St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation
30 The Queensway M6R 1B5 Toronto, ON, Canada

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, our frontline health care workers, the physicians, nurses and support staff of St. Joe's and Unity Health, have worn masks and other protective equipment to keep themselves and others safe as they deliver care. Now, see the faces of those in our hospital and across our health network who work tirelessly day in and day out to provide us with care when we need it most.

What a SPOOKtacular morning. Our 9th Annual St. Joe's Halloween Fest was so much fun. Thank you to everyone for joining us for a ghoulishly good time, including host, Cash Cab’s Adam Growe, the amazing Splash n’ Boots, and our friends from the Swansea School of Dance. Thank you to our sponsors Scotiabank, CF Sherway, local realtor Christine Simpson and the Children’s Dental Centre for making it possible for us to come together in a new and safe way to support St. Joe's. In ca...se you missed the event, that's ok. We recorded it for you to watch at a later time. https://vimeo.com/474165815 Don't forget - there are still costume prizes to be won for best dressed family, best children’s costume and best dressed pet. All you have to do is post a picture of yourself to Instagram between now and November 5th. Then just tag the image @stjoepromise and use the hashtag #stjoeshalloweenfest or #stjoespromise for your chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Cadillac Fairview Sherway Gardens. Winners will be announced on November 6th. Have a Happy Halloween!

With flu season and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic coinciding at the same time, it's even more important to have the proper information to keep yourself healthy and safe. Read how Unity Health Toronto, which includes St. Joe's, has prepared for this time of year.

Salah Bachir is well loved at St. Joe's. He’s an amazing patron, a donor and a wonderful volunteer fundraiser who has transformed dialysis care at St. Joe's. made the Bachir Yerex Dialysis Centre a reality. Last year we opened our brand new Bachir Yerex Dialysis Centre in our main hospital and this month we celebrated the rejuvenation of our community renal centre on Islington Rd by renaming it the Bachir/Yerex Community Renal Centre. As a former dialysis patient, Salah knows... how it feels to need care and has devoted himself to making the care experience for those living with renal disease the best it can be. He has raised millions of dollars to make this possible. Every year, there are more than 28,000 dialysis treatments that occur at St. Joe's, with neighbours coming to the centre more than 150 times a year and for up to four hours at a time. We celebrated this opening with a drive-through birthday celebration to thank Salah for all he and Jacob have done for us and wish him a very happy 65th birthday!

Since COVID-19 began, our West End Warriors have stood up for our healthcare workers on the frontlines keeping us safe. Today, on #NationalPhilanthropyDay, it is important to recognize and honour the generous contributions they made throughout the pandemic. The spirit of generosity shines bright in our donors, supporters and volunteers and we say thank you for the profound impact your philanthropy has had during these difficult times.... Happy #NationalPhilanthropyDay! At St. Joe’s, we are grateful for our West End Warriors who help us continue to keep the Promise to meet the health care needs of Toronto’s west end.

Join us for a FREE SPOOKtacular virtual Toronto West Halloween Fest on October 31st at 10 A.M. It's our 9th year hosting this frighteningly fantastic event and we are proud to have the support of our sponsors in presenting it virtually for our community. While we can't gather together as we have in years past, there are still many treats in store for you this Halloween. Register today to see a performance by Splash'N Boots, participate in Family Quiz-time with Cas...h Cab's Adam Growe, learn the Monster Mash with Swansea School of Dance and lots more Halloween Fun. There are special prizes for the best family costume, best kids costumes, best dressed pet and more! So put on your costume and join us for an amazing 45 minutes of fun. Visit http://stjoeshalloweenfest.ca to register for FREE today See more

Every year, St. Joe's Emergency Department receives more than 100,000 visits, making it one of the busiest ER's in the GTA. As we celebrate Emergency Nursing Week, there is no better time to say thank you to the RNs in our emergency department for their dedication, compassion and the hard work that they do every day to save lives and help keep us all safe.

Think you have an awesome Halloween costume this year? Then don't miss your chance to win a $100 gift certificate to Cadillac Fairview Sherway Gardens. Keep reading to find out more. Halloween is Saturday and St. Joe's is back in the spirit. If you haven't registered for our FREE virtual SPOOKtacular St. Joe's Halloween Fest on October 31st at 10 A.M., there is still time.... Visit http://stjoeshalloweenfest.ca And even if you can't attend the live version, registration will provide you with a link to the recording so you can view it at any time during the day. We are awarding prizes in three (3) categories: Best Dressed Family Best Children's Costume Best Dressed Pet All you have to do is post a picture of yourself to Instagram between now and November 5th. Then just tag the image @stjoepromise and use the hashtag #stjoeshalloweenfest or #stjoespromise. Winners will be announced November 6th.

