Category: Donors

Published: February 2026

Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) are no strangers to supporting charities in the nation’s capital. From the Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa to Crohn’s and Colitis Canada to the United Way, BLG has been making an impact in the community for many years.

Now, they are making a significant gift to the future of healthcare with a commitment of more than $430,000 in support of the Campaign to Create Tomorrow — a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build one of the most technologically advanced research and teaching hospitals in Canada, right here in Ottawa.

A partner-driven philanthropic initiative

Led by Ryma Nasrallah, Partner and Co-Leader of BLG’s Charities and Not-for-Profit Law Group, and Larry Elliot, Managing Partner of the Ottawa office, this partner-driven philanthropic initiative brings together a $200,000 corporate gift from BLG, alongside personal commitments from 18 partners across the firm.

Together, these gifts will support the campaign’s vision to help build a new hospital and take research to unprecedented heights — not only here in Ottawa, but beyond.

For Larry, supporting the campaign is a no-brainer. Born and raised in Ottawa, he feels a deep responsibility to give back to the community.

From left to right: Larry Elliot, Managing Partner; Ryma Nasrallah, Partner; and Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation

“Healthcare touches everyone, whether it’s a loved one, a neighbour, or a friend,” says Larry. “Our commitment to this campaign reflects a deep belief in supporting care when our community needs it the most.”

Ryma also played a central role in engaging colleagues in support of the campaign. As a member of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee, she understands the pressures on our healthcare system and the need for a new hospital to better support patients, physicians, and researchers.

“Anyone who is familiar with the Civic Campus knows it’s over 100 years old,” says Ryma. “Just imagine what a modern hospital will bring in terms of advancements in patient care and research. This project will touch every one of us, whether directly or through someone we love, and we have a civic duty to support it however we can.”

‘We’re doing this in his memory’

BLG’s support is deeply personal. The idea of a collective gift to the hospital was inspired by the legacy of former Managing Partner of the Ottawa office, Marc Jolicoeur. Around the time of his 2022 passing from brain cancer, the Marc Jolicoeur and Kathleen Faulkner Legacy Endowment Fund was established at The Ottawa Hospital.

“His legacy lives on, and we’re doing this in his memory,” says Ryma. That spirit of giving continues to inspire BLG and its partners today, shaping their commitment to the hospital through the Campaign to Create Tomorrow.

With this donation, BLG and its partners are stepping forward once again to help shape healthcare for the future. Their commitment is helping build a hospital designed to meet the needs of a growing city and to serve our community for generations to come.

Thank you to BLG and the partners involved. Your leadership reflects a shared belief in a future where Ottawa leads in compassionate care, research, and innovation.

Categories: Creating Tomorrow, Donors

Published: January 2026

Read time: 3 mins

Published: January 2026

Read time: 3 mins

On a warm spring day in 2022, Jean Lebel set out for what was meant to be a routine bike ride through Cantley, Quebec, with his wife Anne-Marie and close friends. An experienced rider, Jean had travelled those winding country roads countless times before. But at one sharp hairpin turn, the ride quickly turned into every cyclist’s worst nightmare. A car suddenly appeared in front of him, and the head-on collision that followed left Jean unconscious, severely injured, and battling life-threatening injuries.

Love at first pedal

Cycling wasn’t just a hobby for Jean. Balancing a prestigious career as President and CEO of the International Development Research Centre, it was a way to escape the pressures of daily life and most importantly, connect with Anne-Marie.

Their love story began on bicycles when Anne-Marie first cycled past Jean when she was 14 and he was 12. That moment sparked a connection that would resurface years later when they met again as young adults. Since then, they’ve built a life centred on adventure, family, and a shared passion for cycling around the world.

Never once did they imagine the same passion that brought them together would one day threaten to pull them apart, when Jean was in a crash that could have cost him his life.

Jean and his wife Anne-Marie have a shared passion for cycling around the world.

From passion to peril

When he regained consciousness after the crash, Jean was disoriented. Though he recognized Anne-Marie’s face, he repeatedly asked the same questions — a sign of the severity of the impact. His shoulder struck the car’s side mirror, and his head hit the back-seat window before he was thrown off his bicycle onto the pavement. Anne-Marie watched helplessly as he drifted in and out of consciousness, fearing she might lose the man she loved.

“We have spent many years riding together,” says Anne-Marie. “Nothing can prepare you for a moment like that.”

Paramedics acted quickly and transported him to the Hull Hospital. The medical team immediately recognized that due to the extent of his injuries, Jean needed the highest level of trauma care available. He needed The Ottawa Hospital — the most advanced trauma centre in our region.

Jean woke in the hospital with no memory of the accident, but thankfully, he was in the hands of a world-leading trauma team who provided lifesaving care when he needed it most.

