Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation held its annual **Fortune Leadership Council (FLC) Networking Luncheon** on Thursday, May 7, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at **Casa Victoria Fine Dining** in Markham. Nearly 100 representatives from the Chinese community, as well as business and corporate sectors, attended the event.
The **Chinese Community Leaders Council** of the **Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation** is a network of local Chinese business leaders established in 2016. Its mission is to raise community awareness and support for **Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH)**, while helping advance the hospital’s major fundraising initiatives and development needs. The Council is dedicated to connecting philanthropists within the Chinese community to support the hospital in acquiring new medical equipment, adopting innovative technologies, and expanding key healthcare services.
万锦多福医院基金会行政总裁Suzette Strong致词
The Chinese Community Leaders Council was established in 2016 under the leadership of founding co-chairs Alan Kwong and Kenny Wan, together with honorary chair Mayor Frank Scarpitti of Markham. Today, Alan Kwong, David Ho, Gordon Chan, Stephen Li, and Kenny Wan continue to lead the Council. Together with local Chinese business leaders, they share a common commitment to giving back to the hospital, uniting the generosity of the Chinese community, bringing blessings to Markham Stouffville Hospital, and helping ensure quality healthcare remains close to home.
Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation CEO Suzette Strong noted that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Community Leaders Council. To date, the Council has raised $3.4 million and continues to advance further fundraising efforts. Composed of more than 50 business and community leaders, this Chinese philanthropic network has made a truly inspiring contribution.
The Fortune Club
Last year, the Chinese Community Leaders Council launched The Fortune Club, an exclusive networking group for Chinese business leaders and ambassadors of Markham Stouffville Hospital. The Club meets every two months to jointly plan and advance the Council’s future fundraising initiatives. Membership is by referral only, and members are expected to make a personal donation of $10,000 to $100,000 or more to Markham Stouffville Hospital.
华社领袖理事会创会联席主席邝国雄 （Alan Kwong）、温建业 （Kenny Wan）分别致词
Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation
Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation is committed to supporting the continued growth and priority initiatives of Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital through fundraising and increased community awareness. As government funding does not fully cover all hospital needs and development projects, we rely on community support to provide patients with an exceptional healthcare experience. Community donations help fund life-saving medical equipment and enable Markham Stouffville Hospital to continue delivering high-quality healthcare services.
Oak Valley Health
Oak Valley Health is one of Ontario’s leading community healthcare organizations, committed to providing high-quality, patient-centred care. Its network includes Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH), Uxbridge Hospital (UXB), and the Reactivation Care Centre, serving more than 480,000 patients each year. Oak Valley Health provides diagnostic and emergency services, as well as clinical programs in acute medicine and surgery, addictions and mental health, childbirth and children’s services, and more. As part of the Eastern York Region North Durham Ontario Health Team (EYRND OHT), Oak Valley Health extends access to care through Community Health Clinics (CHC) and a Virtual Urgent Care Clinic (VUCC). Oak Valley Health is supported by 657 professional staff, including physicians, midwives, and dentists, along with more than 3,400 employees and 1,000 volunteers. Dedicated to caring, connecting, and innovating, Oak Valley Health provides integrated healthcare services and an exceptional patient experience for the communities of Markham, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Uxbridge, and surrounding areas. Oak Valley Health serves York and Durham regions, which are among the three fastest-growing regions in Ontario.
Population growth, combined with an aging population, continues to drive increasing demand for hospital services. From 2022/23 to 2024/25, emergency department visits at Markham Stouffville Hospital increased by 12%. Demand for inpatient care, outpatient services, laboratory testing, and medical imaging also rose during the same period.
Markham Stouffville Hospital currently has one of the busiest emergency departments in Ontario, serving more than 106,319 patients each year. Wait times across the country remain a serious challenge. In addition to long wait times for specialist care, it is estimated that approximately 25% of residents within the hospital’s service area do not have a family doctor, leaving many to rely on the emergency department as their primary source of healthcare. As the population of Markham and surrounding communities continues to grow rapidly, Markham Stouffville Hospital is actively expanding its service capacity and improving access to community healthcare.
Easycan Inc. (Easy Media) Journalist / Photojournalist: Fengyun Lin
