We are deeply grateful for the efforts of our staff and physicians for leading our COVID-19 response effort and protecting the community like never before. As we faced new COVID-19 variants and the absence of family members at the bedside due to pandemic restrictions, we cared for the most COVID-19 patients of any hospital in Ontario. Through robust testing and mass vaccination programs, we completed over 283,000 COVID-19 tests and worked shoulder to shoulder with community partners to administer more than 528,000 vaccines. As we adapt to living with COVID-19, we will use what we have learned throughout this pandemic and continue to work together on system recovery and set new standards in patient experience and outcomes.

Ten years ago we set a bold vision to create a new kind of health care for a healthier community. Since then, our remarkable journey has included working together across all sites to strengthen patient care services and improve high quality care close to home; partnering with the University of Toronto to train future clinical leaders; creating the Institute for Better Health to apply cutting-edge science and innovation in health service delivery; implementing a single electronic health record; launching Partners Community Health to grow long-term care and community health services capacity in Mississauga; and forming system partnerships including the Mississauga Ontario Health Team to enable countless opportunities to improve access to care.

And we are just getting started. As we look to the next 10 years and how to meet the growing and changing needs of this community, we were excited to announce Trillium HealthWorks this year – the largest health care infrastructure project in Canadian history. Trillium HealthWorks will expand capacity through the development of The Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital on the existing site of the Mississauga Hospital, expansion  of the future home of The Gilgan Family Queensway Health Centre, and community partnership projects, such as a new long-term care home that will add over 600 much-needed long-term care beds to the Mississauga community.

In support of these ambitious plans, we were honoured to receive an historic $105 million gift from renowned philanthropist Peter Gilgan, representing the largest donation to a hospital in Canadian history and it has the ability to impact millions of people. We also received a number of incredibly generous donations from community members and community leaders alike, to raise a record-setting $183.3 million this year. Thank you to the many new friends and long-time supporters – both corporate and individual – whose generous contributions will help us build a stronger community together.

Caring for one of the hardest-hit communities throughout the pandemic has brought the inequities of the health care system into sharp focus. Many in this community face barriers to care that means a higher risk of both mental and physical illness. The disruption of services, such as the cancellation of surgeries and diagnostic tests, mean patients will wait longer for care in Peel Region than in other parts of the province. The uneven impact of the pandemic has strengthened our resolve to create a system of care that leaves no one behind.

As we look to the future, we can see that THP is uniquely positioned to create a new kind of health care. Our size and scale – coupled with a growing, complex, and geographically defined population – puts us in an unmatched position to drive significant change. We will continue to commit to nurturing community partnerships, medical leadership, clinical expertise, and innovation that will help us succeed.

To everyone at THP, thank you for living our values of compassion, excellence and courage. Your commitment to ensuring high quality care and an excellent patient experience, even during the most challenging times, was exceptional and made a difference to the people who depend on us. To our community, thank you for all you have done to support THP and one another during this year. We continue to be inspired by each one of you shining examples of what it means to be Better Together.