. She’s been a part of the TOH family for 22 years — she started in Admitting Services and worked her way to where she is today on the Intensive Care Unit team. It’s a team for which she has the utmost respect, and she plays an important role.

“Any resident that must do their rotation in the ICU comes through me. I do the scheduling for the Civic and the General campuses. There are about 300 residents that come through the year,” explains Chantal.

Working in the ICU for so many years, she has garnered the utmost respect from her colleagues for the high quality of her work and her pleasant demeanour.

It started with tremors in her hand

As Chantal was busy with her work, during the height of the pandemic, she developed a tremor in her arm. “It started in my hand and then made its way up my arm, and eventually I could feel it in my leg a little bit. I initially thought I pinched a nerve in my neck.”

“When I walked, he noticed that my right arm didn’t swing. That was a big sign. After a few other tests, I learned I had early-onset Parkinson’s.”

— Chantal Theriault

As an avid kickboxer, she exercises regularly and has dealt with a minor injury or ache in the past. She was going to try her chiropractor, but she kept putting it off and eventually, it was recommended she might want to see her family physician, as the symptoms progressed.

After several tests, including an MRI, which showed nothing concerning, she met with a neurologist at The Ottawa Hospital, who put Chantal through several physical tests. “When I walked, he noticed that my right arm didn’t swing. That was a big sign. After a few other tests, I learned I had early-onset Parkinson’s.”

At that point, Chantal’s mind just completely shut down, as she describes it. “The two people that I think of right away when I hear Parkinson’s are Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali. I wondered, ‘What the hell do I have in common with these people?’”

What is Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that affects the nervous system. The symptoms start slowly but progress over time, and although tremor is a common symptom, slowness and stiffness are additional features present early on. The risk of Parkinson’s increases with age, and men are more likely to develop it than women. When a person is diagnosed before the age of 40, it’s often referred to as early-onset Parkinson’s.

That day of her diagnosis, Chantal went home and had what she describes as a moment of woe, and then she moved on — grateful to work at The Ottawa Hospital and to be surrounded by some of the best care team members in the world.

“There will be mobility issues someday but that's down the road. Right now, I have things to do. I have a life to live.”

— Chantal Theriault

“I don’t know what this means or what the progression timeline looks, but I’ve got a team behind me — I’ve got this. There will be mobility issues someday but that’s down the road. Right now, I have things to do. I have a life to live.”

All about Parkinson's

For many people, the first time they heard about Parkinson’s disease might have been when Michael J. Fox shared his diagnosis in 1998. For many others, the first time they heard about Parkinson’s might have been when someone they know received a diagnosis — a parent, a friend, a co-worker, or maybe even themselves.

Learn More

She also used humour to help get through some of those early days of living with Parkinson’s, including a new tattoo that she got done on the inside of her right arm. It reads, ‘Shaken not stirred’.

Another big step in this new journey for Chantal was meeting Dr. Michael Schlossmacher, Director of the Neuroscience Program at our hospital. “He is the most incredible human being — super supportive, super down to Earth,” says Chantal. “He takes the time, and he encouraged me to bring a family member during my follow-ups if they have questions.”

That’s also around the time where the impact of research came into play for this young woman. She’s enrolled in two research projects at our hospital, including one Dr. Schlossmacher is leading.

The global impact of Parkinson’s research

It’s research that drives Chantal. She’s put all her efforts into helping to advance treatment options and hopefully to help scientists find a cure for the disease someday. That’s what motivated her to create the Kick It for Parkinson’s fundraiser, which supported The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research — an organization that has funded research here at The Ottawa Hospital.

In December 2024, an international team led by Dr. Schlossmacher received a US$6 million grant from the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative, in partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation, to continue their work on reduced sense of smell in Parkinson’s disease — a testament to our leadership in research.

“Our interdisciplinary team is on the leading edge of this topic, making discoveries that could one day impact diagnosis, prevention, and possibly, patient care.”

