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“The hospital has replaced its 12‑year‑old mammography machine and added a second, fully equipped mammography suite. Together, these upgrades double CGMH’s mammography capacity and introduce advanced diagnostic capabilities that extend well beyond traditional screening,” says Michael Lacroix, CGMH President and CEO. The second suite will focus on in‑depth assessments and will offer contrast‑enhanced mammography – an important tool for improved cancer detection, particularly in patients with dense breast tissue.

With this addition, CGMH will be among a select group of hospitals in Ontario offering contrast‑enhanced mammography, expected to be fully implemented by Fall 2026.

Key enhancements for patients and the community include:

• 3D‑guided (stereotactic) biopsies for greater precision in targeting abnormalities

• Contrast‑enhanced mammography to highlight potential cancers by tracking contrast dye within breast tissue (beginning Fall 2026)

These advancements are especially valuable for identifying cancers that may be hidden within dense breast tissue and not visible on ultrasound. At the heart of this work is a simple but powerful goal: to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, supporting less invasive surgery and more effective treatment options.

“The expansion also allows one mammography unit to focus primarily on screening mammograms, helping reduce the growing waitlist and increasing access to breast‑screening services through the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). In the past fiscal year alone, CGMH performed 7,645 mammograms, including 5,670 for OBSP patients,” says Jamey Gilroy, Manager of Diagnostic Imaging and Echocardiography.

CGMH extends its sincere thanks to the generous leadership of the late Teri Yamada and her husband Doug Moxon, who matched donations up to $375,000 through the 2024 Tree of Life campaign. Additional thanks go to 100+ Women Who Care, South Georgian Triangle, for their $25,500 contribution, and to every community member whose support helped bring this innovative technology to our hospital.

“This milestone reflects what is possible when our community comes together to invest in better health care today and into the future, as we work to bring Tomorrow’s Hospital for South Georgian Bay to fruition,” says Sandra Taylor, CGMH Foundation President and CEO.

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The Foundation also announced that the $17.5 million matching challenge, led by the Cockwell family and friends and family of Bob Hutcheson, has been fully matched by donors across the community, unlocking $35 million for local healthcare.

“This milestone belongs to our donors,” said Katherine Craine, CEO of Huntsville Hospital Foundation. “It belongs to the child who donated their birthday money. It belongs to every family who made a gift, every volunteer, every business owner and every grateful patient. Together, we have created one of the most significant community fundraising moments in Muskoka’s history. To every person who contributed to this milestone, thank you.”

In just one year, hundreds of donors have made gifts and pledges, helping the campaign reach 76% of its $70 million goal. The Foundation looks forward to recognizing many of these generous donors and sharing the stories behind their support in the months ahead.

“We launched Raise Muskoka with an ambitious goal and a belief that our community would rise to meet it,” said Tom Anselmi, Campaign Co-Chair. “To raise more than $53 million and to fully complete the matching challenge in just one year is extraordinary. This achievement reflects the generosity, confidence and commitment people have for the future of local healthcare.”

The matching challenge, announced in September 2025 in honour of Bob Hutcheson, helped inspire support from across the region and accelerate momentum for the campaign.

“I have always believed in the people of Muskoka, and this campaign is proof of what can happen when a community comes together behind something that matters,” said Bob Hutcheson, Honourary Co-Chair. “I am grateful to the Cockwell family and to my family and friends who helped launch this campaign. While this milestone is worth celebrating, what excites me most is what it will mean for future generations.”

As part of today’s announcement, the Foundation also launched Our Cottage Cares, a new initiative inviting lakefront property owners to make a five-year commitment to support Raise Muskoka.

While today’s announcement marks a major milestone, Campaign Co-Chairs emphasize that the work continues.

“It has been an incredible year, and I am so thrilled to see the outpouring of love and respect for the Hutcheson family,” said Mike Harrower, Campaign Co-Chair. “Every gift is helping build the future Huntsville Hospital and we still have important work ahead. We invite you to join us and be part of this historic campaign.”

Funds raised through Raise Muskoka will help support the future Huntsville Hospital and the equipment and technology required to provide exceptional patient care.

For more information about the Raise Muskoka Campaign, Our Cottage Cares or to make a donation, please visit HuntsvilleHospitalFoundation.ca.

