MUHC celebrates the inauguration of its state-of-the Glen Site

Thousands of Montrealers join in the festivities and show their love for their city

The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) inaugurated today its Glen site with a celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony that capped decades of dreams, plans, construction and successful moves to a physical plant built for 21st-century academic medicine. In addition to MUHC leaders, speakers at the historic event included His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada; Quebec Minister of Health and Social Services, Gaétan Barrette; Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre; and McGill Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Suzanne Fortier. Thousands of Montrealers from all walks of life also joined in the celebrations, including the Walk for Montreal! and evenko concert.

MUHC Board Chairman Claudio Bussandri was the first speaker. He highlighted how it was an emotional day for all, one that was filled with pride and hope. He then recognized the perseverance of previous hospital boards, colleagues, the MUHC team, as well as the countless volunteers and supporters. “These men and women bravely advanced and completed the voluntary merger of our individual hospitals in 1997 and helped guide this project through its peaks and valleys, twists and turns; they richly deserve our thanks.” Bussandri went on to single out a former executive director of the Montreal Children’s Hospital, noting “the new MUHC is in many ways the brainchild of Dr. Nicolas Steinmetz and I’d like us all to recognize him for his vision.”

MUHC President and Executive Director Normand Rinfret was the next to address the enthusiastic crowd. He thanked those who had the vision; designed, planned and managed the project; carried out the construction; and provided their support. After reminding the audience of some of the Glen’s healing and cutting-edge features, he noted “as a shining icon for Montreal, for Quebec and for Canada, the Glen site allows the MUHC to build on its traditions by attracting and retaining world-class healthcare professionals.” Rinfret then closed his speech by focusing on how the future is shaped by the present. He highlighted that the Glen site’s “golden promise is to encourage improvements in the health and well-being of the general population. Let us draw our wisdom now by looking towards the responsibility that comes with the trust that has been placed in the MUHC, namely by addressing the future that is within and beyond our grasp.” 
  
Many individuals, from managers and physicians to healthcare professionals, volunteers and patients, were involved in the design, planning and project’s management, including the Office of the Executive Director of the Modernization of Montreal’s Academic Health Centres, Clermont Gignac and his team. SNC-Lavalin and its partners, under the leadership of CEO Robert Card, and Pomerleau-Verreault carried out the construction. 
 
The Glen site was funded in part thanks to generous donors through the $300-million The Best Care for Life and The Best Care for Children campaigns.  John A. Rae and Marc Courtois, chairs of these campaigns launched publicly in 2005, expressed their sincere gratitude to foundations, community leaders and citizens for supporting this once-in-a-generation redevelopment project. They also recognized the invaluable contributions of co-chairs and honorary chairs who led the Community and Public phases, notably: Drs. Sylvia and Richard Cruess; France Denis (Royer) and Raymond Royer; Helgi and Ian Soutar; Mutsumi Takahashi and the late Jean Béliveau; Claudio Bussandri, the Honourable David Angus, Arnold Steinberg, David Culver and Alex Paterson. In addition, the Executive Committee was acknowledged. Members are Peter Abraham, Mark Beaudet, Joan Ivory, John D. Morgan, Gwen Nacos & Family, Norman Steinberg, Pierrette Wong, Claude Dauphin, Peter Duffield, David Laidley, Steve Merling, Cheryl Campbell Steer, Peter Coughlin, Richard Pattee, William Eakin, Jacques Filion, John Peacock and Bruce Shadeed.  

Mayor Denis Coderre served as Grand Marshall for the 3-km Walk for Montrea!l from Dawson College to the Glen site, which kicked off celebration. The MUHC Cardiology’s “Heart and Sole”, Westmount-Ville Marie MP and former astronaut Marc Garneau’s Team and McGill, Dawson and John Abbott Nursing were just some of the 250+ groups that rallied together from all over Montreal. Once at the site, they were treated to an evenko concert, pre and post the inauguration and ribbon-cutting ceremony: Star Académie winning singer-songwriter Stéphanie Lapointe and Canadian Juno award-winning singer-songwriter Sam Roberts Band.

Celebrations continue on Sunday, June 21, with a free Community Festival featuring activities for all ages, including inflatable games, face painting and a meet-and-greet with Canadiens’ alumni Chris Nilan, Guy Carbonneau and Mathieu Darche, as well as more great evenko performances featuring talented Montrealers, including Nikki Yanofsky, the Montréal Jubilation Gospel Choir, Oliver Jones and others!

The MUHC is very grateful to its sponsors for covering all the costs of these memorable celebrations. Their generosity helped bring Montrealers together to mark a major chapter in the history of the McGill University Health Centre, whose founding hospitals have been proud members of the city for over a century. 

Platinum:  Bell, BMO, Cinémas Guzzo, CJAD 800, CTV, evenko, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Innisfree, LaPresse+, Montréal en Santé, Montreal Gazette, Pattison, Power Corporation of Canada, Quebecor, Rio Tinto Alcan, Rouge fm 107,3, SNC-Lavalin, Sodexo, Solotech, Sports Experts, Trevi

Gold:  Aimia, Claridge, Dynamite-Garage, Jean Coutu, McGill, Pomerleau-Verreault, Redbourne, TC Transcontinental

Silver:  Airbounce, Montreal Chinese Chamber of Commerce, RBC

Bronze: Abbott Nutrition, Bad Monkey, Board of Trade of Metropolitain Montreal, CBRE, CIMA, Cossette, Costco, Hewitt, Kamik, Lassonde, Laurin Laurin, Laurus Summer Camp, Les Vins du Réseau International Global, Liquid Nutrition, McCafé, Monkland Village Productions (MVP), Oxygène, Phil Communications, Reptizoo, Scapin, Shriners Hospital for Children – Canada, Stephanie’s Face Painting, Travelway, Zoom