Calgary businessman and philanthropist Brett Wilson made another major donation last week.
Wilson, who grew up in the Battlefords, announced a donation of $1 million towards the Children’s Hospital in Saskatoon.
The announcement was made as part of the fundraiser events for the Teammates 4 Kids foundation headlined by Garth Brooks. Teammates 4 Kids is Brooks’ foundation set up to fund the special Child Life Zone planned for the children’s hospital. It is described as a therapeutic play area for pediatric patients and their families.
The events featuring Brooks were held Aug. 26 with a luncheon in Saskatoon and an evening event at Conexus Arts Centre in Regina.
Wilson, who is originally from the Battlefords, has been a longtime supporter of the Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospital Foundation, and is an honourary co-chair of the capital campaign.
Following his $1 million donation announcement, the foundation gave Wilson an award in the shape of a teddy bear in recognition, which he posted on Twitter.
On his Facebook page, Wilson stated it was “an incredible experience being in the presence of this man this week in support of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan and Garth's Teammates for Kids. If Garth Brooks were from Canada, I believe he'd be from Saskatchewan!”
Construction of the Children’s Hospital marked another milestone in August with the main building construction contract awarded to Graham Construction and Engineering LP in the amount of $214,221,684.
The award, which follows the approval of the recommendation from the Ministry of Health, will see phase 2 construction of the maternal and children’s hospital’s begin in September.
With confirmation of the cost of construction for the CHS main building, the total project cost of the hospital is forecasted at $285.2 million, with $235.5 million (82.5 per cent) coming from the provincial government, $21.4 million (7.5 per cent) from interest earned by Saskatoon Health Region investments of the hospital’s initial capital and $28.3 million (10 per cent) funded through the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan capital campaign. This reflects a new $24.9 million funding commitment from Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan that expands its total capital fundraising campaign from $50 million to $74.9 million, said the Saskatoon Health Region in a news release.
It is expected construction will mobilize on the site in the next few weeks. Graham Construction estimated substantial completion of construction will be in early 2019. An additional six months is forecasted to fully commission the complex building systems and equipment and prepare for hospital operations.
The opening of the hospital, located next to the Royal University Hospital on the University of Saskatchewan campus in Saskatoon, is projected for later in 2019.
