Halifax, NS (June 26, 2024) – The IWK Foundation celebrates a $750,000 donation from BMO in support of the IWK Emergency Department (ED) redevelopment and Integrated Youth Services-Nova Scotia (IYS-NS).
BMO is generously investing $500,000 in the IWK ED redevelopment to transform pediatric emergency care and $250,000 in IYS-NS to improve access to mental health services for youth across Nova Scotia. This gift will ensure the highest quality of care for Maritime children, youth and families who depend on the IWK.
“At BMO we have a long-standing legacy of investing in the communities we serve and the organizations that sustain them,” said Karla McCarthy, Head, BMO Commercial Banking, Atlantic. “We are proud to support the IWK Foundation’s pediatric emergency and mental health care for youth in Atlantic Canada. There is a critical need for healthcare services in our communities and we are here to support young people across the Maritimes and to help drive progress for a thriving economy, sustainable future, and an inclusive society.”
As the only accredited level-one pediatric trauma centre east of Quebec, the IWK ED has supported patients and families across the Maritimes for almost 40 years. The department has outgrown its current space and infrastructure and continues to experience record-breaking patient visits. For the first time in its history, the IWK ED is close to exceeding 45,000 annual visits.
BMO’s investment in the IWK ED redevelopment will help build a new state-of-the-art department, double in size, that meets the evolving needs of patients and families. This purpose-built design will better streamline care and complement the world-class expertise of the IWK’s emergency team.
“For over 37 years, we are so proud that BMO has been investing in the future of Maritime children and youth who rely on the IWK”, says Jennifer Gillivan, President & CEO, IWK Foundation. “Today, they are furthering their impact and helping to transform both pediatric emergency care and community mental health and wellness services through their investment in Integrated Youth Services-Nova Scotia (IYS-NS).”
IYS-NS is an initiative to remove barriers and improve access to mental health and wellness services for youth in Nova Scotia. IYS-NS will provide youth (12 to 25 years) with free, rapid access to health and wellness resources, programs and services within one location. Services will be coordinated and offered by trusted community-based organizations under the leadership of IWK Health.
IYS-NS site locations have been announced across the province, designed to connect youth and their caregivers with the right support, at the right time, close to home. These sites will offer immediate support without fees or appointments, ultimately reducing the need for families to travel outside of their communities for mental health and addictions care.
“We are so grateful for BMO’s generous support of our children and youth, ensuring they receive the best possible care when they need it most,” continues Gillivan. “Children make up 25 per cent of our population but they are 100 per cent of our future. Thank you, BMO, for your dedication to, and belief in, our region’s future.”
Working alongside donors like BMO, the IWK Foundation is committed to changing the course of emergency mental health and addictions care for generations to come.
Quick Facts:
IWK Emergency Department Redevelopment
- The IWK Foundation is privileged to work in partnership with IWK Health and the Province of Nova Scotia on the IWK Emergency Department redevelopment.
- The IWK Foundation is committed to raising $26.5 million for this redevelopment to support the purchase of specialized equipment as well as specific facility upgrades, enhancements and research.
Integrated Youth Services-Nova Scotia
- The IWK Foundation has committed to raising $10 million alongside other philanthropic partners to support the creation of eight IYS-NS sites across Nova Scotia.
- In April 2024, the Province of Nova Scotia announced the locations of the first seven IYS-NS sites with another site added in the western part of the province. All eight sites will be open by March 31, 2027.
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About the IWK Foundation
The IWK Foundation is a champion of excellence in women's and children's health and medicine and works in partnership with IWK Health to support their vision of providing quality care to women, children, youth and families in the Maritime Provinces and beyond. Our donors are passionately committed to making a difference for Maritime families, contributing over $19.4 million in support of the most urgent care priorities at the IWK last year. Funds raised also support the IWK's global leadership in research and knowledge sharing, which in turn improves lives worldwide. Visit www.iwkfoundation.org for more information.
BMO Gives. Good grows here.
Helping communities thrive by supporting the organizations that sustain them and encouraging employee giving and volunteerism is at the heart of BMO's Purpose, to Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. In 2023, our social impact included more than $84 million donated to hundreds of charities and non-profit organizations across North America to help drive progress by enabling individuals to thrive and communities to prosper. Our colleagues spent almost 62,000 hours volunteering in the community and contributed more than $31.2 million of donations through our annual employee giving program. For more information, please visit BMO.com.
Media Contacts:
Sarah Greening
IWK Foundation
Sarah.greening@iwkfoundation.org
902-266-3306
Hannah Webster
Media Relations, BMO
Hannah.webster@bmo.com
416-867-3996