Happy MRT Week! We are grateful for the integral work that our medical radiation technologists and sonographers perform at St. Joe's and across Unity Health Toronto. Thank you!

Don't forget to register for our latest West End Warrior Town Hall Series happening tomorrow, Thursday October 29th at 5 p.m. Two of St. Joe's experts, head of Infection Prevention and Control, Dr. Mark Downing, and our Vice President Clinical Services and Site Lead at St. Joseph's, Dale Clement, join us to discuss the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, what's happening to fight it now and in the coming months, especially as the flu season will also soon be upon us. Ou...r west end neighbours have sent us many questions already and we look forward to answering as many as we can. Register today at http://ow.ly/toSk50C1eTi

Occupational therapists (OTs) like Tsering Wangmo from St. Joe’s 3M unit, help ‘make the everyday possible’ for our patients. As an OT, she evaluates patients’ functional readiness for discharge and facilitates safe and timely transition from hospital to home. During the pandemic, she saw how her role helped patients recovering from COVID-19. This month is Occupational Therapy Month. Please join us in thanking OTs like Tsering for all that they do to keep our community safe and healthy!

Halloween is coming fast, and while things may be a little different this year, our west end community is getting in the spirit. If you haven't registered for our FREE virtual SPOOKtacular St. Joe's Halloween Fest on October 31st at 10 A.M., there is still time. Visit http://stjoeshalloweenfest.ca to sign-up your family now! Even if you can't attend the live version, registration will also provide you with a link to the recording.... Splash'N Boots will be performing, Swansea School of Dance will join us, along with more entertainment and prizes to be won. Cash Cab's Adam Growe is hosting this year's event and he has a challenge for you now. All you have to do is write the correct answers in the comments section, register for our event today and we will draw a name to win a prize. Which of these top ranked costumes that families dress-up in together for Halloween is featured in a video with almost 7 billion views on YouTube and a hit song on the Billboard charts? 1. Navarro Cheerleaders (from Cheer) 2. Little Women 3. Baby Shark 4. The Avengers Because it falls between National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day and National Chocolate Day, May 18th was chosen as the U.S. National Holiday for what #1 favourite Halloween Candy? 1. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups 2. Snickers 3. Butterfinger 4. Twix

It's our first fall Green Thumbs Up for St. Joe’s in partnership with Nordstrom Sherway. By purchasing your fall/winter centerpieces, poinsettias, and wreaths you will be supporting critical needs at St. Joe's. All of the items are Canadian made and grown and we are so pleased to support Ontario businesses through this fundraiser. Nordstrom Sherway has offered to host the curbside pickup of your items on Dec 4th. You just need to choose your time and parking spot at time ...of purchase. Orders must be made NO LATER than November 26th at 5 PM. St. Joe’s has continued to keep their promise to the west end community as we face this global COVID-19 pandemic. Teams are working round-the-clock to look after our neighbours during this challenging time. Their dedication and commitment to support our community’s health is why we need your support now more than ever. Order today at www.stjoesgtu.ca

This week is Interprofessional Practice Week at St. Joe's and Unity Health Toronto in celebration of all our health disciplines and nursing staff! Since COVID began, this amazing group of dedicated medical professionals have gone above and beyond to keep our neighbours safe. Help us celebrate with messages of thanks for keeping the Pormise to meet the healthcare needs of our west end community.

St. Joseph’s Health Centre remains open and is safe for both patients who need emergency care, as well as scheduled appointments. Here’s how Unity Health and St. Joe's are keeping our west end neighbours safe at this time.

From all of us at the St. Joseph’s Health Centre Foundation, we wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving. It has been a challenging few months for us all, but our west end neighbours have come together in support of our frontline healthcare workers who have been keeping us safe. We are so truly grateful for the work our physicians, nurses and staff do every day, and for the many sacrifices they have made along the way. ... To our community and donors--our West End Warriors--your help allows St. Joe's to continue to keep the Promise to meet your healthcare needs. We couldn't do this without your help. Thank you. Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving. To support St. Joe's, donate today at https://supportstjoes.ca

What a day! Thank you West Toronto for riding as West End Warriors. More than 300 riders, sponsors and supporters went virtual yesterday to Cycle 4 St. Joe's. It was sunny and amazing to see so many people take to the streets, bike paths and trails (outdoors and indoors) to help raise critical funds for our Health Centre at a time when it's needed more than ever. To-date, we've raised $320,000, and we're going to keep going until October 5th.... Show your west-end pride by supporting our riders and many hospital teams at www.cycle4stjoes.ca Together we'll keep the Promise to meet the health care needs of our west-end community. To see photos of the event, please visit http://ow.ly/aBMN50Bx9lu

