Canuck Place Children's Hospice in Abbotsford celebrated its official campaign kick-off today (Monday) by announcing that the facility will be named Dave Lede House after its biggest donor.
Dave Lede, CEO of the Ledcor Group of Companies, has contributed $2.5 million towards the facility, a crowd of more than 100 supporters was told at the event.
Ledcor is the general contractor for the project, currently under construction on Marshall Road adjacent to Abbotsford Regional Hospital.
The Dave Lede Family Charitable Foundation supports pediatric initiatives across North America.
The campaign launch was held at the construction site, where Filomena Nalewajek, Canuck Place chief executive officer, thanked Lede for his "ongoing support and dedication."
She also announced that the children's hospice has so far raised $9.8 million and is aiming for a total of $13 million to complete construction and to cover the first two or three years of operations.
"It's ambitious ... but it's based on very real needs," Nalewajek said of the goal for the Extending Our Reach Campaign.
Canuck Place currently has a facility in Vancouver with nine beds and four family suites. The 30,000-square-foot Abbotsford site will include 10 beds and suites for five families.
It is one of three partners in the Campus of Care project. Also included are the Abbotsford Hospice Society's adult hospice and Matthew's House, a respite facility for children with severe disabilities.
Ledcor spokesperson Lee Coonfer said the company is pleased to be involved with Canuck Place and the Campus of Care.
"This will be a shining example for others to follow when this campus is complete ... What a tremendous accomplishment."