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Under Dr. Abdel-Razek’s leadership, MAHC has made notable strides in advancing quality care, investing in professional development for physicians, and strengthening clinical services. His tenure saw the modernization of the Hospitalist Program, resulting in improved patient care coverage and responsiveness across sites. He also championed the establishment of a formal Quality of Care Committee and the creation of two dedicated Quality Lead roles, reinforcing MAHC’s commitment to continuous quality improvement.

In addition, MAHC achieved measurable improvements in operational performance, including reductions in patient length of stay supporting more efficient and effective care delivery. Dr. Abdel-Razek also played a key role in expanding physician leadership capacity, developing innovative programs, and advancing priorities in clinical care, utilization, regional partnerships, capital redevelopment, and medical affairs—further positioning MAHC for ongoing success.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, we extend our sincere gratitude to Dr. Abdel-Razek for his exceptional leadership and commitment to patient care,” said Dave Uffelmann, Chair of the Board of Directors. “His vision and dedication have helped shape a culture of development, excellence, and continuous improvement across our organization.”

MAHC’s Board of Directors will initiate a recruitment process for the next Chief of Staff in the coming weeks. A selection committee, including representatives from credentialed staff, will guide the process. “We are grateful for Dr. Abdel-Razek’s lasting impact on our organization and the communities we serve,” added Uffelmann. “We wish him all the best in his well-earned retirement.”

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare remains committed to working closely with its partners to ensure a seamless transition and continued delivery of safe, high-quality care across the region.

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This essential upgrade enhances the reliability and resilience of the hospital’s electrical systems, ensuring faster, seamless transitions to emergency power when required. These advancements support uninterrupted care delivery and further strengthen patient safety, comfort, and confidence during unexpected power events.

“The successful installation of the Automatic Transfer Switch is an important advancement for South Muskoka Memorial Hospital.” said Cheryl Harrison, President & CEO, “These infrastructure improvements strengthen our ability to provide safe, reliable care and underscore our continued investment in the future of our hospital and the communities we serve. We are grateful to our dedicated staff whose professionalism and teamwork helped ensure the success of this project.”

MAHC extends sincere thanks to all staff, physicians, partners, and contractors for their hard work, dedication, and collaboration throughout this process. Staff professionalism and commitment ensured that patient care continued safely and effectively during the temporary disruption. Their efforts were instrumental in delivering this project successfully.

MAHC also thanks patients, families, and community members for their patience and understanding during the planned outage. The successful completion of this upgrade reflects MAHC’s ongoing commitment to investing in infrastructure improvements that support high-quality, dependable care for the communities it serves.

For more information, please visit www.mahc.ca

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The planned outage will take place from 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14 to 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. This work is required to complete upgrades to the hospital’s Automatic Transfer Switches, an important investment in maintaining reliable and resilient systems that support patient care.

Extensive coordination and planning have been undertaken to ensure patient safety remains the top priority throughout the process. Clinical teams, facilities staff, and regional partners have worked closely to minimize risk and maintain continuity of care during this period.

During the outage, South Muskoka Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department will operate at a reduced capacity and provide emergent care only. Where appropriate, Emergency Medical Services will redirect patients to Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, which will continue full emergency services during this time. This approach helps ensure timely access to care while allowing the necessary upgrades to be completed safely.

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare has implemented a comprehensive communications and mitigation plan, including coordination with paramedic services, municipal emergency management teams, police and fire services, regional hospitals and Home and Community Care partners. Should an unexpected external power interruption occur during the upgrade, contingency plans are in place to support critical services.

MAHC thanks patients, families, staff, physicians, first responders, and community partners for their understanding and cooperation as this important work is completed. These upgrades support MAHC’s commitment to providing safe, reliable, and high-quality care for the communities it serves.

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Notably, both transformational gifts were made through gifts of publicly traded securities;
a form of giving that maximizes impact for the hospital and can provide significant tax
benefits to the donor. Through this thoughtful approach to giving, Bob has ensured that the
full value of his generosity goes to advancing patient care.

“Our hospital is the heart of this community,” says Bob. “Supporting its future is one of the
most meaningful investments I can make, and giving through stocks is easy. I challenge
other donors: why wait?”

