Monday, September 21, 2026
Health Sciences North (HSN) Foundation has officially launched its Surgical Evolution campaign, a transformative multi-million dollar fundraising initiative to bring advanced robotic-assisted surgery and a state-of-the-art fixed imaging suite to Northeastern Ontario.
Health Sciences North is currently the only academic health sciences centre of its size in Ontario without an advanced robotic-assisted surgery program for cancer care. Every year, more than 150 local patients are forced to travel hundreds of kilometres to Toronto, Hamilton, or Ottawa for specialized procedures, leaving their homes, support systems, and families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives.
"Every week, I refer two to three patients out of our region for robotic-assisted surgery," said Dr. Jiefei Yao, Chief of Urology at HSN. "Every one of those patients has to spend days on the road and nights away from home for a standard procedure we should be offering right here in Northeastern Ontario. Bringing a surgical robot to HSN ensures our patients get access to excellent care which is the standard across Ontario. We need this equipment to better serve our patients."
The Surgical Evolution campaign will close this gap by equipping HSN’s surgical teams with cutting-edge technology that enables minimally invasive procedures with extraordinary precision. For patients, this means, smaller incisions, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and significantly faster recovery times.
This campaign will also support a new fixed imaging suite which combines advanced imaging technology and surgery in one integrated environment, allowing teams to perform complex, life-saving procedures with greater precision and speed. In a region with higher rates of cardiovascular disease, this equipment is essential for minimally invasive procedures for patients with stroke, aneurysm, blocked vessels and other complex conditions.
Together, these technologies will create a modern surgical environment that aligns HSN with leading healthcare centres across Canada.
Beyond immediate patient outcomes, this investment will transform surgical care for more than 557,000 people across Northeastern Ontario, who rely on HSN for specialized services close to home. It will support specialties including urology, thoracic surgery, gynecology, colorectal surgery, and head and neck surgery, while building a modern surgical program positioned for future research and innovation, helping HSN recruit and retain top surgical talent.
To kick off the campaign, local philanthropists Allain and Anita Labelle and family have pledged to match all community donations dollar-for-dollar up to $100,000, helping to double the impact of community support.
"Whether it’s $50 or $500, it all adds up. Even the small amounts add up when a whole community decides to answer together," shared Allain Labelle. "Our family is proud to support this campaign so patients across Northeastern Ontario can receive the high-quality care they deserve right here at home."
"Where you live should never determine the level of healthcare you receive," said Anthony Keating, President and Chief Executive Officer of HSN Foundation. "This campaign is about healthcare equity for the North. Thanks to the generosity of the Labelle family and our northern community, we are taking a major leap forward in keeping care close to home."
To learn more about the campaign, or make a matched donation, visit www.HSNFoundation.com/Surgical-Evolution.