March 10, 2008
Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation > Media Room > March 10, 2008

CIBC supports SMH Foundation’s Emergency Centre Campaign

 Surrey, B.C. – A financial institution with a history of contributing to causes that promote the health and well-being of Canadians is donating to Surrey Memorial Hospital’s new Emergency Centre.

CIBC has pledged $75,000 to Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation’s $15 million Emergency Centre Campaign, and has agreed to sponsor part of the new Emergency Centre’s Acute Care Zone.

“This gift continues the longstanding partnership between Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation and CIBC,” says Foundation Emergency Centre Campaign Chair Chris Midmore. “CIBC has previously donated to the hospital’s Children’s Health Centre, and we are grateful for this latest commitment.”

"Health is a pillar of CIBC's community giving program of which CIBC has a long and proud history of supporting causes that matter to our clients, employees and communities, which makes this donation a natural fit for us," said Wanda Frisk, Associate Vice-President, CIBC.

Surrey Memorial Hospital’s current E.R. – the busiest in B.C. - was originally designed to handle about 44,000 visits a year but has instead been seeing close to 70,000 patients a year.

The new Emergency Centre, at triple the size of the current facility, will include a separate children’s E.R., as well as a separate mental health and addictions area, an enhanced minor treatment unit, and an improved area for acute patients.

The B.C. government has committed to funding the essentials of a replacement to Surrey Memorial Hospital’s current E.R. The Foundation’s $15-million campaign will ensure the new Emergency Centre is state-of-the-art.

About CIBC

CIBC is committed to supporting causes that matter to our clients, our employees and our communities. We aim to make a difference in communities through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteer spirit of employees. With a strategic focus on youth, education and health, and employee commitment to causes including the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure, United Way and the CIBC World Markets Children’s Miracle Foundation, we are investing in the social and economic development of communities across the country. In 2007, CIBC group of companies contributed more than $36 million worldwide to charitable organizations and community initiatives. Of this, $27 million was invested in Canada to support national regional and local organizations. To learn more, visit www.cibc.com/pas

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For more information, contact:

Jason Howe
Public Affairs Director
Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation
604-585-5666 ext 8284
cell: 604-613-6873
jason.howe[at]fraserhealth.ca
Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation. Making life better.