When the new Huntsville hospital is eventually up and running, it will be named in honour of Bob Hutcheson.
It comes after the Huntsville Hospital Foundation (Foundation) received a $20 million donation from local families in honour of local resident Bob Hutcheson.
According to officials, this donation will match every donation up to $17.5 million for the new hospital and establish a $2.5 million Limberlost Invictus Scholarship to recruit and train care teams. Officials say it’s “the largest commitment in Muskoka’s history.”
“I believe in Huntsville and all of Muskoka; I love this place right into my bones,” said Hutcheson. “This has been a wonderful community to live in, and we would like to see the best healthcare for all of us. Working together, we have tried to do our part to help build three hospitals over multiple generations, and now we’ve brought together a group of families and partners who feel the same way. Together, we’ll build a new hospital for the next generation. That’s something I’m very proud of.”
Officials share Hutcheson was born into a family deeply rooted in Muskoka’s history, whose lineage includes pioneers who influenced the region’s development.
According to the Foundation, Bob is a long-time community service advocate who supports healthcare initiatives by emphasizing the importance of accessible medical services in Muskoka, a commitment that builds upon his past role as a critical fundraiser for the existing hospital alongside his father.
Officials say the record-setting donation was led by the Cockwell family in partnership with the Bob Hutcheson family, the Tom Anselmi/Sharon Mey family, the Kris House family, the Cooper Koo family, the Duncan Jackman Family, Judy and Scott Lynch of the Walker Lynch Foundation, the Bill and Debbie Aziz family, the Bob and Anne Aziz family, Judith Kilbourne, Don and Mary Spring and Brian and Megan Porter.
“Bob’s entire life in the Huntsville area and throughout Muskoka inspired these local healthcare champions to come together to give in his name. On the occasion of his 99th birthday, we are recognizing his outstanding civic contributions and local leadership throughout his lifetime, and that of his family over several generations”, said Jack Cockwell.
The donation was made through the new Raise Muskoka fundraising campaign, which has a goal of raising $35 million to establish one healthcare system and two new modern hospitals in Huntsville and Bracebridge that operate in partnership to avoid duplicating services.
“We are on our way to making our new Huntsville hospital a reality as we launch our Raise Muskoka campaign. This gift is a massive head start, and we are very excited for and proud of our community,” said Katherine Craine, Huntsville Hospital Foundation CEO.
The Huntsville site will be home to expanded inpatient care, including obstetrics, rehabilitation, reactivation care, and additional ICU beds for patients requiring longer hospital stays. Meanwhile, the Bracebridge site will feature an ambulatory and surgical centre, outpatient services, some short-stay inpatient beds, and intensive care capacity.
“All money committed and raised will be used to fulfill Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s (MAHC) Made-In-Muskoka Healthcare System proposal, which is in the final stages of review with the Ontario Ministry of Health. Thank you for supporting the Raise Muskoka campaign and the future of the Huntsville site,” said MAHC CEO Cheryl Harrison.