World-class trauma care

At The Ottawa Hospital, a multidisciplinary team was ready. Highly trained specialists from neurosurgery, orthopaedics, and critical care worked together in a swift, coordinated effort rarely seen outside a major trauma centre.

Jean’s injuries were extensive, including a dangerous C2 fracture at the base of his skull; a second spine fracture of his C6/T1; multiple broken ribs; shattered bones in his collarbone, shoulder and arm; a lung contusion; and a kidney laceration.

“People rarely survive a fracture like this. Jean was extremely lucky.”
— Dr. Safraz Mohammed
Q&A with Dr. Safraz Mohammed

The C2 fracture was the most concerning — fractures here are often fatal. “People rarely survive a fracture like this. Jean was extremely lucky,” explains Dr. Safraz Mohammed, Staff Neurosurgeon at The Ottawa Hospital and one of the physicians overseeing Jean’s care. A fragment of bone had sheared off his C2 vertebra, pressing into the canal surrounding his vertebral artery. If it shifted even half a centimetre, it could sever the artery, causing a massive stroke — or worse.

Jean woke in the hospital with no memory of the accident, but thankfully, he was in the hands of a world-leading trauma team who provided lifesaving care when he needed it most. In the hours that followed, he underwent multiple surgeries to stabilize his fractured collarbone, arm, and shoulder and care for his bruised lung and kidney tear. He was fitted with a rigid neck brace to protect the fragile C2 injury as it healed.

Healing, one day at a time

Remarkably, only one week later, Jean was stable enough to return home — a testament to the lifesaving, expert care he received. “Jean had a lot of what we call near misses” says Dr. Mohammed. “If his C2 fracture had shifted even slightly, he could have suffered a massive stroke, or his brain could have swelled, and he could have died. If his kidney laceration had been deeper, he might have bled out. Even his rib fractures could have punctured his lung and caused a life-threatening emergency. He had a lot of angels watching over him that day.”

Jean’s recovery over the next six months was extensive. He followed a strict rehabilitation plan with limited mobility to protect his spine, regular follow-ups, and scans. Each day required patience, persistence, and learning what his body could handle.  

“I’m like a bike — titanium is great.”

— Jean Lebel

“Hearing my doctors say that people rarely survive these kinds of injuries made me realize just how lucky I was, and that I owe that to the care I received at The Ottawa Hospital,” says Jean.

Although he still has some lasting effects from the injuries, including reduced grip strength, he is doing remarkably well. “I have a lot more metal in my body than the average person,” he jokes. “I’m like a bike — titanium is great.”

A history of extraordinary care

This wasn’t Jean’s first life altering injury, nor was it his first time receiving care at The Ottawa Hospital. In 2016, he fell from the roof of his cottage in Gaspé, Quebec, shattering his hip. A few months after receiving surgery in Quebec City, his femur went into necrosis. That’s when he turned to The Ottawa Hospital for an urgent, full hip replacement.

He was walking the day after surgery and home the next day. That experience left a deep impression on him. He reflected on how much medicine has advanced — a surgery that once required weeks in hospital, like a hip replacement, now allowed him to go home after a day.

Six years later, he returned to The Ottawa Hospital following his cycling collision, again receiving care from some of the very best physicians in the country.

A commitment to giving back

Despite everything he endured, Jean still cycles today — more carefully, and rarely on the road. “The accident shifted my perspective on life,” he says. “I decided to retire because I want to live life to the fullest. There’s still so much I want to do and experience. I enjoy spending time at my place in Gaspé, and I want to make the most of every day with my family and friends.”

Incredibly, his bike was almost untouched in the crash. “All the impact went into my body,” he reflects. He keeps it as a reminder of how close he came to losing everything.

“If I could give one piece of advice to others, it would be: don’t wait for an accident to give.”

— Jean Lebel

Jean now feels a deep responsibility to support The Ottawa Hospital. “The Ottawa Hospital changed my life twice. I feel it’s my duty to donate for the care I received. If I could give one piece of advice to others, it would be: don’t wait for an accident to give. Just give, because it makes a difference — to you, and to others.”

Jean stands proudly in front of his “cycling cave,” where he keeps the bike from the crash — a powerful reminder of how close he came to losing everything.
Jean in his “cycling cave” where he continues to cycle safely and virtually throughout the year.
Jean still cycles today — more carefully, and rarely on the road.
Jean and Anne-Marie cycling in Quebec.
Categories: Donors, Patient Care, Rehab, Trauma

Published: November 2025

Published: November 2025

On Giving Tuesday, Tom Moore is TRIPLING all donations — up to a total of $200,000!

For Tom Moore, a retired tech executive and longtime Ottawa resident, giving back to The Ottawa Hospital isn’t just a gesture of generosity. It’s personal.

