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First building in CAMH’s history named for donor marks shift in attitudes

First building in CAMH’s history named for donor marks shift in attitudes 
McCain family gift supports CAMH redevelopment vision 

From left to right: Paul Garfinkel, President & CEO, CAMH; Kelly Meighen, Vice-Chair, CAMH Foundation Board of Directors: Michael and Chris McCain: Darrell Gregersen, President & CEO, CAMH Foundation; Margaret and Wallace McCain; John Hunkin, Chair, CAMH Foundation Board of Directors.

May 1, 2009 -- Prominent displays of philanthropy may be commonplace for many hospitals, but today marked a “first” for CAMH: the Mood and Anxiety Building, one of the first of four new buildings of CAMH's redevelopment project, now bears the name of a donor.   

The McCain family—Michael and Chris, together with Michael’s parents, Wallace and Margaret— committed $2 million to support CAMH’s redevelopment vision in May 2008.  To recognize the gift, CAMH’s Mood and Anxiety Alternate Milieu Building has been named The McCain Building.    

“The McCain family’s generosity is helping transform the lives of our patients, many of whom are already benefiting from receiving care in more dignified surroundings,” said Dr. Paul Garfinkel, CAMH’s President & CEO. “Moreover, the McCain’s public demonstration of support transforms public attitudes, and challenges the stigma that historically made people reluctant to attach their names to our cause.  We offer profound thanks to the McCain family on behalf of CAMH and the clients we serve.”

“The four of us chose to support CAMH because it represents a need in the community that is pervasive, and an aspect of Canadian health care that affects all families,” said Michael McCain, President & Chief Executive Officer of Maple Leaf Foods Inc. 

Michael became a volunteer with the CAMH Foundation two years ago, and quickly stepped up his commitment by taking on the role of Co-Chair of the Transforming Lives Capital Campaign to raise $100 million for CAMH’s redevelopment.  “There is an overriding social injustice—these issues are not properly recognized or supported because of the associated stigma.”  

Michael’s wife Chris also lends volunteer leadership to CAMH. She plays an important role in the success of CAMH’s gala fundraiser, Queen Street Unmasked.  

Margaret and Wallace share Michael’s sentiments:  “These are areas of medicine that have been under-funded and misunderstood. We are very happy that these serious deficits are being corrected,” said Margaret.  Her education in social work, coupled with her well-known involvement with issues affecting women and children, such as family violence, have given her a keen insight into CAMH’s mission. 

The McCain Building is one of the first four buildings to be completed in the pioneering redevelopment which will replace CAMH’s outdated facilities with a mixed-use “urban village” that speaks of hope, dignity and recovery.  Eleven more buildings are planned over the coming years.   

“As CAMH’s new kind of hospital comes to life, you will see an increasing number of donors proclaiming their support for CAMH by allowing us to attach their names to our facilities,” said Darrell Gregersen, President & CEO of the CAMH Foundation.  “More and more Canadian leaders are publicly aligning themselves with our cause, demonstrating that these are issues that, as a civil society, we can no longer ignore.”  

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About The CAMH Foundation The CAMH Foundation raises funds to support the work of CAMH, a specialized teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and the largest mental health and addiction facility in Canada. CAMH is also a Pan American Health Organization and a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.

For more information, please contact: Jean Geary, 416 535-8501 ext. 4395.