During her working visit in Canada, Her Excellency Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, the President of Malta, visited Runnymede Healthcare Centre in the “Little Malta” area of Toronto.
President Coleiro Preca toured the centre and met with various elderly people, including those of Maltese origin.
Runnymede Healthcare Centre has strong links with the Maltese-Canadian community in Toronto, and its current President and CEO, Connie Dejak, is of Maltese descent.
At a presentation ceremony, held in honour of President Coleiro Preca, CEO Dejak announced a 70 million dollar investment being made by the Ontario provincial government, to expand the Runnymede Healthcare Centre.
The project is planned to be completed by 2022, and will include the development of a new facility, offering specialised care for elderly patients. A percentage of the 200 long-term care beds in the new facility will be specifically designated for the use of Maltese-Canadian elderly persons.
Her Excellency congratulated the Runnymede Healthcare Centre for this initiative, which is the very first to address the needs of the Maltese elderly community in Toronto. This reflects the respect that the Canadian authorities have towards the Maltese-Canadian community.
“The way a society treats its elderly members is a sign of its benevolence, and this investment shows Canada’s respect for the Maltese-Canadian diaspora”, said President Coleiro Preca.
“I will leave Canada feeling secure that our Maltese brothers and sisters are being well cared for, even in their old age.”