“There was always hope at The Ottawa Hospital. The facilities and the expertise available are unmatched.”

— Tom Moore

Tom grew up on a horse ranch near Pembroke, where his family raised American Quarter Horses. “Growing up in a rural area, Ottawa was the closest ‘big’ hospital, where you could get the same care as the city folks,” he says. “There was always hope at The Ottawa Hospital. The facilities and the expertise available are unmatched.”

Tom’s journey has taken him from rodeo arenas to Silicon Valley boardrooms. After studying Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Waterloo, he spent a decade at Bell-Northern Research and NorTel before launching his own consulting firm. He later led U.S. west-coast operations for Ottawa-based ObjecTime in California and helped found GridIron Networks when he returned to Ottawa.

Since he retired 16 years ago, his commitment to community has only grown stronger, and has seen him support the Ottawa Food Bank, Cornerstone Housing for Women, Hospice Care Ottawa, CHEO, and The Ottawa Hospital.

Tom Moore

The hope that Tom saw through the work of the hospital became deeply personal over the years: Tom had his appendix removed at the Civic Campus in 1977. His father was a patient at the Heart Institute. His mother underwent ankle surgery at the General Campus. And in 2019, Tom’s husband and partner of nearly 30 years, Jacques Pelletier, passed away after a brief and devastating battle with pancreatic cancer.

“The most difficult thing I went through was losing my partner,” Tom shares. “He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and he died eight weeks after diagnosis.”

These experiences, spanning decades, shaped Tom’s understanding of what compassionate care truly means. And that reflection led to action.

Tom has supported The Ottawa Hospital for years, honouring his parents and honouring Jacques. After Jacques’s passing, he became especially passionate about advancing pancreatic cancer research. He knows how little time this disease gives families and how urgently new treatments are needed. His support of research at The Ottawa Hospital is helping to fuel discoveries that could offer more time, more hope, and better outcomes for others facing this disease.

Now, this Giving Tuesday, Tom has stepped forward with a matching gift and will be tripling donations on December 2, 2025 up to a total of $200,000. He hopes this opportunity will inspire others to support the hospital that has touched his life in profound ways.

“I’ve learned over the last few years, seems the more I give, the more I get.”

— Tom Moore

“I’ve learned over the last few years, seems the more I give, the more I get,” Tom says. “I enjoy it. It makes me feel great, to be giving back in some small way.”

His Giving Tuesday matching gift is a call to action — a chance for others to join him in supporting The Campaign to Create Tomorrow, which is building a new, state-of-the-art hospital campus and elevating lifesaving research to new heights. “It’s just a matter of time until you or someone in your family needs it, needs that excellence, and that’s when you’ll truly appreciate it.”

For Tom, giving is also about honouring the moments that remind us of what matters most. “In the darkest moments, when you’re in the waiting room at the hospital, when you know someone’s in surgery, that’s when you have a sense that life is short. You realize there’s a greater good, and we have a responsibility to give back if we can.”

To join Tom in supporting The Ottawa Hospital this Giving Tuesday — and to triple your impact through his generosity.

Categories: Creating Tomorrow, Donors

Published: November 2025

Published: November 2025

More than 125 years ago, three brothers founded Merkley Brothers Limited, and for the last century, the company has been providing expertise and high-quality building supplies throughout the region. Robert Merkley took over as CEO in 1982, making him the third generation to run the company, now called Merkley Supply Ltd.

Over the past 40 years, he has championed cancer research and driven change in our community. He knows how to build — not just buildings, but communities, institutions, and visions that endure and shape our city.

If any business understands what it takes to create a city’s foundation, it’s Merkley Supply Ltd. Having literally provided the materials that make construction possible, Robert has extended that same vision to healthcare — recognizing that world-class hospitals are cornerstones of a strong community.

And now, his latest contribution demonstrates how every dollar can become a building block in shaping the future of patient care and research. Robert is matching all donations, to a total of $1,000,000, before December 31, 2025!

Robert’s matching gift is an invitation — a call for our community to come together and help bring the new hospital to life.

“True giving goes beyond writing a cheque. It’s about rolling up our sleeves, inspiring others, and leading by example. If we want world-class healthcare, research, and facilities, it’s up to us to make it happen — our community deserves it.”

Robert Merkley, CEO of Merkley Supply Ltd

Robert’s support of the hospital began long before this gift. In 2010, along with Roger Greenberg and Claude Des Rosiers, he co-founded THE RIDE, a premier cycling fundraiser for cancer research. For more than a decade, their collective determination built THE RIDE into a celebrated tradition — one that raised more than $14 million to advance cancer research.

The impact on the hospital has been remarkable: launching new clinical trials, advancements in cancer immunotherapy, creating innovative new cancer treatments, and fueling discoveries that are transforming care worldwide.

