Melnyk Makes Historic Donation to Hospital

 
TORONTO–On October 5, St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto celebrated the official opening of its new main entrance and thanked Ukrainian-Canadian businessman and philanthropist Eugene Melnyk for his generous support.

Eugene Melnyk donated $5 million to the west-end Toronto hospital. It is the largest gift to the institution in its 84-year history.            

“My family has been closely associated with St. Joseph’s Health Centre for over 50 years,” said Melnyk at the opening of the hospital’s new main entrance, which has been named in honour of his parents, Vera Melnyk and the late Dr. Ferdinand Melnyk.

Dr. Melnyk immigrated to Canada after the Second World War. He was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine in 1920 and obtained a medical degree in Germany in 1949. In Canada, he interned at St. Joseph’s and became a family physician, working at the hospital for 28 years.  During that time, he was instrumental in creating the hospital’s emergency room department.

Dr. Melnyk died in 1977, when his son Eugene was only 17 years old. Mr. Melnyk eventually founded a medical-publishing company and later bought the pharmaceutical company Bioval Corporation. He is now its Executive Chairman of the Board and the owner of the Ottawa Senators.

Though his hockey team is based in Ottawa, Mr. Melnyk has strong ties to Toronto.  He was born and raised in the city, in the vicinity of the St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Some of his relatives, including his mother Vera, call the centre their community hospital.           

Mr. Melnyk’s donation will also go towards improved hospital services. A committed philanthropist, Mr. Melnyk has given money to many causes. In the past, he has supported Toronto’s St. Michael’s College School.

Ukrainian causes, particularly those related to seniors and children, have also benefited from his donations. Melnyk has supported Help Us Help the Children, donating more than $1 million to the charity, which helps orphans in Ukraine.  The Ukrainian Canadian Care Centre, a home for seniors in Etobicoke, Ontario has also benefited from his generosity. Mr. Melnyk paid for the Centre’s chapel and for a mini-bus, accommodating 30 passengers.