Xstrata honoured for Heart and Soul donation

Xstrata Nickel was honoured Dec. 19 for its $1-million donation to the Health Sciences North Foundation Heart and Soul Campaign.

The $50-million campaign, run in the early 2000s, raised funds for construction and equipment for Sudbury's one-site hospital, the expansion of the Northeast Cancer Centre and the construction of the St. Joseph's Villa long-term care home.

Xstrata Nickel's donation was earmarked for the hospital's cardiac catheterization lab. The company was recognized for its contribution Dec. 19, as the lab was renamed the Xstrata Nickel Cardiac Catheterization Lab.

“When an opportunity came to support better quality care, it was an easy decision for us to team up with Health Sciences North,” Marc Boissonnealt, vice-president of Xstrata Nickel's Sudbury operations, said.

“We see this as an opportunity to continue our commitment in supporting the health of the community where we operate.”

Jim Corless, chair of the Health Sciences North Foundation, thanked Xstrata Nickel for its contribution to Heart and Soul.

“This contribution has been instrumental in the construction here at the lab, which could not have happened without your support.”

Health Sciences North CEO Dr. Denis Roy said the lab is “state of the art” in every respect.

“We could not have done this without the incredible support of our community, anchored by such key partners as Xstrata Nickel.”

The lab allows doctors to diagnose and treat heart ailments, said Dr. Grama Ravi, medical director of the hospital's critical care program. He said some of Xstrata Nickel's money went into the lab's x-ray equipment.

While he thanked the company for its contribution, he expressed hope that they'll consider donating to the hospital in the future.

“In the era of constant government cutbacks and constraints, hospitals by themselves cannot provide the service that they know they need to provide unless there's a strong general support from the big, big donors around us.”

When questioned by reporters, Iyo Grenon, senior communications specialist with Xstrata Nickel, didn't promise any future donations, but said the hospital is a good cause.

She said the company is always looking for donation opportunities “that could be somehow matched with our long-term business strategy.”