— Dr. Michael Schlossmacher

“Understanding the loss in sense of smell in Parkinson’s is having its moment right now,” says Dr. Schlossmacher. “Our interdisciplinary team is on the leading edge of this topic, making discoveries that could one day impact diagnosis, prevention, and possibly, patient care.”

More recently in another study, the first clinical trial of its kind showed interpersonal psychotherapy may be better than other types of psychotherapy for treating depression in patients living with Parkinson’s. People with Parkinson’s often experience depression, but there’s been little research to show what type of psychotherapy works best. 

The trial, led by Dr. David Grimes, Director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic and Dr. Diana Koszycki at the University of Ottawa, assigned 63 people with Parkinson’s and depression to one of two types of psychotherapy for 12 sessions. The group with interpersonal psychotherapy had significantly lower depression scores.

Director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic

Find out how Dr. Grimes got pulled into the field of neurology and what advice he has for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Read our Q&A with Dr. Grimes

“Psychotherapy is an important option for treating depression in Parkinson’s. Healthcare providers should consider recommending it alone or in combination with antidepressants,” says Dr. Grimes.

It’s patients like Chantal that make this type of research possible. “I’m very proud to have the opportunity to be part of the studies I’m involved in. This was a life-changing diagnosis, and if taking part in these studies is what’s going to make a difference, then I’m going keep doing it,” she says.

Dr. Schlossmacher adds that working with patients is a privilege and calls their courage and commitment “humbling”. He refers to Chantal as a source of inspiration and motivation for him and his research team.

Building a new neuroscience centre

The new neuroscience centre, to be located at the new hospital campus on Carling Avenue at Preston Street, will have the potential to be among the best in the world. It will combine cutting-edge research with clinical treatments to accelerate the development of new therapies for conditions such as Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and more to help patients just like Chantal.

"“There's going be a cure for Parkinson's, maybe not in my lifetime but there will be. I hope that I get to see it and then I can say, I was part of that study.”

— Chantal Theriault

As the research continues to move forward, Chantal will be more than a spectator as she continues to help advance scientific discoveries through her participation and fundraising whenever she can.

As her tremors are controlled today by medication, she’s proud to be a part of the TOH family that’s working towards progress. “There’s going be a cure for Parkinson’s, maybe not in my lifetime but there will be. I hope that I get to see it and then I can say, I was part of that study, or when Dr. Schlossmacher gets the Nobel Prize or something, I can say I know him.”

As she takes a moment to pause, tears fill her eyes, then Chantal continues. “It makes me proud. It makes me very proud to work for this organization.”

Download or steam episode 108 of Pulse Podcast to hear from Chantal Theriault and her journey with early-onset Parkinson’s.

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Categories: Neuro, Parkinson's, Patient Care, World-Leading Research

Published: March 2025

For sixteen years, Team PIPR (Partner’s Investing in Parkinson’s Research) has been committed to advancing Parkinson’s research through participation and fundraising at Ottawa Race Weekend. This dedicated group is focused on providing support to grow Parkinson’s research, the effect of donor contributions, and the meaningful impact their efforts are having on the Campaign to Create Tomorrow.

After years of dedication to helping fund research at The Ottawa Hospital, in 2025, the team is hoping to cross a major milestone in their fundraising efforts — $2 million.

The evolution of Team PIPR

In 2009, a group of investment advisors, led by Andrew Frank, Richard Shantz, and Roberta Driscoll of RBC Dominion Securities, founded Partners Investing in Parkinson Research, and they quickly became known as PIPR. Their mission started with a common goal: to raise funds for Parkinson’s research at The Ottawa Hospital and to increase awareness of Parkinson’s disease.

“When we started Team PIPR, it was more about research because we were interested in finding out what Parkinson’s was and where it came from,” shares Andrew. “Many of us had been touched by the disease and wanted to understand the disease better.”

