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Dear Toronto,

Did you know that despite being 25% of Toronto’s population, we get less than 1% of all hospital donations?
Scarborough is one of Canada’s most diverse communities and deserves the same innovative technology and updated facilities other Toronto hospitals offer. It’s time for all of us to have equal access to the best healthcare, because our most diverse area is also our most ignored.

Love, Scarborough

Your Support

Dear Toronto,

It’s time for all of us to have equal access to the best healthcare. We are 25% of Toronto’s population, yet we get only 1% of the hospital donations. Our emergency departments are stretched to the limits, and our hospitals are among the oldest in the city.

We are one step closer to giving our diverse Scarborough community the hospitals we deserve. With the backing of our donors, we have raised our first $100 million. And, thanks to recent provincial support, we see even more possibilities in front of us.  Now we can begin to improve our facilities, expand our capabilities, and offer more care to more people.

But, we’re just getting started.

Because after decades of being left behind, there is still a lot more catching up to do. We’ve increased our goal and with your support we can build up our hospitals to a level equal to the incredible people who live and work here.

We can’t do it alone.

Our care needs your care. We need you to back us up.

Love, Scarborough

Dear Toronto,

It’s time for all of us to have equal access to the best healthcare. We are 25% of Toronto’s population, yet we get only 1% of the hospital donations. Our emergency departments are stretched to the limits, and our hospitals are among the oldest in the city.

We are one step closer to giving our diverse Scarborough community the hospitals we deserve. With the backing of our donors, we have raised our first $100 million. And, thanks to recent provincial support, we see even more possibilities in front of us.  Now we can begin to improve our facilities, expand our capabilities, and offer more care to more people.

But, we’re just getting started.

Because after decades of being left behind, there is still a lot more catching up to do. We’ve increased our goal and with your support we can build up our hospitals to a level equal to the incredible people who live and work here.

We can’t do it alone.

Our care needs your care. We need you to back us up.

Love, Scarborough

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Our Challenges

Why is our most diverse area also our most ignored?
Scarborough is one of Canada’s most diverse communities, made up of 59% new Canadians and 74% visible minorities. However, our Scarborough hospitals received zero capital funding between 2010 and 2021. We are grateful that the Government of Ontario in 2022 committed $1.2 billion in funding to SHN, but there is still a lot of catching up to do to make up for decades of being left behind.
We're just getting started.
When the Love, Scarborough campaign launched publicly in January 2022, we had no idea it would become a movement. Thanks to recent provincial support and the backing of our donors, we’ve raised our first $100 million. We see the possibilities in front of us to tackle the long list of urgent challenges facing our hospitals. After decades of being left behind, there is still more catching up to do. We’re just getting started.
Equal healthcare shouldn't depend on your postal code.
Scarborough has the lowest average household income in Toronto. And despite making up 25% of the population, we get just 1% of the hospital donations. How is that equal healthcare? Without donations and equitable funding, our hospitals will continue to fall behind our peers. Everyone deserves the same innovative and modern facilities, regardless of postal code.
Healthcare has changed a lot since 1950. Why haven't our hospitals?
Healthcare has undoubtedly come a long way over the last 50 years, with innovation, groundbreaking research, and cutting-edge technology contributing to better health outcomes. Our Centenary Hospital has the oldest operating rooms in the province, with no upgrades since the hospital was built in 1967. The three hospitals that make up SHN – Birchmount, Centenary, and General – were built in 1985, 1967, and 1956, respectively. Our hospitals have seen no major infrastructure upgrades since the new Emergency Department opened at General in 2009.
Why do the newest Canadians get the oldest hospitals?
Scarborough's population is made up of 73% visible minorities, compared to the City of Toronto with just 51%. 57% of Scarborough’s population are new Canadians, versus 47% in the City of Toronto. Between 2011-2016, Ontario received 39% of Canada’s new immigrants, by far the largest proportion of any province. Many of these new immigrants settle in Scarborough.Yet, these new Canadians are receiving care in some of the oldest hospitals. Our Centenary Hospital has the oldest operating rooms in the province, with no significant upgrades since the hospital was built in 1967. The three hospitals that make up SHN – Birchmount, Centenary, and General – were built in 1985, 1967, and 1956, respectively. Our hospitals have seen no major infrastructure upgrades since the new Emergency Department opened at General in 2009.
Why does 25% of the city get 1% of the hospital donations?
Scarborough makes up 25% of Toronto’s population, yet our Scarborough hospitals have historically received less than 1% of the hospital donations. This is based on financial data that charities are required to file annually with the Canada Revenue Agency. We utilized the most recent data published on the CRA website. Between 2019 – 2020 we found that of the total hospital donations in the GTA, SHN Foundation’s share of the total was less than 1%.
Our Emergency Rooms are giving 200%. Now it's your turn.
Scarborough Health Network’s emergency rooms are stretched to the limits. Our Birchmount Emergency was built to accommodate 22,000 visits per year, but currently sees over 50,000. Centenary Emergency was intended to care for 25,000 visits each year, but currently sees over 70,000. Our Emergency Departments are at more than 200% of capacity and need expansion.

Where your donations go

Transforming Kidney Care 
Innovating Diagnostic Imaging 
Expanding Emergency Care 
Evolving Mental Health 
Advancing Health Equity and Research 
Did you know Scarborough is a diabetes hotspot in the East GTA? 

SHN operates Ontario’s largest regional nephrology and home dialysis programs, serving over 6,000 patients each year. But our existing dialysis spaces are at full capacity – or beyond. With the need for dialysis in Scarborough rising each year, we can’t keep up. 
 
Your support will help us build new and expanded dialysis units at our General and Centenary hospitals, expanding our spaces to make sure we can care for our growing community. 
 
Your donations will also help us build the new Bridletowne Neighbourhood Centre – a first-of-its-kind community hub in Scarborough for chronic disease education, prevention, and treatment. It will combine multiple healthcare and social services in a single, easily accessible location – one that will be equipped to provide an integrated level of care, unlike any other. 

The People Behind The Letters

The handwriting you see throughout this campaign came from real people. One for each letter of the alphabet. These are their stories.

Love, Scarborough Merch

Purchase our hit Love, Scarborough merch famously worn by local Scarborough athletes, celebrities and community members such as Wayne Simmonds, Michael Bunting, Jamaal Magloire, Natalie Spooner and much more.

Our merch is proudly produced in partnership with Scarborough Spots, a local Scarborough business and influencer.

Scarborough Spots is generously donating 100% of all net proceeds from the merchandise to support our Love, Scarborough campaign.

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