Shriners Recommend London for Hospital for Children

The Shriners Hospitals for Children announced yesterday that London is the chosen home for its new Canadian health institution. The Shriners Board is officially recommending London as the new site for the Canadian Shriners Hospital for Children. "This is indeed a day of celebration for our community," says Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco. "The Shriners' business decision reinforces London's strong reputation as a centre of health care excellence and every Londoner can be proud of this exciting new development for our city." The bid to attract the $50 million Shriners Hospital to The Forest City was launched more than four years ago. And, in recent months, significant competition for the facility was staged by the cities of Montreal, Quebec and Ottawa, Ontario. But, in the end, it was London's compelling bid proposal that won the hearts of the Shriner Site Selection Committee and the Shriner Board of Directors. "London demonstrated amazing collaboration throughout the bid process and that community support was integral to our eventual success," says Mayor DeCicco. "As such, I commend the many partners responsible for bringing this dream to fruition. They include, Tony Dagnone and the whole team at London Health Sciences Centre, the University of Western Ontario, the Airport Authority, the Mocha Temple, the Provincial Government and of course, the City of London and Tourism London. DeCicco also acknowledged the tremendous work done by Montreal and Ottawa throughout the bid process. Meantime, the Board of Directors' recommendation to establish the Shriner Hospital for Children in London must now be ratified at the Shriner International Convention in Baltimore, Maryland in July. City of London website - www.london.ca