With the rising numbers of cases of COVID-19 in our city, we know you are looking for more information about what's happening to keep you safe in these turbulent times. That's why we are pleased to host another in our West End Warrior Town Hall Series on the current state of the pandemic and how this impacts our community. We are pleased to have two St. Joe's experts join us on Thursday October 29th at 5 p.m. for a virtual Town Hall update on COVID-19... pandemic, what's happening to fight it now and in the coming months, especially as the flu season will also soon be upon us. You are invited to join us to hear our head of Infection Prevention and Control, Dr. Mark Downing, and our Vice President Clinical Services and Site Lead at St. Joseph's, Dale Clement, give you an update and answer your questions. Register today at http://ow.ly/toSk50C1eTi

Halloween will soon be upon us and while we may not be able to trick-or-treat together this year, there are still many treats in store for you. Join us for a SPOOKtacular virtual Toronto West Halloween Fest! This is St. Joe's 9th year in bringing the Toronto West Halloween Fest to our west-end community. Mark your calendar and stay tuned for more exciting details coming for the October 31st event.... check back often!

Todays the day! #Cycle4StJoes is here. Nearly 300 West End Warriors are riding in support of St. Joes to raise critical funds for our health centre. Help us reach our goaldonate at https://cycle4stjoes.ca

We are almost there! On Sunday, more than 275 cyclists will ride their bicycles in support of St. Joe's. Whether it is indoors, on city paths, or through off-road trails, our community is coming together as West End Warriors to ride in our virtual Cycle 4 St. Joes. We are grateful for this year's founding sponsor, SpiderTech, for standing with our St. Joes physicians, nurses and support staff (many who are also riding) in keeping our west-end community healthy and safe.... Its not too late to join us and show your pride for the west end and your community health centre. Visit https://cycle4stjoes.ca to join or if you cant ride, make a donation to help us reach our goal!

Many westenders know Afrim Pristine. He is the owner of the beloved Cheese Boutique and also a member of our Foundation Board at St. Joe's. Afrim cares about this community and is especially committed to supporting better mental health care. Mental health issues are too common in our society, and his family has been impacted personally. The Pristine family is passionate about helping those who need it the most and has initiated a fund to do just that--to strive to end a stig...ma and heal those who suffer. New at the Cheese Boutique are organic, washable and reusable Jute Bags. All proceeds generated from the sales of these bags will serve to maintain this important field of research and applications at St. Joe's Mental Health Program. Watch and listen to Afrim talk about the importance of these bags and the impact they have on our community and environment.

St. Joe’s is celebrating a milestone in our history - the official naming of the Gilgan Family Wing. In 2017, Peter Gilgan donated $10 million to honour his parents and his west-end roots. He and his six siblings were born at St. Joe's and he wants to make sure our Health Centre remains a vital resource for our community. This donation will support building a new ambulatory care centre on the main floor with better support for our specialty clinics, creating a better experi...ence for over 300,000 patient visits each year. Moving our clinics will also create more space for an expanded Emergency Department that will be built over the next two years. The Glendale Wing and Tranquility Entrance at St. Joe's are now called the Gilgan Family Wing and Gilgan Family Wing entrance. Read about the impact of this generous gift and how it is helping St. Joe's keep the Promise to meet the health care needs of our west-end neighbours. http://ow.ly/fxf250BYLeQ

It's National #CatholicHealthCareWeek and we recognize how our staff and physicians embrace the value of excellence. Catholic health care starts with a deep-rooted calling to meet the needs of everyone, treating them them dignity, compassion and humanity. At St. Joseph’s, special care packages are being hand-delivered to homebound residents in our community to help keep them safe during the pandemic. http://ow.ly/qCLB50BNpYJ

Earlier this week, we would have come together Islington Golf and Country Club for our Annual Fall Classic Golf Tournament. While COVID-19 changed our plans, it didn't stop Tournament Chair, Mike Talmage from creating his own 100 Hole Challenge to raise critical funds for St. Joe's. On September 14th, Mike played 100 holes of golf to honour St. Joe's 100-year history. Thanks to everyone for supporting Mike's challenge, raising more than $20,000! It's not too late to get out y...ourselves and take on the 100 Hole Challenge or donate to become West End Warrior. If you'd like to still like to participate before the end of the month, please send us an email to [email protected] or visit westendwarriors.ca Happy golfing!

