Toronto East General Hospital has received a $50 million gift from a couple to honour the memory of their boy who died in 1975.
Michael Garron, who was born in the hospital, was 13 when he died of a rare soft tissue cancer.
The hospital calls it the largest gift of its kind to a Canadian community hospital and says it will allow the facility to transform the delivery of health care for some of the highest needs residents in Toronto.
And, to recognize the size of the donation, the hospital will now be called the Toronto East Health Network and its main site will be renamed the Michael Garron Hospital.
The hospital says the $50 million gift from the Garrons will help purchase state-of-art equipment including a new CT scanner and other leading-edge tools and fund research studies.
The hospital says the Garron Family has a long history of philanthropy in Canada and have previously donated to the facility.
"Before our son Michael passed away, we made a commitment to him that his memory would never be forgotten," said the Garrons in a statement issued Wednesday by the hospital.
"It warms our heart to know that this gift will benefit so many families and children who use this hospital."
Hospital president and CEO Sarah Downey called the gift "a defining moment for our hospital and East Toronto."