In 2003, he chaired the Legacy Campaign Committee, raising $100 million for the Civic Campus Emergency Department, new equipment, and medical research — building vital pillars for patient care and innovation.

In 2008, he co-led the hospital’s 20-20 Campaign for a new cancer centre, strengthening the hospital’s foundation for clinical and research excellence. His dedication has left a lasting imprint, building the framework for discoveries and innovations that continue to advance patient care today.

“Robert has been a steadfast volunteer and supporter of TOH for decades,” says Tim Kluke, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital Foundation. “When he’s committed to a project, he’s a force to be reckoned with, rallying the community and inspiring others to join him. We’re fortunate to have his support.”

The impact of Robert’s generosity can be seen across the hospital. In 2014, Dr. John Bell, world-renowned senior scientist in cancer therapeutics, renamed his oncolytic virus lab the Merkley Supply Bay in honour of Robert’s unwavering support. Today, Dr. Bell’s team continues to push the boundaries of cancer research, developing innovative treatments that improve outcomes for patients worldwide.

“Every gift, every act of generosity, is a brick in the foundation of our future,” says Robert. “If we each do our part, we can create something that will stand strong for generations. So, let’s do it!”

With Robert’s year-end match gift opportunity, he once again demonstrates how visionary leadership, generosity, and community engagement can create real change.

Together, inspired by his example, we can turn every gift into a building block — creating a healthier tomorrow for everyone.

Categories: Donors

Published: October 2025

Published: October 2025

Desjardins Group has made a $500,000 contribution to The Ottawa Hospital’s Campaign to Create Tomorrow, helping advance the development of a state-of-the-art healthcare facility that will be one of the most patient-centred and technologically advanced research hospital in the country.

This support, from their GoodSpark Fund program, reflects Desjardins’ 125-year tradition of strengthening communities through solidarity, equity, and care for others. It also underscores the cooperative’s belief that when people come together, they can build a healthier, more resilient future.

The Ottawa Hospital’s Campaign to Create Tomorrow embodies that same vision — uniting people, ideas, and innovation to redefine what healthcare can mean. This historic $500-million fundraising campaign is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform healthcare.

“We created the GoodSpark Fund to continue a long history of making a lasting impact in local communities. The Campaign to Create Tomorrow has a powerful, innovative vision that will do that not only for people in Ottawa, but also for people across Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and beyond. We’re very proud to be a part of that,” says Denis Dubois, President and CEO, Desjardins Group.

Desjardins’ GoodSpark Fund is investing $280 million by 2027 to projects that foster socioeconomic development and community vitality. Its contribution to The Ottawa Hospital’s upcoming hospital campus will help to support the hospital’s commitment to sustainability, such as green spaces and therapeutic gardens across the hospital site, giving patients, staff, and visitors welcoming places to heal, reflect, and recharge. The new hospital will also be home to groundbreaking research and will help improve care across the region.

“Improving the lives of people and communities is a powerful incentive,” Dubois says. “When you bring together a collaborative network of stakeholders around a shared ambition — one that improves the lives of individuals and creates a ripple effect across local communities and the national healthcare community — you’re not just supporting a single initiative. You’re building something bigger; you’re building a better tomorrow.”

Just as Ottawa Mayor Harold Fisher rallied Ottawa a century ago to open the original Civic Hospital in response to the 1918 pandemic, Desjardins now stands with our community to help create a hospital for the next hundred years — advancing research, innovation, and compassionate care for generations to come.

“We’re commemorating Desjardins’ 125-year legacy not only with celebration, but by making a tangible impact on the health and well-being of the people we serve,” says Dubois.

Categories: Donors

Published: September 2025

Read time: 2 mins

Published: September 2025

Read time: 2 mins

Dave Hale had a humble upbringing. He grew up in Munster, a small, farm-influenced community in southwest Ottawa. In that quiet environment, much of what Dave learned about life came through the example set by his parents.

His mother, in particular, shaped his understanding of community and service. A special needs educator by profession, she also ran a daycare, taught piano, volunteered through her church, and gave her time to anyone who needed it. Even outside of work, she would step in to support families — offering to care for children with special needs so their parents could enjoy a rare night out. These weren’t grand gestures, but they meant everything to the people she helped.

It was probably the most powerful life experience we’ve ever had. It made me realize that it’s the little, micro things you do over a lifetime that truly matter. You have to ask yourself: What are we really doing with our time here?"

— Dave Hale
Dave Hale

“When she passed at age 61, we received over 300 letters from people she had impacted,” Dave recalls. “It was probably the most powerful life experience we’ve ever had. It made us realize that it’s the little, micro things you do over a lifetime that truly matter. You have to ask yourself: What are we really doing with our time here?”