As Team PIPR grew, so did the purpose behind it. There was a pivotal shift when individuals living with Parkinson’s joined the movement and began participating at race weekend.

It was no longer just about understanding research for themselves — it was about using their donor dollars to not only grasp the complexities of the disease, but also to make a real difference in helping others living with it.

“I think that’s when the team’s success started, and that’s what held it together,” says Andrew. “The families that were impacted by Parkinson’s — the caregivers and the patients — were at the table. That became a very important part of the circumstances.”

*Dr. Julianna Tomlinson and Dr. Michael Schlossmacher*

Physicians and researchers are a part of the team

The medical experts at The Ottawa Hospital have been incredibly supportive and important to Team PIPR’s success.

“All the doctors are so ridiculously talented, smart, caring, and passionate.”

— Andrew Frank

“The doctors showed up and participated,” he says, referring to Dr. Michael Schlossmacher, Director of Neuroscience, and Dr. David Grimes, neurologist and Director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic at our hospital. They are just two of many who have joined the team and continue to make groundbreaking advancements in neurological diseases. With the neuroscience research at the new hospital campus, there is the potential to become a global leader in the field.

“Fundraising is emotion.”

— Andrew Frank

“All the doctors are so ridiculously talented, smart, caring, and passionate,” says Andrew. “They’re so collaborative with us and each other. And once you get the doctors, the donors, and the patients together at the table, it brings the emotion level way up. Fundraising is emotion.”

While the member numbers for Team PIPR are consistently changing, they are a mighty group of around 150 individuals, connected by their shared desire to support neuroscience research and medical advancements.

Andrew Frank’s personal connection to PIPR

In 2000, Andrew received devastating news — his mother in Toronto had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Feeling helpless and distant, her diagnosis sparked a profound shift in him, driving his commitment to learn more, get involved, and make a difference. When Team PIPR was founded, his mother’s fight was a constant inspiration.

“It became more than just fundraising — it was about learning, supporting, and making a real impact.”

— Andrew Frank

Reflecting on the experience, Andrew shared, “It was a very supportive group because my mother was in Toronto, and I wasn’t connected to the Toronto community. Helping people here fundraise and connecting with leaders who also had loved ones with Parkinson’s created a deep, personal bond. It became more than just fundraising — it was about learning, supporting, and making a real impact.”

For Andrew, Team PIPR became a pillar of support during a difficult time, reminding him that he could be a changemaker in his mother’s care, and the care for others. Eight years after his mother’s passing, Andrew cherishes the memories of stepping up for her during her toughest years, when she needed her family the most.

Leaders in impact for sixteen years

Sixteen years ago, Team PIPR completed their first race at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. Each year, as they prepare to race together, they also rely on each other to strategically drive their fundraising efforts, aiming to raise $100,000 annually.

The core of their team is investing. “We have to invest to grow,” Andrew explains. “Look at cancer research. If you’re investing, you’re going to see returns”

Every year, individuals living with Parkinson’s, caregivers, families, and donors complete the 2K together at race weekend.

Andrew remembers one particular year when he completed the 2K with his mother, taking 50 minutes. He smiles at the memory, knowing it wasn’t about the time — it was about the accomplishment they shared.

On the day following the 2k, Team PIPR doesn’t rest. They operate a water and cheer station on the marathon and half-marathon routes, wearing their deep-red Team PIPR shirts and motivating every runner — cheering for them proudly. It’s a reminder of their mission from 16 years ago and another way to be together.

“If you expect more, you have to deliver more,” Andrew says proudly. “We wanted to learn, we had a lot of ideas, and we put in a lot of hard work.”

Andrew observes the new campus development from his office every day, confident that Team PIPR is helping reshape the future of Parkinson’s research and will continue to drive change for patients. “We found the vehicle, and I wouldn’t turn back for a second,” he says.

