1. That was then . . .
Norma Hayes (center with scissors) has plenty of help cutting the ribbon from family
members (left to right) Philip Renaud, Richard J. Renaud, Alexander Renaud,
Jean-Philippe Renaud, daughter Carolyn Renaud (holding her arm), Andrea Renaud,
Paul Renaud and Estefania Renaud.
www.stmaryshospitalfoundation.cawww.stmaryshospitalfoundation.ca
Fall 2005 Fall 2005
JUST TAKE A LOOK AT US NOW!
On September 30th,2005,Mrs.Norma Hayes cut
the ribbon that officially opened the Norma and
Robert Hayes Pavilion in a formal, invitation-only
ceremony. Diane Legault, Chambly's Deputy and
Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Health
and Social Services, spoke at the prestigious
event, outlining the continuing importance of a
community-based hospital in the contemporary
healthcare environment. Her sentiments were
echoed by McGill’s Dean of Medicine, Abraham
Fuks, who emphasized the irreplaceable role played
by St.Mary’s in the McGill Healthcare Network. And
Foundation Chairman, Craig Shannon payed tribute
to St.Mary’s Board Chairman Richard Renaud,whose
visionary generosity permitted the transformation of
the building into a modern-day medical facility.
CJAD’s Andrew Carter gave a moving testimonial
about his own experience with St. Mary’s, hitting
home to the invited guests the crucial difference
between the “assembly-line care” that can be found
in any hospital, and the hands-on, compassionate
care offered by St. Mary’s.
Meticulous planning was devoted to
the reconstruction of the building that
once housed aspiring nurses, keeping
most of the original walls intact and
preserving the historical elegance and
relevance of the structure.At every corner
and in every decision,optimal patient care
and efficiency in the work environment
was the focus and inspiration.
The 5-storey building was originally constructed
in 1949, close enough to the Hospital so that its
connection would be obvious,but far enough to give
the building its own anonymity and character. Warm
and bright, with a generous distribution of windows
for every room, the building offered a welcoming
atmosphere for the hundreds of nurses who called
the building“home”for the duration of their studies.
In 1972, the building was adapted into a medical
building, in response to the growing need for
expanded facilities at the Hospital. The building,
which became known as the “Annex,” bravely
endured its new mission as a medical facility,
contrary to the purposes for which it was
constructed.
But by 2001, it was impossible to ignore the
inadequacy of the facilities any longer. A motion was
put to the Board to seek funding for the complete
renovation and refurbishment of the entire building.
The formidable objective was undertaken, and
through the visionary generosity of our loyal
supporters,St.Mary’s Hospital Foundation raised the
necessary funds not only to restore the building to
its former glory, but to transform it into a medical
facility that rivals some of the best in the city.
The renovated building is fresher,brighter,more
patient-friendly and more accessible than ever
before, featuring handicapped-equipped washrooms
on every floor, new waiting rooms with adjacent
nursing rooms – offering privacy and quiet to
nursing mothers.
Additionally,and just as importantly,the facilities
are more attractive to professional staff, and more
conducive to an optimal working environment. In a
day and age when professional recruitment and
retention is pivotal to quality of services,the Pavilion
is evidence of St. Mary’s commitment to secure the
best and the brightest in our Hospital. It boasts a
conference room with state-of-the-art audio-visual
equipment and a comfortable and generous
employee lounge. A central filing room sends
patient files to any part of the building via a dumb
waiter, replacing the need for staff to waste valuable
time and energy collecting the files manually. With
environmental allergies and infection such a topical
concern,a new ventilation system with 25% fresh air
intake was added to ensure that staff and patients
enjoy the added security of clean air.
The original entrance of the building itself was
preserved for posterity, but a new, inviting main
entrance was built on Jean Brillant, bordered by two
spacious gardens and facing the community we
serve. And a new,much larger elevator carries guests
effortlessly throughout the building.
The Norma & Robert Hayes Pavilion now
welcomes patients and professional staff to our:
✓ Family Medicine Centre
✓ Women’s Clinic
✓ Epidemiology Department
✓ Mental Health Outpatient Clinic
✓ Mireille & Murray Steinberg Ophthalmology
Clinic
✓ Auxiliary Department
Norma Hayes shows off the building's name
accompanied by her daughters, Audrey (l.)
and Carolyn (r.)
Cynda Heward, Foundation President &
CEO, accompanies Father Fitzpatrick down
the red carpet for the ribbon cutting.
McGill Dean Abraham Fuks qualified
St. Mary's crucial role in the McGill
University Healthcare Network.
CJAD Morning Man,
Andrew Carter, gives
kudos to St. Mary's
Dr. Diane Legault offered
her personal insights on
the importance of a
community hospital
ALL EYES ON THE
MIREILLE & MURRAY
STEINBERG
OPHTHALMOLOGY
CLINIC
In 2004, St. Mary’s Hospital Center began clinical appointments for our very
own Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit. The acquisition was a proud
moment for St. Mary’s, but procuring the costly unit was only half the battle –
housing the two-ton device was an entirely different challenge. The Unit required
the complete renovation of the area, and as long as the MRI Unit was being
accommodated, it was decided that the entire Imaging Department should have
a face-lift as well.
