Some people have a knack for recognizing a big moment. An insight and a confidence to take action when such a moment arises. Tony Sottile and Barbara Robertson are two of those people — humble, hard-working, and keenly able to recognize an important project when they see it.

Tony’s family arrived in Canada in 1966 from San Martino in Pensilis, Italy, and his parents, Giuseppe and Tina, worked hard to build a new life in Ottawa. They ran Kanata Cleaners for the next three decades, instilling the value and reward of hard work in their children. With a mechanical engineering degree under his belt, Tony set off on his own path, and in 2002, he became the President of Modern Niagara, then CEO in 2004 — a position he held until his retirement in 2016.

Despite his success, or perhaps because of it, Tony has remained humble, committed to giving back to the community. He and Barbara have been long-time supporters of many charitable causes in Ottawa, rallying others to join them. Barbara, a retired teacher, volunteers weekly at the Shepherds of Good Hope and Ronald McDonald House, while Tony serves on The Ottawa Hospital’s Board of Governors. These are just a few examples of the many ways they support the health of our community.

Their recent gift of $2 million to the Campaign to Create Tomorrow demonstrates a deep gratitude to the city they feel has given them so much. They view their gift as an investment in the creation of a global healthcare hub and educational facility — a project that will have an impact on the economy that is without parallel.

The Campaign to Create Tomorrow sets in motion a vision to transform how the world delivers healthcare — by building the most technologically advanced hospital in Canada and taking groundbreaking research and innovation to unprecedented heights.