Categories: Creating Tomorrow, TOH at Race Weekend

There’s a particular image that David Gilbert, President of Ottawa-based Paterson Group, is delighted to share. It’s a map of the Ottawa area and beyond covered with thousands of dots, each one representing a job site where the Paterson Group has worked.

There are 30,000 dots — 30,000 projects since the company first set up shop here in 1956.

The go-to consultant for Ottawa developers

Paterson Group is a consulting engineering firm, with an expertise in many areas from geotechnical and environmental engineering to materials testing and building sciences.

“We’re involved in a lot of land development projects,” David explains, “We’re based here in Ottawa, but we’ve got offices in North Bay and Mississauga, as well.”

For 69 years, Paterson Group has been the “go to” consultant for Ottawa developers and for the construction industry. They provide a wide range of multi-disciplinary consulting services, supporting every stage of development from initial site assessments to final construction.

Transformative support of the Campaign to Create Tomorrow

That’s the history of a company proud to be part of building this community. A company proud to be part of building our healthcare infrastructure, too. Paterson Group recently announced a commitment to contribute $1 million towards The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s Campaign to Create Tomorrow that will transform healthcare in our region and help take research to unprecedented heights.

“We think it’s fantastic for our community.”
— David Gilbert

It’s by far the largest philanthropic gift the company, and its 170 employees, have made to date.

“Everyone in our company is very proud to be part of this,” says David. “We think it’s fantastic for our community.”

But he adds it’s also important for businesses in our region, for their employees, and their families.

“We need this city to be prosperous and to be a great place to raise our families and do business. So, if we’re supporting initiatives like the Campaign to Create Tomorrow, which will help build the new hospital campus right here in our own community, we’re also helping ourselves.”

That’s a message he hopes will resonate with other small and medium-sized businesses like Paterson Group.

“We can make a difference with this donation on so many fronts.”
— David Gilbert

“There are so many firms that rely on the growth of this city. So, if you have a world-class facility here, with world-renowned doctors, and cutting-edge research, you’re going to get all this amazing spin-off activity and development. And so many of us are in the development industry. So yes, we can make a difference with this donation on so many fronts.”

Now, there’s one more dot added to the map David Gilbert first shared with us — a dot where The Ottawa Hospital’s new hospital construction is underway. Paterson Group is excited to be working with PCL and EllisDon on the new site.

“We’re proud to say we’ve contributed to something so transformative for our community,” he adds. “Being part of this project is a legacy we’ll carry forward with pride.”

When David McPhedran’s parents emigrated from the United Kingdom in 1968, they didn’t have much, but Canada was known as the land of opportunity, and that’s what they sought for their young and growing family. They first established themselves in the mining town of Kirkland Lake in Northern Ontario, where David was born. This was also where his father, Dr. Edward McPhedran, provided specialty surgical services and medical consultations that made all the difference to health and happiness in that small mining town.

By 1973, Dr. McPhedran and his wife, Margaret, were ready to take their family to a larger city to explore what other opportunities Canada had to offer — they chose Ottawa. “It looked like a natural fit for the family, with good hospitals and growth opportunities, being the capital of Canada,” explains David.

While he never considered following in his father’s medical footsteps, David had great drive, and he seized the opportunities that came. Beginning with a summer job at age 15 at a local drilling firm, it was through persistence and future-thinking that David eventually took over that firm and developed it to be where he is today — the CEO at Marathon Underground Constructors Corporation.

The company started from modest beginnings 45 years ago here in Ottawa and now is one of Canada’s leading specialty underground contractors. Their work below the surface could involve anything from providing crucial energy installations for hydro in the Atlantic Ocean to pipelines in Western Canada.

Humble and kind

Humble, with a strong belief in giving back, David has focused on philanthropy, even when he didn’t have much to give. “If the community is good to you, you have to give back,” he explains.