We are thrilled to welcome VINCI Foundation to our St. Joe's West End Warrior team! With their donation of $50,000, they are investing in the first post-COVID emergency department in Canada where we plan to almost double the size of our facility to provide more privacy, connect our diagnostic imaging to the department, separate our Children’s Emergency area and purchase new technology to make care faster and safer than ever before. St. Joe's emergency department is among th...e busiest in the GTA and the province. Last year, there were more than 100,000 visits all while delivering speedy excellent care. The pandemic has accelerated our timeline for this expansion and donors like VINCI group will help us keep the Promise to continue to meet the healthcare needs of our west-end community.

For our neighbours in the west end community requiring testing for Covid-19, at the direction of the provincial government, all assessment centres, including St. Joseph’s COVID-19 Assessment Centre, will no longer accept walk-ins as of this past Sunday, Oct. 4. Unity Health has transitioned testing at our COVID-19 Assessment Centres to appointment-based method using an online booking tool. As a reminder, our Emergency Department and the CIBC Just for Kids Clinic at St. Joe's... are not available for routine COVID-19 testing. To book your appointment or learn more, please visit Learn more: https://unityhealth.to/assessment-centres/

Simon Nyilassy is a long-time westender and Chair of the Foundation Board of Directors at St. Joes. He says there couldnt be a better time to raise critical funds for St. Joes. The doctors, nurses and staff at St. Joes have worked tirelessly for months on the frontlines in our fight against COVID-19, and in keeping us healthy and safe, he says. Their hard work and dedication is an inspiration to us all. Its been difficult, but they are always here. Read how Simon is riding as a West End Warrior and standing up for our health care workers this week. http://ow.ly/moKx50BrCzV

There was no way Mike Talmage would not golf today. While he's not on the course at our Annual Fall Classic Golf Tournament this year due to COVID-19, our Event Chair is joining his son in playing 100 holes of golf to honour St. Joe's 100-year history. Hes raising critical funds for St. Joe's with his driver and is hoping that youll join him by playing 100 holes as well or by making a donation to support him at https://westendwarriors.ca. If you are out on the links today, ...take a photo of yourself, your friends or members of your foursome (socially distanced), as you undertake your challenge yourself and support St. Joes. If you'd like to still like to participate before the end of the month, please send us an email to [email protected]. Happy golfing!

Don't forget to register for our free SPOOKtacular St. Joe's Toronto West Halloween Fest on October 31st at 10AM. This year we will be hosting our event virtually with special guests, Splash'N Boots and many others. If you would like a special call-out by our favourite children's musical duo during the event, please message us with your name by Monday, October 19th. ... Visit http://stjoeshalloweenfest.ca today!

You are never too young to learn to experience the benefits of giving. Teaching generosity and kindness at a young age helps to shape a child’s life. Research suggests that as children grow, so does their desire to help others. Siblings, Sadie and Will LeMoyne, already have a passion for philanthropy. Recently, they set up a lemonade stand in their west-end neighbourhood to support St. Joe’s. Read why they raised more than $130 to help our physicians, nurses and staff on the... frontlines. http://ow.ly/Tsfv50BL0ky See more

In 2014, Arturo Pugliese suddenly felt unwell while cycling. Upon a friends suggestion, he drove himself to St. Joes to be seen at the Emergency Department. A blocked artery in his heart required immediate attention and ever since then, hes been receiving follow up care at St. Joes for routine cardiology visits and exams. But despite receiving life-saving treatment at St. Joes, the hospital means so much more to Arturo and his family. We are huge fans of the CIBC Just ...For Kids Clinic at St. Joes, says his wife, Alessia. Its the service we use the most at the hospital! This year, Arturo, President of Mobilaw, is one of the supporting sponsors for Cycle 4 St. Joes on September 20than event that happens every year to raise critical funds for the health centre. The care they have received for their family made them realize the importance of supporting their community hospital and giving back. And they want others in the community to know too! Read more at https://supportstjoes.ca/mobilaw/

Today is #WorldSuicidePreventionDay and we are reminded of the impact that mental health has on so many peoples livesnot only those who suffer from illness, but also for their families and friends. Providing mental health care is a priority for us at St. Joes and we are fortunate to have a passionate group of volunteers who want to support better care for those with mental health conditions. Over the past several years, they raised funds through the St. Joes Plate, an an...nual event that supports mental health priorities. Read how St. Joe's is caring for our community's mental health. http://ow.ly/2HQh50Bn5E0 #wspd #mentalhealth

Yesterday was a special day for St. Joe’s! Salah Bachir and Jacob Yerex are amazing friends of our health centre. Last year we celebrated the opening of the new Bachir/Yerex Family Dialysis Centre in the main hospital. Yesterday, we celebrated the opening of the updated and renamed Bachir/Yerex Community Renal Centre at Islington and Titan Rds. ... It’s a special 65th birthday gift from Salah to St. Joe’s, revitalizing the centre he received care at for many years before a kidney transplant last year. The new centre has been given a facelift--with fresh paint, better furniture, new dialysis chairs and much more-and we celebrated the official reopening with a drive by party. Thank you Salah, for helping us to keep the Promise to our west end community for so many years, and happy 65th birthday!

