Group shot of ribbon cutting

Smilezone: Grand opening of family-friendly spaces in Michael Garron Hospital's Family Birthing Centre

Growing families in East Toronto have a new reason to smile.

On Monday, November 15, Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) officially opened a new Smilezone within its Family Birthing Centre (FBC). Generously donated by Smilezone Foundation with support from the Slaight Family Foundation, the bright, fun Smilezone includes a new family kitchen, seating areas, murals, sensory equipment and tablet stations to help improve the experience for children and families when they visit the hospital.

“Before the Smilezone renovation, we did not have welcoming spaces for families and children on our unit,” says Dr. Jennifer Cram, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Medical Director of the Maternal Newborn Child program.

“Families often spend long hours at the hospital supporting each other during birth and siblings are often keen to meet their new family members. We want to give them a positive and calm space to do that. While COVID-19 restrictions have temporarily limited our ability to have whole families in the Centre safely, we look forward to the day when we can welcome all family members to our new Smilezone.”

Smilezone has transformed the Centre’s hallways, kitchen and lounge spaces into new beautifully decorated areas where families can be together and feel relaxed. Smilezone features outdoor-themed wall murals with sensory equipment and kid-friendly technology to help children feel at ease during what can sometimes be a stressful experience

"Smilezone Foundation is honored to be part of this exciting renovation at Michael Garron Hospital. We are delighted with the newly transformed spaces in the Family Birthing Centre, knowing they will give children, mothers and families a reason to smile during their hospital visits,” says Scott Bachly, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Smilezone Foundation. “A huge thank you the Slaight Family Foundation, whom we are gratefully recognizing today for their support with this project.”

“We are so grateful to Smilezone and the Slaight Family Foundation for ensuring that the families we serve have a wonderful experience at Michael Garron Hospital from the very beginning. We are pleased to welcome Smilezone into our donor family and thank the Slaight Family Foundation for choosing to invest in the Heart of the East,” says Mitze Mourinho, President and CEO of the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation.

ABOUT SMILEZONE FOUNDATION:  Smilezone Foundation is a registered charity based in Oakville, Ontario, committed to putting smiles on kids’ faces. Founded by Scott Bachly and Adam Graves in 2012, the Foundation’s mission is to make tough days a little brighter for kids receiving treatment in hospitals and healthcare facilities. We do this by creating fun and engaging “Smilezones” that harness the uplifting power of a smile for the kids and their families.  Please visit smilezone.com for more information about the 290+ Smilezones across Ontario.

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