In his efforts to be a good citizen, David often donates quietly to causes throughout our community. However, the importance of the Campaign to Create Tomorrow has made him step forward to share the news of his generous $1-million gift more publicly.

His deep connection to The Ottawa Hospital stems from personal experience and family ties, and it’s what inspired him to make this donation to help reshape the future of healthcare in the region. His father dedicated most of his career to caring for patients in Ottawa area hospitals, including the Civic Campus, and David and his wife, Natalia McPhedran, welcomed both of their children at the Civic. Natalia also volunteered at The Ottawa Hospital, and it’s where his brother, who passed away in 2021, received cancer care.

“I saw my children’s first breaths at the Civic hospital. And I saw my brother’s last breath at the Civic.”
— David McPhedran

Access to great healthcare

Those experiences motivated him to support the campaign. “I know how important it is to have great hospitals — I’ve seen it myself,” says David. “People take it for granted and they don’t consider the importance of it.”

“A hospital doesn’t become a great institution on its own. It needs a supportive community.”
— David McPhedran

Learning about plans for the new hospital campus and what they included provided even more incentive. David reflected on his brother’s various periods spent in the hospital, sharing a room, and how challenging it was for patients to get healing rest under those circumstances.

“It’s very difficult when you’re sharing a room with someone. This modern hospital design provides the right model, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m a believer and I’m a supporter. Also, to be able to look outside and see all that green space, that really means a lot as well.”

“I think that each Ottawan deserves a place like this new Ottawa Hospital campus — as citizens that is very important.
— David McPhedran

As a business leader, who generally steers clear of the spotlight, he’s stepping forward to share his message — one he hopes will encourage his industry counterparts to consider lending their support as well. “People must get behind this campaign. These important buildings don’t get built on their own. They don’t get funded on their own either.”

This family man, who watched his own father dedicate much of his life to medicine, is stepping forward to share his message with others because he believes that the aims of this campaign are critical for our community.

“I think that each Ottawan deserves a place like this new Ottawa Hospital campus — as citizens that is very important. I think there should be equal opportunity for all people in Ottawa.”

Rockland man’s ambitious goal to run 100 km to support the Campaign to Create Tomorrow

Finding ways to give back and help others

Emotional connection at the President’s Breakfast

Belief in the plan to reshape the future of healthcare

An ultramarathon for $100,000

CONNECT, INSPIRE, TRANSFORM

The strategic objectives of our plan are:

Inspire the community’s generosity to advance the TOH mission and vision to reshape the future of healthcare

Increase the profile and reach of the TOH brand

Connect meaningfully with our donors, volunteers, and community

Advance the responsible use of technology

Empower our people

Message from our President & CEO and Board Chair

Inspire the community's generosity to advance The Ottawa Hospital's mission and vision to reshape the future of healthcare

Increase the profile and reach of The Ottawa Hospital

Connect meaningfully with our donors, volunteers, and the larger community

Advance the responsibile use of technology

Empower our people

Highlights of our success

Our vision

Our mission

Our values

Launching the largest trial of its kind

Raising her hand to participate in research

Reducing the risk of blood loss

The cost of saving blood for those who need it most

Meet Dr. Dean Fergusson

What does this mean for patients?

Listen Now:

“We’ve all seen it on TV or in the movies.”

Building a comprehensive epilepsy program

Attracting the best and the brightest in epilepsy care

Meet neurosurgeon Dr. Alan Chalil

The first stereo EEG at The Ottawa Hospital

Listen Now:

It started with tremors in her hand

What is Parkinson’s disease?

All about Parkinson's

The global impact of Parkinson’s research

Director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic

Building a new neuroscience centre

Listen Now:

The evolution of Team PIPR

Physicians and researchers are a part of the team

Andrew Frank’s personal connection to PIPR

Leaders in impact for sixteen years

The go-to consultant for Ottawa developers

Transformative support of the Campaign to Create Tomorrow

Humble and kind

Access to great healthcare

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