If you are a parent and are wanting to access the services of the St. Joe's CIBC Just for Kids Clinic, an online same-day booking tool, called UnityConnect, has just been launched. This tool is designed to reduce your on-site waiting time during these challenging times and ensures you are kept safe. To find out more, or book your appointment, please visit the CIBC Just For Kids page to hold your spot now. http://ow.ly/gqFv50BI3zH

As a community we've never thought more collectively about our health or of those around us. At St. Joe's, we are doing whatever possible to keep you and your loved ones safe. As always, it's important to take the steps necessary to keep yourself and others safe, such as washing your hands, physically distancing yourself and wearing a mask. Finding a good mask is important, and we have three special St. Joe’s masks for you to purchase as a way to protect yourself and others w...hile showing your support for your hospital. Take your pick from three great designs local artist and philanthropist Jacob Yerex’s beautiful signature poppies, Christina Sideris’s celebration of our community and its wonderful heritage or our distinctive West End Warrior polka dot mask. All our masks are approved by our infection prevention and control experts and the proceeds from their sale helps us support urgent priorities at St. Joe’s. Wear them in style, show your west-end pride and know that you are helping us keep the Promise to meet the health care needs of our west-end community. Support St. Joe's and purchase your mask today. Visit https://supportstjoes.ca/masks/

For almost 100 years, St. Joe's has kept the Promise to meet the health care needs of our west end neighbours. Are you looking to be a part of a great team dedicated to ensuring that this Promise is kept for another 100 years? There are exciting opportunities now available for those who wish to not only have a rewarding career, but to help our community Health Centre create new spaces, modernize facilities and buy new equipment.... To find out more, visit http://ow.ly/Cplc50Bmf1h

Small gifts can certainly have a huge impact. In the case of local west-end The Beer Store, one bottle (or can) at a time has now helped raise almost $25,000 to help St. Joe's keep the Promise to meet the health needs of our community. Thank you to everyone who donated the proceeds of your returns. Read more at http://ow.ly/YIYe50BFU8Y

Dr. Leila Kasrai says St. Joes is a hospital like no other. Its like a family. When you walk down the halls, you recognize peoples faces and everyone says hello. She has been working as a physician at St. Joes for more than 25 years and believes this feeling of family translates to the care the health care teams provide to our patients every day. Its why our community trusts St. Joes, she says. They are comfortable being here because they know they get good care.... As a cycling enthusiast, Dr. Kasrai supports Cycle 4 St. Joes every year. This year, shes supporting Team Surgery to honour the nurses she works with. Read why they are important to her at http://ow.ly/6Xrz50BkZz3

It's been more than a month since we hosted our last Breakfast for Champions, which provides our staff and physicians with a breakfast catered by our Lakeside Cafe. This has been one of the great ways that our community has thanked them for the work they do every day to care for our community. Our frontline heroes appreciate it so much! We want to thank Marilyn Lightstone and the Humber Valley Sharks hockey team for sponsoring our Breakfast for Champions program. You can show your support for our health care teams by standing up for St. Joe's too. Visit https://supportstjoes.ca to learn how you can make a donation and show your west end pride today!

While we cant ride together this year, our community is coming together as West End Warriors to ride in our virtual Cycle 4 St. Joes on September 20th. Every year, this event raises critical funds to support St. Joes, and this fall your help is needed more than ever. Thank you to SpiderTech for standing with our St. Joes physicians, nurses and support staff (many who are also riding) in keeping our west-end community healthy and safe. Its not too late to join us and sho...w your pride for the west end and your community health centre. Register today at https://cycle4stjoes.ca or if you cant ride, make a donation in support of a team.

Calling all golfers! Weve extended the West End Warrior Challenge August deadline to include those who have joined Mike Talmage and accepted the 100 Hole Challenge. Chair of our Annual St. Joe's Fall Classic Golf Tournament, Mike and his son are playing 100 holes of golf to honour our 100-year history. Hes raising critical funds for St. Joe's with his driver and is hoping that youll join him by playing 100 holes as well. Join with a friend or members of your foursome (soci...ally distanced), challenge yourself and support St. Joes. Mike is golfing on September 14th, what would have been the date of our Fall Classic. You can join him by playing golf on the course of your choice that day too, or pick your own date ahead of time. The challenge is golfing 100 holes! If you'd like to participate, please send an email to [email protected]. Visit https://westendwarriors.ca for details!

