Philanthropic family commits six-figure gift to Royal Columbian redevelopment

New Westminster, B.C. – {October 3, 2019} – A Coquitlam couple with a passion for children’s healthcare and strong personal connections to Royal Columbian Hospital are helping with the hospital’s current transformation.

Walt and Judi Weaver have made a six-figure commitment through the W J Weaver Foundation towards Royal Columbian’s unprecedented $1.49 billion redevelopment. The donation to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation has been made in support the construction of a pediatric/family waiting area in a new Emergency Department.

“The vision is to create a quiet and peaceful waiting area for families in the new Emergency Department,” says Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation President and CEO Jeff Norris. “The space will help ensure children feel calm and at ease while waiting for treatment.”

Walt was born at Royal Columbian, while Judi once worked in the hospital’s medical imaging and medical records departments. Their three children and eight grandchildren were born at Royal Columbian.

“With this gift, we would like to honour our deep roots to the community and its people,” says Walt. “We would like to ensure those who require it have access to the services needed to aid and maintain optimum health.”

The W J Weaver Foundation was established in 2005 as a way for the couple to give back and share their good fortune with their communities. Since opening, the foundation has provided financial support to numerous organizations.

The expanded Emergency Department, with 75 state-of-the-art treatment bays, a satellite medical imaging unit, and an increase in total ER space of more than half, will open inside a new Acute Care Tower that is scheduled to be complete in 2025 as part of phase 2 of the hospital’s redevelopment. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2020, following completion of the new Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre that is part of phase 1 of redevelopment.

Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation is committed to making a substantial multi-million dollar contribution to the redevelopment’s three phases.

Where BC Fights

As BC’s leading critical care hospital, one in three British Columbians rely on Royal Columbian Hospital. This is where BC fights for hope, and for life. We are the only hospital in BC with trauma, cardiac, neurosciences, high-risk maternity and neonatal intensive care on one site. We look after some of the most seriously ill and injured patients, and we do it with the support of donors like you.

Since 1978, donors to Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation have helped fund priority equipment needs, facility enhancements, research, education and innovation at Royal Columbian Hospital.