Demand for cancer care continues to grow in Scarborough, while nearly 100,000 residents remain without a family doctor.

A transformational $30 million gift from The Northpine Foundation will help Scarborough Health Network (SHN) address both challenges while advancing critical care research.

One of the largest donations in SHN history, the gift will support the creation of the Northpine Cancer Care Centre, help connect 15,000 patients with complex needs to primary care, and establish the Northpine Professorship in Critical Care Research.

The announcement marks the second transformational gift from The Northpine Foundation and another major milestone for the Love, Scarborough campaign, which has now raised more than $260 million.

Transforming cancer care close to home

Cancer care demand continues to rise across Scarborough and the Eastern GTA.

In 2025 alone, SHN supported more than 68,000 oncology patient visits, a 22 per cent increase over the past three years. To help meet this growing need, a significant portion of The Northpine Foundation's gift will support the creation of the Northpine Cancer Care Centre at SHN's General Hospital.

The modernized, purpose-designed centre will increase treatment capacity, enhance the patient experience, and create dedicated space for expanded psychosocial oncology services and pharmacy support. It will also help accelerate urgently needed cancer care upgrades years sooner than traditional funding timelines alone would allow.

For patients and families, the new centre will provide a more welcoming and comfortable environment.

When Joy Boudreau was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at age 39, she underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and months of treatment while continuing to work full-time.

Today, she is focused on spending time with her son and making the most of every opportunity.

"The teams at SHN worked together like a well-oiled machine. The care was truly second to none. They gave me my life back. Today, I get to spend time with my son, travel, make memories, and live my best life. I call this chapter Joy 2.0,” she says.

“That's why this gift means so much to me. Patients spend so much time at the hospital during treatment, and having a modern, welcoming cancer centre will make a real difference for the people and families who come after me."

Expanding access to primary care

Nearly 100,000 Scarborough residents do not have a family doctor.

The Northpine Foundation's gift will help SHN advance an innovative primary care model designed to improve access to coordinated, culturally responsive care. Through this work, 15,000 patients with complex needs, many of whom do not currently have a family doctor, will be connected to an Interprofessional Primary Care Team.

Approximately 1 in 5 emergency department visits at SHN come from patients who do not have access to primary care, highlighting the need for solutions that improve access to care before a health issue becomes a crisis.

By helping more people access ongoing, preventive, team-based care, the investment will strengthen both immediate access and long-term healthcare capacity across Scarborough.

Advancing life-saving research

The gift will also establish the Northpine Professorship in Critical Care Research, held by Dr. Christopher Yarnell, a critical care physician and scientist at SHN, who focuses on the best use of supportive care, such as ventilators and electrolyte supplementation, for patients with pneumonia, severe infections, or other life-threatening illnesses.

The professorship will support research aimed at improving the quality and equity of care at patient bedsides in Scarborough and beyond. outcomes for critically ill patients.

“When patients face life-threatening illness, even the smallest details of care can matter. This investment will help accelerate research that improves how we care for some of the sickest patients in our healthcare system and has the potential to improve outcomes far beyond our community,” said Dr. Yarnell.

Continuing the climb

For John and Cathy Phillips, the decision to support SHN came down to the people behind the organization.

"Northpine invests in underserved and under-resourced communities. We believe supporting Scarborough Health Network is one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes for the people of Scarborough because of the remarkable people behind it. We are grateful for the opportunity to invest in a healthier future for this community."

The gift represents another step toward closing longstanding healthcare inequities and ensuring Scarborough residents can access the care they need closer to home.

"It strengthens our ability to manage growing demand while continuing to improve outcomes for the communities we serve," said David Graham, President and CEO of SHN.

For Alicia Vandermeer, President and CEO of SHN Foundation, the investment reflects growing confidence in both Scarborough and the future of its healthcare system.

"The Northpine Foundation saw what so many of us see in Scarborough: incredible potential. Their generosity will help transform care for patients and families while helping our community continue its climb toward healthcare excellence."