Dave and his wife, Arielle, didn’t learn the value of community through wealth — but by witnessing Dave’s mother’s quiet, selfless acts of service. Now, as parents and business owners, they see how deeply those lessons are shaping their own values. Real impact doesn’t have to be loud, it just has to be intentional and the Hales are determined to create a legacy of service and purpose.

Dave with his mother

“You can be successful through nothing more than commitment and hard work.”

That mindset has driven Dave from the very start. At just 13 years old, he spent his summers and each autumn working at Saunders Farm, becoming a full-time employee at 17 and the marketing lead at just 20. This experience would set the tone for the rest of his career. Spending those formative years working at Saunders Farm, he watched a small, family-run attraction evolve into a thriving, multi-generational business. That experience didn’t just fuel his work ethic, but it ignited a passion for entrepreneurship.

Dave in costume for Haunting Season at Saunders Farm with his daughter and Mark Saunders

Through that education and the real-world experience of founding his first business in 2010, Dave began to notice a pattern in how most organizations approached marketing: too much focus on flash, not enough focus on strategy.

In 2025, Arielle and Dave founded RDEL Group — named after his mother’s middle name, Ardell. Built on a “business-first” approach, RDEL Group helps clients grow by spending smarter, through efficient software, streamlined processes, and growth-oriented business development strategies.

The company’s philosophy mirrors the values their family learned from Dave’s mother: that small, consistent, intentional actions can make a lasting impact. Intentional effort, when executed correctly, can drive major results.

Building what matters

Today, Dave is stepping up in his own way as a dedicated volunteer for the Campaign to Create Tomorrow. He, Arielle, and their daughters, Elliotte (7) and Cordelia (6), are making their most significant philanthropic gift yet — one they hope will inspire other young families to think differently about philanthropy and about investing in themselves.

“When you drive down Preston Street, I feel like the future is being built,” Dave says. “It’s not just about tomorrow. It’s about 20 to 30 years from now, for me and my family.”

“When you drive down Preston Street, I feel like the future is being built. It’s not just about tomorrow. It’s about 20 to 30 years from now, for me and my family.”

— Dave Hale

Dave and Arielle want to be a voice for the next generation — asking bold questions about how we give, where our funding goes, and why transparency matters. Because when they visit the new hospital site, they are able to point to the construction and say to their children, we’re helping build that.

“I think it’s an exciting time,” Dave explains. “You can load your kids in the back of the car, drive yourself to Carling and Preston, and show them where your investment is going. That kind of visibility is invaluable for teaching young children.”

For the Hales, making a gift to the new hospital isn’t just charitable. It’s a smart business move. It’s an investment with exponential return: better care for their family, a stronger healthcare system for the community, and a lasting legacy for future generations.

That’s what sets this moment in time apart. The new hospital isn’t just solving today’s challenges — it’s planning for what healthcare in this city can and should be decades from now.

That long-term vision is rare, and it’s exactly what inspires leaders like the Hales to step up and be part of something that lasts.

Categories: Creating Tomorrow, Donors, New Campus Development

Sadly, Kelda Whalen passed away on August 27, 2025. We are grateful for her generosity to our hospital and the legacy she leaves behind.

Published: August 2025

Read time: 3 mins

If Kelda Whalen were to place a dot on a map of the world for every location she has been, there would be an abundance of dots. Between her dedicated work in the foreign service and her love of travel, she has travelled the world extensively — but always returned to her hometown of Ottawa. That’s where she’s enjoyed the beautiful landscape, the arts community, and giving back to charities and organizations that were important to her, including The Ottawa Hospital.

Born in Ottawa at the Civic Campus, her travelling instincts came naturally, thanks to her father who was in the Canadian Armed Forces. Her family constantly moved across Canada to different military bases during her childhood years, and her father’s work even took them to Germany twice.

By the time she turned 21, she wrote the foreign service exam on a whim. She passed and that launched her career into quite a different direction than she thought when she was growing up. “Originally, my plan was to go to library school, but life had a different path for me,” says Kelda.

Kelda travelling in Jamaica

Exploring the world, but Ottawa was always home

Over the next decade or so, she was posted around the world. Each city bringing a unique opportunity she’d never forget. Kelda’s first posting was Dublin, Ireland. “It was a delightful place, even though it rains all the time,” recalls Kelda.

Next stop was London, England — a city she thoroughly loved. “I was there at a fortunate time when the dollar was up, and the pound was down. This allowed me to explore my love of arts, and I got to enjoy all these fabulous plays.”

Kelda celebrating Canada Day on Elgin Street

After four years in England, Kelda was stationed in New Delhi and then Hong Kong. Afterwards, she returned to Ottawa for a short time before one of her superiors made her aware of a temporary posting in Beirut. “I immediately said, ‘I want it!’ It was 20 above Celsius in Beirut that day and 20 below in Ottawa, so I took it.”

