Do you believe us now?😉

There were times when it felt like this day would never come. We had delays, setbacks, and challenges no one saw coming.

Some people said it would never happen, but we never stopped believing. Now, we finally get to say the words we've waited so long to hear:

It's really happening.

Construction at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre started in March, but today's ground breaking makes it real for all of us.

For everyone who believed, stopped believing, questioned, hoped, and waited, this moment belongs to you.

Our amazing donors, families, local businesses, and volunteers were the first to step forward — knowing that heart surgery close to home wasn't just a dream. It was something we needed.

Together, over $20 MILLION has been raised for the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Surgery Campaign – the biggest fundraising campaign in the Foundation's history.

On behalf of our entire Campaign Cabinet and as someone who has witnessed this journey from the beginning: Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

This isn't the end of the story — it's the beginning of something that will change healthcare across Northwestern Ontario.

• Paul Fitzpatrick, Chair, Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Surgery Campaign