One year ago, the Shah Family Foundation announced a transformational gift to help establish Ontario’s first hospital dedicated entirely to the health of women and children. Today, we mark the anniversary of this milestone, a vision that continues to inspire hope for a future where no woman or child is left behind when it comes to their health and well-being.
The Shah Family Hospital for Women and Children, planned as part of the redevelopment of Trillium Health Partners’ Mississauga Hospital, will transform how care is designed and delivered across every stage of life. This hospital represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a space purposefully designed to meet the specialized and evolving needs of women, children, and families.
This historic initiative was made possible by the largest South Asian philanthropic gift to date in Ontario, led by Kris and Neelam Shah and the Shah Family Foundation. As long-time residents of Peel Region, where they raised their family and built their med-tech business, the Shahs' commitment to advancing healthcare access in their community is deeply personal.
“Supporting women and children means investing in the heart of our future,” says Neelam Shah, Philanthropist of the Shah Family Foundation. “We wanted to contribute in a way that ensures every mother and every child can access specialized, compassionate care when they need it most.”
With more than 8,000 babies born each year at Trillium Health Partners, more than anywhere else in Ontario, the need for a dedicated facility has never been greater. This hospital will ensure families have access to specialized services close to home, including:
- Specialized care for women, children, and families across reproductive, gynecological, pediatric, and postpartum health needs
- Mississauga’s first-ever dedicated mental health inpatient beds for children and youth
- Comprehensive services for all pregnancies, including high-risk births
- State-of-the-art birthing suites designed for comfort, safety, and family-centered care
- One of Ontario’s largest neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), featuring couplet care suites that allow parents and newborns to stay together
- Expanded youth mental health supports, meeting a critical and growing demand
- Services designed to reflect the cultural and linguistic diversity of Peel Region’s families
Guiding this bold vision is a team of expert leaders committed to advancing equitable, inclusive care. This includes Dr. Ally Murji, Chief and Medical Director for the Shah Family Hospital for Women and Children, 'Remi Ejiwunmi, Vice President of the Shah Family Hospital, Caroline Riseboro, President and CEO of Trillium Health Partners Foundation, and Karli Farrow, President and CEO of Trillium Health Partners. Their leadership and dedication are ensuring that this hospital is not only built for the community but built with the community, informed by lived experiences and designed to meet real-world need.
This hospital is more than a new building. It is a bold reimagining of how care should be delivered: with dignity, inclusion, and compassion at its core.
“This is not just about a building. It is about supporting Trillium Health Partners to deliver care that truly reflects the community it serves,” says Kris Shah, President of the Shah Family Foundation. “We believe this hospital will not only serve our community, but also set a new standard of care that reaches far beyond Mississauga.”
The Shah Family Foundation hopes their gift will inspire others to get involved—whether through giving, volunteering, or advocating for better healthcare for all women and children.
“Stronger, healthier communities are built through collective effort,” adds Kris. “We invite others to join us in shaping a better future for all families.”
Learn more about the impact of this project and the Shah Family Foundation’s vision in our latest feature in The Globe and Mail.