This deployment was a different experience than any other. Despite it being dangerous at that time because of political unrest, she was still able to tour the surrounding countryside, which she recalls as being quite lovely.

A devastating turn of events

Her last big trip was to Damascus, and then she returned to Ottawa in between deployments. It was the summer of 1982, and while there were plans for her to be deployed once again, life took a dramatic turn on one hot summer evening.

After a Saturday evening swim at the pool in her apartment building, she decided to go into the sauna. “I had only taken two saunas in my entire life, and why I decided to go into the sauna, I don’t know. I had low blood pressure — I was overcome by the heat, and I fainted,’ recalls Kelda.

She got up right away but subsequently fainted four more times before falling against the door of the sauna and onto the locker room floor. “I managed to get myself up and thought it was odd, but overall, I didn’t feel unwell. It turns out by fainting five times in a row, I damaged a part of my brain called the basil ganglia, which controls the body’s ability to move.”

Diagnosed with dystonia after fainting multiple times

Within two days, despite feeling fine, Kelda looked in the mirror and she could see the muscles in her neck standing out as though they were spasming.

Sadly, it took many years, before she learned what had happened. Finally, in 1996, she was diagnosed with dystonia. It is an uncommon neurological condition that causes muscles to contract uncontrollably, leading to twisting movements, abnormal postures, or repetitive motions. These muscle contractions happen because the brain sends faulty signals to the muscles, even when the person doesn’t intend to move.

At the time, Kelda was referred to a Toronto hospital and to Dr. Andres Lozano, well-known globally for deep-brain stimulation surgery. Unlike today, it was a time when Ottawa didn’t have the capacity or expertise for this.

“I was 31 when I first fell. That ended my career in the foreign service — I couldn’t go abroad because I was in pain from the spasms. I’ve had multiple neurosurgeries over the years at The Ottawa Hospital, but sadly, none have been able to alleviate the symptoms of dystonia.”

But this condition didn’t stop Kelda completely. She persevered and continued to work part time as an immigration officer before she retired in 2002.

She also didn’t let dystonia hold her back from travelling, which she continued to do extensively with friends. As travelling became more difficult, she shifted to cruises and then van excursions. She’s visited Venice, Italy three times — it’s her all-time favourite destination.

“As I get older, I have more and more difficulty walking. I had an A-linker, known as a walking bike, from 2019 to 2023, and I’d go out every morning at 6 a.m. because I’m an early riser. I liked to go out along the canal and enjoy the early morning peace.”

Kelda visiting the Panama Canal

Finding a way to be remembered when she’s gone

But even her morning excursions have become more challenging over time as her ability to walk deteriorated and falls were more frequent. Despite the increasing difficulty, it didn’t stop her from getting out. In fact, it was during one of her walks that she began to think about her legacy and how she wanted to be remembered when she was gone.

“When I spoke to my financial advisor, she talked to me about the new hospital and the opportunity to have a patient room named after me, and that’s when I decided to leave a gift in my will to the Campaign to Create Tomorrow.”

— Kelda Whalen

“I wanted to leave a sign, and it was during a walk to the Governor General’s front garden when I saw benches with small plaques to say they’ve been donated by someone,” says Kelda. “When I spoke to my financial advisor, she talked to me about the new hospital and the opportunity to have a patient room named after me, and that’s when I decided to leave a gift in my will to the Campaign to Create Tomorrow.”

As a longtime patient of The Ottawa Hospital, including for multiple neurological surgeries over the years, the idea of single-patient rooms for the new hospital campus is certainly appealing to Kelda.

"I just want people to remember me when I’m gone.”

– Kelda Whalen

As someone who has always donated to organizations in her community, including the arts, supporting others with dystonia, as well as our hospital, by leaving a gift in her will, Kelda will always be remembered for reshaping the future of healthcare. Her name will be seen by other patients, their families, staff, and physicians who walk by the room that will be named after her when the new hospital campus opens. It’s a fitting way to help future patients who will need the hospital like she has.

Despite her health continuing to deteriorate, she continues to think of others. “Maybe I’ll get a patient room in neurology named after me, but I’m not too fussy, where it will be. I just want people to remember me when I’m gone.”

Categories: Creating Tomorrow, Donors, Gift In Will, Neuro, New Campus Development, Patient Care

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.”