Peter Zissis was putting something into the trunk of his car and everything changed in a split second. Another car collided with the parked vehicle behind him, pinning him between and crushing both of his legs. Peter was rushed to St. Joseph's Health Centre Emergency Department where he had extensive surgery to repair the injuries. It was a long road back to recovery and while receiving treatment at the hospital, he saw posters for Cycle 4 St. Joes. Joining this ride was his... goal to strive for and he began training. Just one year after his accident, Peter took part in Cycle 4 St. Joe's--his first time on a bicycle outside of his house. He was so inspired to do more that he joined the cycling committee and is now a co-chair. And he continues to inspire others to take up the challenge. "I've been the beneficiary of much care and attention from many people at St. Joe's, he admits. I ride in Cycle 4 St. Joe's because I know firsthand how much we depend on having great care in our west-end community." Peter, along with many others, is riding as a West End Warrior on September 20th. Its not too late to join or support our riders with a donation to help create new spaces like building a new Emergency Department. Visit cycle4stjoes.ca today!

As a community, there has never been a time where we have thought more collectively about our health and the health of those around us. Now, as we move from the crisis phase of the pandemic to living with COVID-19, your support is needed more than ever. Its an emergency in every way. Thanks to the generous support of our donorsour West End WarriorsSt. Joes is raising funds for a new Emergency Department, the front door to our community. As we resume more of our services, ...we are planning an expanded Emergency Department as part of our Promise to meet the communitys needs. With COVID-19 part of our everyday lives, we need to move this project forward as quickly as possible. Our doctors, nurses and support staff are standing up for us on the frontlines every day. Now we are asking all westenders to stand with those on the frontlines as we continue to fight COVID-19 and begin building our new Emergency Department. Join this movement to become a West End Warrior by making your donation today at http://ow.ly/A9oN50BeFdb See more

Thank you to Unity Health Toronto paediatricians Dr. Sloane Freeman and Dr. Justine Cohen-Silver, and Infectious Disease physician Dr. Kevin Schwartz for joining us last night for our West End Warrior Town Hall Session. Together, they answered many pressing questions from parents in our community about going Back to School safely. In an hour-long discussion, they provided information on keeping our kids healthy and safe this school year, tips for assisting children to wear masks, and discussed the benefits of kids going back to school for learning and their development and emotional well-being. If you werent able to join us, thats ok, we missed you but we recorded it. If you are a parent or grandparent who has concerns, this is a fantastic resource for you. To listen in, visit http://ow.ly/z28N50BbM9L

Its not too late to register and join us for a special session of our West End Warriors Town Hall meeting this evening at 5 P.M. Do you have all the information you need to keep your children and grandchildren safe in their return to school? Tonight, we have invited Paediatricians, Dr. Sloane Freeman and Dr. Justine Cohen-Silver, along with Infectious Disease expert, Dr. Kevin Schwartz, to speak about going Back to School. This group led the development of a guidance documen...t of recommendations for a safe reopening this September and will answer the many questions weve received already. Please join us by registering at http://ow.ly/ED6A50BaVrR We will also be recording this session and posting to our website. If you are unable to make it, please watch our feed for more information.

Are you hoping for a picnic before the end of summer? Enjoy a delicious gourmet picnic box for $20 while supporting St. Joes. Order today at https://apmchef.ca/ and pick up on Saturday, August 29th 11 A.M.-2:00 P.M. ... Join us!

Parents in our community have many questions about whether its safe to send their children back to school in the coming weeks. What should be an exciting time of year is one that is now causing anxiety. Do you have all the information you need to keep your children and grandchildren safe? Join us this Thursday at 5 P.M. for a special Back To School session of our West End Warrior Town Hall Series. We've invited a group of experts that led the development of a guidance docume...nt of recommendations for a safe reopening this September to provide you with the first-hand information you are asking for. Space is filling up fast and we're receiving lots of questions that we will answerits not too late to sign up at http://ow.ly/BQUK50B8x9s

If you are riding as West End Warriors to Cycle 4 St. Joes on September 20th, we mapped out four west-end routes that all begin and end at the Sunnyside bridge across from St. Joe's. From 10km to a full 100km, these routes will take you along the trails and through neighbourhoods of our west end community. Visit http://ow.ly/fCXH50B7BPO If you have yet to sign up, its not too late to register and show your pride for the west end. Even if you cant ride on or around that day, consider donating to any of our riders or teams that are participating to raise critical funds for our hospital.