Bob’s latest contribution builds on his legacy of philanthropy that has spanned years. With
his total giving now over $2.2 million, Bob’s impact will be felt across patient care,
medical advancements, and expanded access to critical health services for generations to
come.

“In just six months, Bob has doubled down on his commitment to our patients and our
mission. His extraordinary generosity strengthens our ability to deliver high quality care
close to home.” Says Foundation Executive Director, Leah Walker.
In recognition of his historic generosity, South Muskoka Hospital has honoured Bob and
his late wife Lynn with recognition on the South Muskoka Hospital’s visitor entranceway.
Foundation Board Chair Dan Brooks noted, “Philanthropy at this level inspires others.
Bob’s leadership challenges all of us to think bigger about what’s possible for healthcare in
our region.” –

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In January, MAHC announced the temporary pause of mammography services at the Huntsville Hospital to allow for the installation of a new, advanced system made possible through the generosity of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation and its dedicated donors. Today, MAHC is proud to welcome patients back into a refreshed clinic space equipped with leading-edge technology designed to enhance both clinical excellence and patient comfort.

The new GE Senographe Pristina mammography unit offers significant advancements over the previous system. Most notably, it features advanced 3D tomosynthesis technology, producing clearer, more detailed images—particularly beneficial for detecting and diagnosing lesions in dense breast tissue. The system also allows for faster and more efficient image acquisition, helping reduce the time patients spend in compression.

Patient comfort was a key consideration in the design of the new unit. Supportive armrests have replaced the rigid handles of the previous machine, allowing patients to relax their muscles during the exam, which improves both comfort and image quality. The addition of the Pristina SensorySuite further enhances the experience, with monitors on both sides of the unit displaying soothing scenery accompanied by calming sounds. The new equipment also supports technologists through improved ergonomics, reducing physical strain during patient positioning and maneuvering, and contributing to a safer, more efficient workflow.

MAHC extends its sincere appreciation to patients and families for their patience during the temporary service pause and renovation period. Routine mammography services have now resumed at the Huntsville Hospital, and patients will be contacted regarding any rebooked appointments as needed.

This upgrade reflects MAHC’s continued commitment to delivering high-quality, compassionate care for everyone in Muskoka.

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Thanks to the amazing generosity of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation and its donors and community supporters, the hospital will unveil a modern mammography machine with tomography and a newly refreshed clinic space in February 2026.

To prepare for this upgrade, all mammography services at the HDMH Site will be temporarily paused starting Monday, January 5. During this time, patients who need urgent breast imaging will be booked at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital (SMMH) Site to make sure they still get the care they need.

Patients who are anticipating a routine mammogram through the Ontario Breast Screening Program during the renovation period will be rebooked once the new unit is up and running.

“We’re thrilled to be able to obtain advanced mammography technology and replace aging equipment,” says President & CEO Cheryl Harrison. “This upgrade will help us provide clearer images, faster results, and an even better experience for our patients. Thank you to our community for their patience and understanding during this temporary pause. We can’t wait to welcome everyone into the new space in February.”

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This notable achievement means GBGH will be able to purchase 9 brand new stretchers for patients at the Midland hospital. Originally, the Foundation aimed to fund 3 stretchers, but the community’s response has made it possible to provide even greater comfort and safety for patients at GBGH.

“We are absolutely thrilled by the generosity shown this Giving Tuesday,” shares Nick Boudouris. “It’s inspiring to see so many people come together to support our hospital. On behalf of our family and businesses, thank you to everyone who gave alongside us and the dedicated staff…your kindness will make a real difference for patients in our community.”

The new stretchers will provide patients with a more comfortable place to rest while in hospital, supporting those in the emergency department, between diagnostic tests, and after surgery.

“We are deeply grateful for every donor who contributed to this campaign,” says Robyn Kaczanowski, community giving officer, GBGH Foundation. “Thanks to your generosity, we were able to fund ALL the new stretchers the hospital needs this year! This is a wonderful example of what our community can accomplish together, and we celebrate the impact your gifts will have for patients at GBGH.”

The GBGH Foundation extends heartfelt thanks to all donors, volunteers, and partners who made this Giving Tuesday such a resounding success.

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