Mathieu at Ottawa Race Weekend

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.
Mathieu and his father
Mathieu overcome with emotion at the President’s Breakfast

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
Mathieu Chatelain with his family
Mathieu Chatelain with his family

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

Published: February 2025

Visitors to the seventh floor of The Ottawa Hospital’s General campus may do a double take outside Room 7123. A plaque beside the door references “PapaJo” Johns. Who, you may ask, is PapaJo? And why is he called that? Well, that’s exactly the story PapaJo’s family wants to share — a story about a much-loved man, a terrible disease, and a desire to make a difference.

Room 7123 is where Peter “PapaJo” Johns spent his last days in 2016 after a difficult, two-year struggle with sarcoma. Just 50 years old at the time, Peter died surrounded by 17 family members, as many as they could cram into the small room. His sister, Lynda Clarke, says Peter was a positive, vibrant force right up to the end, even suggesting everyone sing the Scottish “farewell” song, Auld Lang Syne.

“He told us, ‘Now you guys need to take a piece of my light and be a positive force in this world.’”

— Lynda Clarke

Lynda Clarke standing in front of room 7123

“We were all a bit confused and asked him ‘Why do you want to sing that?’” recalls Lynda. That song is typically sung on New Year’s Eve, of course, to bid farewell to the old and welcome in the new — which is how Peter intended his passing to be.

“He knew it was going to be a new beginning for all of us without him there. He told us, ‘I have my light, and now you guys need to take a piece of my light and be a positive force in this world.’ And so, that’s what we’re doing,” says Lynda.

100 days of care at The Ottawa Hospital

Lynda and her husband Greg run Valley Utilities Ltd., a leading utility company in Ottawa, which, since 2007, has contributed more than $160,000 to The Ottawa Hospital — all in support of priority needs. That same year, Greg had a serious work-related accident that sent him to our hospital 80 times in the span of 100 days.

“We just couldn’t believe the exceptional care he got.”

— Lynda Clarke

“His big toe was nearly severed, he was covered in cuts, he had hot asphalt pieces all over his body, and two life-threatening infections,” Lynda explains. “But the hospital took such good care of him. We just couldn’t believe the exceptional care he got.”

Peter “PapaJo” Johns

Motivated to support the Campaign to Create Tomorrow

Not long after, the Clarkes were approached by Paul McCarney, a family friend and long-time supporter of The Ottawa Hospital, who wanted to know if they were interested in supporting the hospital through the Foundation’s President’s Breakfast and, more recently, the Campaign to Create Tomorrow. They readily agreed. Peter’s sarcoma diagnosis motivated Lynda and Greg to act and drove home the importance of a new hospital campus to replace the century-old Civic.

When it opens, the new hospital will be the most technologically advanced research hospital in the country. Lynda and Greg are supporting the build through a recent donation to the Campaign to Create Tomorrow, an ambitious, $500-million campaign that will also focus on taking research to unprecedented heights.

Sharing ‘PapaJo’s’ light with others

An athlete all his life, Peter was particularly fond of baseball and co-founded the Nepean Knights Baseball Club. Peter and his wife Allison raised three kids, and he coached their children’s teams, as well. Lynda figures his nickname “PapaJo” was somehow tied to “Shoeless Joe” Jackson, a Major League Baseball player in the early 1900s, though no one is entirely sure.

Peter playing baseball
Peter and Allison on their wedding day

Sarcomas are rare cancers that develop in the bones and soft tissues. Peter had a subtype that had also metastasized. “A fraction of people get diagnosed with sarcoma,” says Lynda, “and we said that just proves how rare Peter was.”

“It is time for this new campus. It’s just long overdue.”

— Lynda Clarke

Unfortunately, cancer is not rare in her family with many close family members battling the disease. Her mother has had four different kinds of cancer, and she’s lost two of her three aunts to cancer. But Lynda says groundbreaking research already underway at The Ottawa Hospital and plans for a new campus are giving her reason to hope.

“It is time for this new campus. It’s just long overdue,” she says. “I hope I never need the services, but I want to know that they’re there for anybody else who does.”

As she thinks about the future, Lynda can’t help but think of the past, and particularly, of her brother, who, right up to the day he died, considered himself the luckiest man in the world.

“So next time you pass by Room 7123, you’ll know PapaJo’s story,” she says, “and perhaps pocket just a little piece of his light to share with others.”

Categories: Donors

Published: February 2025

When Joanne Workman makes the short walk to the Civic Campus of The Ottawa Hospital for her volunteer shift, she gets a firsthand look at the construction progress of the future site of our new hospital campus. Through her dedicated weekly volunteering and her financial support, Joanne is helping to create a better tomorrow for generations to come.

Healthcare is something that has always been close to Joanne’s heart. Growing up in Merrickville, she’d watch her mom, Helen McKenna, dedicate herself to caring for patients at the former St. Francis Hospital in Smiths Falls. Helen was a devoted mother to seven children and a committed nurse who loved her job.