The Imaging Department is located on the 1st floor of the Hospital. As one
of the most accessed areas in the Hospital, the Department was in dire need of
refurbishing – not only to accommodate the extensive patient load that visits the
Department daily,but also to render the area more conducive to the multitude of
professionals who work there.
The Fruchter, Stendel & Fish Family Foundations were approached by our
very own Murray Steinberg to give a leadership gift to the Imaging Department,
in order to facilitate the necessary renovations. It was agreed that a generous
contribution would be made on the provision that the gift was matched dollar
for dollar from another source. The proposal was brought before the Board, and
key members of the community and the Foundation Board stepped forward to
ensure that the Fruchter, Stendel & Fish contribution was matched.
On April 21st, members of the Fruchter, Stendel & Fish Family Foundations
unveiled a plaque commemorating their contribution to the Imaging
Department. And then on June 2nd, a reception was held to honour the
contributors of the matching gift, namely Francesco & Marisa Bellini, Irwin
Beutel, James Cherry and Jane Craighead, Muriel & J.P. Longlade, Carolyn &
Richard Renaud, and Marisa & Marc Trottier. The
donors were toured through the new facilities by
Imaging Chief,Dr.Jack Glay,and the new MRI Unit
was demonstrated.
Imaging is a department that is potentially
used by every patient – in-patient and out-patients
alike – who visit St. Mary’s. The department
includes ultrasound equipment, x-ray facilities,
cat-scans, and now, of course, an MRI Unit.
IMAGING
IS EVERYTHING
The MRI Unit was installed in
2004, after extensive renovations
to the entire Imaging Department
to accommodate its weight,
pictured here being loaded into
the Hospital via a crane through
a hole in the wall.
Dr. Glay (left) shows off our new MRI to the esteemed guests.
Irwin Beutel poses beside
plaque in his honour.
Murray Steinberg (r.)
offers Richard Renaud
(l.) a symbolic key to
St. Mary's.
2005 has been an extraordinary year for St.Mary’s Hospital Center,showcasing the fruition of many projects through
openings and unveilings of renovated, revamped, restored and refurbished areas all over the Hospital. The Foundation
is enormously proud to have hosted an array of donor recognition events, paying homage to some of the key leaders
of the Montreal community who have demonstrated their leadership in key contributions to refurbished areas. Here
are a few of the highlights:
The Norma & Robert Hayes Pavilion
Murray & Mireille Steinberg (center) are pictured here with their
family on the auspicious occasion.
and THIS is now!
Only weeks before The Norma & Robert
Hayes Pavilion was officially opened,one of its key
residents had their own opening. The Mireille &
Murray Steinberg Ophthalmology Clinic received
guests at an formal ceremony held September 7th
on the 3rd floor of the Norma & Robert Hayes
Pavilion. The reception was well attended by
friends and family of the Steinbergs, as well as a
host of Hospital and Foundation officials and
dignitaries.
Murray Steinberg, who has been a member of
the Center and Foundation Boards for many years,
helped his wife Mireille unveil a plaque honouring
his late parents, Annie and Nathan Steinberg.
Under the plaque,Mireille and Murray added a very
personal note,“We are pleased to link the genera-
tions of our family with St. Mary's.” The note, and
the opening, formalized one of the most historic
and productive relationships that St. Mary’s has
ever had with a key member of the Montreal com-
munity.
Murray Steinberg has been active
in the St. Mary’s community in nearly every
committee and every board held under our
roof for decades -- offering key insights into
our needs, forging strategies for our ambitious
future and helping shape St. Mary’s into what
we have become. As one of the most
respected members of our community,
Steinberg has opened doors for St. Mary’s that
would otherwise have remained bolted shut,
empowering us to accomplish our objectives
time and again. And all the while, Steinberg
has maintained a low profile, preferring to
advocate for St. Mary’s out of the spotlight.
The event was, therefore, an exceptional
opportunity to show off one of St. Mary’s
greatest allies and unsung heroes.
The relationship between our Ophthalmology
Department and the Steinbergs began with
Steinberg’s father, Nathan, who was a close friend
of the late Dr. Marvin Kwitko. Dr. Kwitko
pioneered modern cataract surgery in Canada
right here at St. Mary’s, where he served faithfully
on the St.Mary’s staff up until the time of his death
in 2002. The Steinberg gift to the Ophthalmology
Clinic enabled the outpatient arm of the
department to open up shop in a completely
refurbished environment. The Clinic has been
receiving patients in their new facilities since
March,and the amelioration of experience for both
the patients and the professionals who attend to
them has been remarkable.
St. Mary’s offers state-of-the-art ophthalmo-
logic services to the community, and has been
designated a cataract surgical site by the province,
in recognition of the volume and quality of
cataract surgeries performed here.
1799_St Mary LIAISON '05 12/6/05 1:58 PM Page 7