The donation is the largest single donation in Bluewater Health history

The Independent

Bluewater Health officials are calling it a legacy.

The Gordon Foundation has donated $5 million to Bluewater Health. It is the largest single donation in the hospital’s history.

Of the $5-million donation, $2 million will support the development of future Cardiac Care services at Bluewater Health, while $3 million will establish a permanent endowment to support the hospital’s highest-priority needs.

“This $5-million gift will have an impact for generations — helping us look ahead to the future of cardiac care while creating a permanent source of support for Bluewater Health’s highest-priority needs,” says Kathy Alexander, Executive Director, Bluewater Health Foundation.

“As our community grows and ages, we know the need for cardiac care closer to home will continue to grow with it,” said Dr. Mike Haddad, Chief of Staff and Vice-President, Medical Affairs, Bluewater Health.

“Our goal is to expand and continue building our cardiac programs so more patients can better access advanced high-quality care locally, without having to travel outside Sarnia-Lambton.”

Alexander says the donations to the foundation are used for equipment and brick and mortar projects. In the case of the Gordon Foundation, specialized cardiac care equipment can be purchased to improve services.

“If we were to, for example, receive approval to invest in a catheter lab, it would not support the people operating the cath lab, but it would support the the creation and the payment of the equipment for the cath lab,” Alexander says.

The cost of operating the services would be funded by the provincial government. Alexander says the donation also encourages the province to invest.

“We really can say the community is behind this. The community believes in the hospital and local health care close to home is is critical for people,” she says.

And Alexander says, the donation will attract new doctors to the community.

“When you talk about philanthropy and the investment in equipment, it has a huge connection to the ability to recruit speciality physicians and speciality staff to Bluewater Health, which is also critically important.”

Ron Gordon of The Gordon Foundation, says the family is honoured to make the donation saying the hospital has “served our community so well, thanks to its outstanding doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers.

“We are honoured to make this investment in its future and help ensure that patients and families can continue to receive excellent care close to home for generations to come.”

“The Gordon Foundation’s investment gives us an opportunity to strengthen care for patients now while also looking ahead to what our community will need in
the years to come,” says CEO Paula Reaume-Zimmer.

In recognition, Bluewater Health’s London Building will be named The Gordon Family Patient Care Building, “creating a lasting acknowledgement of the Gordon family’s generosity and commitment to healthcare in Sarnia-Lambton,” officials said in a news release Friday.

The sign will be installed November 2026.