It was a career that started when she was very young and under challenging circumstances. Joanne recalls her mom telling her and her siblings stories about her time served during World War 2, caring for injured soldiers during the blitz. “Mom said she was never scared. ‘When you’re young, you’re not scared,’ she’d say,” recalls Joanne.

There was a time when Joanne considered a career as a nurse, but ultimately, she went in the direction of teaching and then accounting. She travelled across Canada with her work and then throughout the world with her husband, who was working in Yemen and Indonesia for the World Bank.

Giving back through volunteering

Giving back also came naturally to Joanne, and she even spent over a year volunteering with CUSO in Jamaica. When she settled back in Ottawa, not far from the Civic Campus, she decided to inquire about wearing the blue vest — attire that clearly identifies our dedicated volunteers around each hospital campus.

"Because I see the need firsthand — the need is so great. And we must support research and innovation at the hospital. This is not a little hospital; this is a major hospital research centre.”

— Joanne Workman

Volunteers are a vital part of our hospital. There are approximately 800 volunteers who help at our information desks, recreational therapy, inpatient and outpatient units, office helpers, as well as pet therapy. Volunteering is something Joanne tends to gravitate towards.

“I love to volunteer — I always have over the years. Every Monday you’ll find me here at the information desk, sometimes a little more in the summer months when the curling season is over,” explains the avid curler.

Joanne in her volunteer role at The Ottawa Hospital

Now in her eighth year of volunteering, this isn’t the only way Joanne gives back to our hospital, she’s also a monthly donor. “I started doing that a couple of years ago because I see the need firsthand — the need is so great. And we must support research and innovation at the hospital. This is not a little hospital; this is a major hospital research centre,” says Joanne.

Joanne at her curling club

Monthly giving leads to a gift in will

Monthly support to our hospital is vital. This steady source of income fuels research discoveries and allows us to ensure patients have access to the most cutting-edge equipment and technology available. “It’s one of the best things I could do. And I just feel really good about it,” says Joanne.

When the time came for Joanne to rewrite her will, she spoke with her financial advisor, and learned more about the impact of a leaving a gift in her will to charity and the benefits to her estate. By donating to a charity, it reduces the taxes paid by your estate.

“When I see what happens every day as I’m volunteering, and see the care that’s happening, it inspired me to leave a portion of my estate to the hospital.”

— Joanne Workman

Gifts in wills serve two purposes:

  • First, remembering The Ottawa Hospital in your will is a wonderful way to reshape the future of healthcare by providing much-needed funding.
  • Second, it stretches your lifetime of generosity into the future. We often hear from donors that they feel deeply satisfied, knowing they can continue to help their families and neighbours even after they’re gone.

For Joanne, leaving a gift to The Ottawa Hospital made sense to her. “When I see what happens every day as I’m volunteering, and see the care that’s happening, it inspired me to leave a portion of my estate to the hospital.”

New hospital campus inspires legacy gift

Her decision is also about the excitement of what’s still to come and what the Campaign to Create Tomorrow will mean — funding the new hospital campus and taking leading-edge research to the very top tier in the world.

Watching the progress at the construction site inspires Joanne. “We need a new hospital. It’s amazing how it’s growing out of the ground. I’m told that directions should be easier for the new hospital because of the way they’re laying it out, it’s going to be much easier for people to get around. Right now, you’re dealing with buildings that have all just been patched together over time, in order to expand.”

“We, as a community, don't realize how many people come and go through the hospital. Patients get cared for and sent home, and they're happy. But the hospital needs money to do this and to continue to expand, especially for the research.”

— Joanne Workman

The Ottawa Hospital’s new campus is Ottawa’s largest-ever healthcare infrastructure project and will be built on a 50-acre site bordered by Carling Avenue, Preston Street, and Prince of Wales Drive, near Dow’s Lake in Ottawa. While it’s already one of the best hospitals in Canada, The Ottawa Hospital is striving to earn it’s place in the very top tier of global healthcare leaders. 

“We, as a community, don’t realize how many people come and go through the hospital. Patients get cared for and sent home, and they’re happy. But the hospital needs money to do this and to continue to expand, especially for the research,” says Joanne. “I am blown away with all these diagnostics they do there, and that makes a huge difference. But all these things don’t just happen.”

Building a new hospital is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Along with a new outpatient care and research building, this modern, accessible, and technologically advanced healthcare facility is being built for our community, by our community. 

Joanne is eager to step into the new hospital campus as a volunteer, and seeing how it all comes together. It’s for forward-thinking people like her, who will create a legacy for generations to come.

Listen to learn about the impact about leaving a gift in your will have on The Ottawa Hospital.

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Categories: Donors, Gift In Will, TOH Family
Leave a gift in your will to help build a legacy, like Joanne, for patients tomorrow.
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