If you have school age children, or even grandchildren, Back to School every fall is always a big milestone. This year, the anxiety is greater with COVID-19. We are feeling unsure and don't know what to expect. You likely have questions: will my kids be safe? or should they even go back? As parents, our job is to keep our children safe. At St. Joe's, we want to help by giving you the insight and knowledge you need to make the best decisions possible for your children. Joi...n us this Thursday, August 27th at 5 P.M. for another installment of our West End Warriors Town Hall Series. We will speak with Pediatricians Dr. Justine Cohen-Silver and Dr. Sloane Freeman, and Dr. Kevin Schwarz, Infectious Diseases Physician at St. Josephs. They are part of the group of experts that led the development of a guidance document of recommendations for a safe school reopening this September. Register today at http://ow.ly/5w6d50B5WNm

Did anyone say Fore! Lots of you are playing golf this summer and were excited to include you in our West End Warrior Challenge! One golfer is the chair of our annual St. Joe's Fall Classic Golf Tournament, Mike Talmage While we cant play together as we usually do Mike and his son are playing 100 holes of golf to honour our 100 year history. Hes raising critical funds for St. Joe's with his driver and is hoping that youll join him by playing 100 holes as well.... Join with a friend or members of your foursome (socially distanced), challenge yourself and support St. Joes. Mike is golfing on September 14th, what would have been the date of our Fall Classic. You can join him by playing that day too, or pick your own date ahead of time. If you'd like to participate, please send an email to [email protected]. Visit westendwarriors.ca for details!

More than $20,000 has been raised thanks to our west-end community and local Beer Stores. Throughout the summer, our neighbours have been returning their empties with the option to donate the proceeds from their returns to St. Joe's. Ozzie Ahmed, General Manager for Retail Operations at the Beer Store, says as members of the community, the Beer Store is proud to support St. Josephs Health Centre. "During these extraordinary times, we recognize the funds needed to support ou...r local hospitals with increased investments in areas such as PPE, and health and safety equipment. Our customers help enable us to build these relationships and support our goal of giving back to the communities we reside in. With empty return and monetary contributions, were able to give back and are honored to donate to St. Josephs Health Centre. Now our goal is to reach $25,000 by Labour Day so round up your empties and take them to any of these locations.

For almost 100 years St. Joes has been keeping the Promise to meet the needs of our west end community. Many of our community members share this Promise with us; one of them is Afrim Pristine and the Pristine family. Afrim and his family have been standing with us to support better care as West End Warriors for generations. Were proud to share Afrim's west end pride by featuring him on the side of our hospital. Look for his smiling face as you drive by St. Joes. In th...is special edition of Afrims #CBChronicles, he shares what @stjoespromise means to him and how much he loves the west end. Please join him and become a West End Warrior, or make a donation to support mental health, visit https://supportstjoes.ca

A big thank you to Cadillac Fairview Sherway Gardens for hosting Drive In Movie Nights for the past few weekends. Proceeds from these sold-out events will support St. Joe's. It's wonderful to have such great local support from West End Warriors like CF Sherway Gardens.

Georgia is showing her pride in the west end community and is on her way to becoming a West End Warrior in support of the nurses, doctors and staff at St. Joe's. She loves to draw and this summer she's chosen to create 100 pictures as her thank you to the frontline heroes that are keeping her friends, family and neighbours safe. Support Georgia's challenge by donating today at http://ow.ly/pb8Z50AZSN7... You can join the challenge and show your west end pride by becoming a West End Warrior too. Visit https://westendwarriors.ca for more information

Jonathan's two passionsriding his bicycle and St. Joseph's Health Centrecome together on September 20th. On that day hell Cycle 4 St. Joes and ride as a West End Warrior to raise critical funds for St. Joes. You can join him and show your pride for our west end community by riding on that day or before, whether it's inside or outside or on a path or trail. For more information or to register, visit http://cycle4stjoes.ca

We continue to receive messages of support and thank yous from the west end community for all the work that St. Joe's staff have been doing to keep us safe. Thank you to all of the Softchoice employees that participated in our Living Gratitude Wall Virtual/Remote Corporate Volunteer Day recently. They provided us with fantastic artwork as their way of giving back. You can support St. Joe's too by becoming a West End Warrior and showing your pride for our west end community. Visit https://westendwarriors.ca to see how you can be a part of this movement.

