Annual Report Stories

Southlake reflects on some of the people whose transformed a small community hospital into a regional leader As Southlake Health celebrated 100 years of leading edge care, its story, above all, is a story of pride for people whose compassion, dedication, and innovation have shaped a small community hospital into a leader of healthcare excellence. In partnership with the community publication, Newmarket Today, Southlake Health highlighted physician, staff, volunteer, and pati

Thanks to thoughtful donor contributions to Homeward, our Maternal Child Initiative, we surpassed our $2.5M fundraising goal, raising $2.54M. A very special thank you to Chris and Wendy Neal and their family for their stalwart commitment as Lead Community Volunteers and phenomenal champions for Homeward. In the face of accelerating demand and the urgent need for advanced neonatal technology to replace aging equipment, donors empowered us to meet the highest priorities of our

Southlake Health as one of world’s top hospitals for seven consecutive years In February, Southlake Health was proudly named one of the top three community hospitals in Ontario by Newsweek. This was the seventh consecutive year that Southlake was recognized as one of the World’s Best Hospitals. This year, Southlake was also one of the top four community hospitals in Canada, reflecting its steadfast commitment to delivering leading edge care, close to home. Newsweek's annual

We are grateful to our community for going the distance for Southlake Health at our 2025 Nature’s Emporium Run for Southlake! Contributions from our donors, sponsors (including Magna International), and volunteers were key to making this year’s event the most successful ever, with a record number of participants, teams, and dollars raised. More than 1,660 runners and walkers from 123 teams helped us raise over $460,000 — our best fundraising result in the event’s 23-year hist

Southlake’s new ACE Unit cares for seniors in an environment built just for them During Seniors Month in June, Southlake opened the Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) Unit, a dedicated space designed to meet the complex medical needs of patients aged 70 and older. Thoughtfully planned to support comfort, safety, and recovery, the unit offers specialized care for seniors in a calm and welcoming environment. Older adults tend to experience longer hospital stays and benefit from a

In December 2024, Southlake Health Foundation hosted The Powell Group of Companies to celebrate their $1M investment in our HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match Campaign and unveil The Powell Group of Companies Radiation Treatment Suite in Southlake’s Regional Cancer Centre. Long-time supporters of Southlake, having generously given to a variety of campaigns and events over the years, the Powell Family empowered Southlake to make the first Elekta Harmony Linear Accelerator (L

In partnership with POGO, Southlake Health’s paediatric oncology clinic brings expert, compassionate cancer care closer to home. During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September, Southlake was honoured to welcome Premier Doug Ford, Minister Sylvia Jones, Minister Stephen Lecce, and MPP Dawn Gallagher-Murphy to see firsthand the impact of having paediatric cancer care, close to home. When a child needs cancer care, having access to care closer to home is critical. Since

Since launching our $20M Cancer Campaign, HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match, donor support has enabled Southlake to achieve remarkable milestones in bringing the latest technology to our Regional Cancer Centre, including upgrading and expanding our fleet of Linear Accelerators (LINACs) for radiation therapy. Donations replaced three of our aging LINACs and added a fifth to our fleet, building critical capacity, addressing demand, and eliminating wait times in our Radiation

Only six healthcare organizations worldwide have reached this milestone in cardiac care. Southlake Health has successfully implanted 1,001 sutureless heart valves, becoming the first hospital in North America to meet this major milestone using the Perceval valve. The Perceval valve is the only fully sutureless heart valve currently used in aortic valve replacement surgery around the world. Only six healthcare organizations worldwide have implanted 1,000 sutureless heart va

Each year, Southlake Health identifies equipment that has reached the end of its service life and requires replacement, whether due to age, frequent use in our busy hospital, or advancements in technology that offer a higher standard of care. Donor-funded equipment in 2024-25 included: Three new mammography machines, the MyoSure System (innovative technology that supports minimally invasive surgeries for female reproductive cancers), and the MOLLI 2® System (a minimally invas

New mammography machines and diagnostic tools support early detection and treatment close to home Thanks to the generous support of community donors, Southlake added three new, state-of-the-art mammography machines in 2024. With this new technology, Southlake expanded its screening capacity to serve 1,500 more patients each year. In total, more than 14,300 women received a mammogram at Southlake last year. Regular cancer screenings play a crucial role in detecting cancer ea

A new patient arrives in Southlake’s Emergency Department every 4.5 minutes. We have some of the fastest door-to-doctor assessment times in the province, but Southlake remains an epicentre of hallway healthcare in Ontario. Our communities need and deserve timely and high-quality emergency care when time is of the essence — they cannot afford to wait. It was this urgent need for support that drove our 2024 The Future Is Now Southlake Gala, where, together with our generous com

For the third consecutive year, the American College of Surgeons has recognized Southlake for surgical excellence In 2024/25, Southlake Health once again earned international recognition as one of only six hospitals in Ontario to achieve meritorious outcomes in both categories in the American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP®). Of the 609 North American hospitals that participate in the program, only 43 hospitals were recognized i

Southlake Health is strengthening its cardiac program through word-class recruitment. Southlake Health was proud to welcome two extraordinary leaders to its Department of Cardiac Health – a regional program known for providing life-saving care to patients from York Region to Muskoka. These appointments reflect Southlake’s ongoing commitment to innovation, excellence, and its greatest strength: its people. Christopher Overgaard, MD Appointed Chief, Department of Cardiac Heal

Supporting families through high-risk pregnancies with Southlake’s new Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic In November 2024, Southlake opened a new Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic, bringing specialized care for high-risk pregnancies to families in northern York Region and southern Simcoe County. Every year, more than 2,600 babies are born at Southlake. The new clinic builds on this long-standing commitment to families by expanding access to maternal fetal medicine specialists an

“My heart was beating so fast I thought it would burst right out of my chest.” 73-year-old Marg May never thought she would be facing heart failure. She had always been active, spending her days gardening and playing with her grandchildren. Thankfully, Southlake was there when she needed us the most. After feeling exhausted for weeks, Marg’s symptoms suddenly escalated. When she couldn’t catch her breath, she decided to see her doctor. He sent her straight to Southlake’s Emer

Thanks to the steadfast dedication of Philanthropy Cabinet leadership volunteer Michael Croxon and the NewRoads Automotive Group, in 2024, the NewRoads LakeRide raised over $108,000 in support of Southlake’s Mental Health Program. As our catchment area continues to grow and demands on our services increase, the funds raised through the NewRoads LakeRide are ensuring Southlake has modern spaces designed specifically to meet the needs of our mental health patients, as well as f

Organized by Mercy 4 Mankind, a subsidiary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association (AMYA), the Run for Newmarket took place in October 2024, with residents and local businesses raising more than $19,000 to support Southlake’s areas of greatest need. Southlake is so grateful to this community-focused organization for its dedication to the health and well-being of our communities. Read more about the Run for Newmarket and the AMYA here.

Archie Verspeeten was committed to helping other families access the healthcare services they needed, and he did so through considerable philanthropy during his lifetime. His son Dennis reflected on his father’s generosity. “My dad was a humble person. He’d be embarrassed when people thanked him for his help,” Dennis shares. “He just never wanted any family to go through what he went through. It affected him so much. His biggest worry was losing someone else he loved. He hope

The Southlake Golf Tournament is the Foundation’s longest-running fundraising event (over 30 years). Our 2024 tournament, presented by Bazil Developments, raised an incredible $314,000 to support Southlake’s most urgent priorities. The 2024 event, held at the exclusive Beacon Hall Golf Club, brought together business and community leaders from across York Region and beyond, as well as members of our Southlake Family, all to continue to advance leading edge care, close to home