Our west-end community is continuing to come together as West End Warriors to support St. Joseph's Health Centre this summer. Families, such as Celines, are joining the West End Warrior Challenge as a way of standing up for our west-end community and supporting doctors, nurses and staff on the frontlines. They have chosen to cycle 100 km together to raise much needed emergency funds to care for our community. St. Joes is important to Celine since both her children, Robin a...nd Wesley, were born there and the Emergency Department has been where they turn to when experiencing a medical crisis. You can join the challenge too. St. Joe's has been serving the community for almost 100 years so the only ask is to do something in a multiple of 100. Some West End Warriors are walking, baking, drawing pictures, hitting baseballs, cycling or working out to show their support. All you have to do is complete the challenge by the end of September and raise $1,000 to be recognized as a West End Warrior. Sign up at http://ow.ly/iYxr50AWRkA

Have you registered for the West End Warrior Challenge yet? Our community is standing up for those on the frontlines by declaring a personal challenge this summer to raise critical funds for an expanded Emergency Department. From baking cookies, to drawing pictures or setting a fitness goal, westenders are helping St. Joe's keep the Promise to meet the health care needs of Torontos west end.... Visit WestEndWarriors.ca

Join us to Cycle 4 St. Joe's on September 20th and show your west end pride! Choose to ride inside or outside on your own, as a team or family. It's only a $35 registration fee for adults, who will receive an event day kit. Children are free. This year, ride virtually through Zwift or Peloton and for those who want to ride outdoors, we'll have some great west-end route options available on our website soon. Do you have a route you like in the west end? Share it with us in t...he comments below - we'd love to hear your suggestions. Let's ride as West End Warriors to support St. Joe's. Visit http://cycle4stjoes.ca to register now!

This week, we are celebrating a Summer of Champions. Special thanks to the Slaight Family Foundation for sponsoring our latest breakfast for those working on the frontlines at St. Joe's. A great breakfast today was followed by an outdoor performance in front of St. Joe's by Asitha Tennekoon and Tapestry Opera These #boxconcerts (social distanced of course) are a great way to bring our staff and community together for a little lunchtime entertainment in the sun to thank every...one for what they are doing to keep us all safe. You can show your support for our health care teams by standing up for St. Joe's too. Go to http://westendwarriors.ca to learn how you can make a donation, take up the West End Warrior Challenge or register to Cycle 4 St. Joe's. Show your west end pride today! See more

The west end is a very special placeits where people know and care for each other. When COVID-19 struck we asked our west end friends to dig deepand they did and join us as West End Warriors in support of St. Joes. They stood with us as we worked hard to keep our Promise to meet the health care needs of all our neighbours. Many of you have stood with our doctors, nurses and staff. Youve donated, you're riding on September 20th in Cycle 4 St. Joe's, or taking the West E...nd Warrior Challenge. Please take a moment watch this video and be inspired by your neighbours! Get involved too and show your west end pride. If you haven't joined our movement to become a West End Warrior yet, we hope you will by visiting https://supportstjoes.ca Thank you for your support.

Jonathan Laceda has been riding his bike since he was a kid. His bike is part of who he isjust like St. Joes, where he has worked for more than 30 years. St. Joes holds a special place in my life. I grew up here and consider this home, he says. My children were all born here and my coworkers are my family. This year, Jonathans two passions come together on September 20th when hell hop on his bike to Cycle 4 St. Joes and ride as a West End Warrior to raise critical funds for St. Joes. Read more about why Jonathan and how you too can support his ride. Visit http://ow.ly/xXrS50ANsnl

Families and individuals from across our west-end community are supporting St. Joseph's Health Centre by taking the West End Warrior Challenge. It's their way of standing up for St. Joe's to raise emergency funds to care for our community. Andrew loves baseball and practices seven days a week - now that he can play he's going aim to train for 100 hours by September 30th! Support Andrew's challenge by donating at http://ow.ly/MGns50ANrKp You can join the challenge and show y...our west end pride by becoming a West End Warrior too. St. Joe's has been serving the community for almost 100 years so our only ask is that you do something in a multiple of 100. Some West End Warriors are walking, baking, drawing pictures, hitting baseballs, cycling or working out to show their support. Become a West End Warrior today. Sign up at http://WestEndWarriors.ca

Returning empties? Remember you can return them to these local Beer Stores in our west-end community this summer and choose to donate the proceeds from your returns to St. Joe's. Please share this message and join us in standing up for our nurses, physicians, and support staff on the frontlines keeping us all safe. Have a great long weekend and please remember to drink responsibly!

For almost 100 years, St. Joe's has been keeping the Promise to meet the health care needs of Toronto's west end community. Our neighbours have always been there for us and never more so since the onset of COVID-19, Your generous donations over the past several months have helped us look after our community! ... Thank you to all who have stood up for our hospital. You are truly West End Warriors. Visit http://WestEndWarriors.ca to see how you can become one too and show your west-end pride!