You don’t have to remind Ryan Evans who he’s building for.

“SickKids treats the most vulnerable of our community and everyone is dedicated to doing what is best for the kids.” As construction manager for PCL Construction in Toronto, Evans was an instrumental member of the team behind the SickKids’ Patient Support Centre project. Completed in August 2023, the Patient Support Centre is the first critical step of Project Horizon, SickKids’ multiyear campus redevelopment.

In June of this year, PCL was proud to partner with SickKids Foundation as presenting sponsor of the hospital’s 150th birthday celebration, which brought patients, families and the community out for a day of fun, connection and celebration. 

The event brought back many memories for Evans that will stick with him long after the completion of the project. The Patient Support Centre is a training, education and administrative tower located directly across the street from the hospital’s eight-story atrium. As a parent, Evans shares that he often would put himself into the shoes of the families visiting.

“It makes you consider how you would handle the construction if it was your own child who was receiving lifesaving care,” Evans says. “We were very mindful that kids and their families come to the hospital because they need to be there. So, we knew we needed to limit our impacts on their space as much as we possibly could.”

Special considerations were made to minimize disturbances from noise, vibration, hoardings and access routes, but often accommodation went far beyond typical construction planning.  

“Because of our location across from the atrium we knew there were often kids and families leaving the ward and milling around with full visibility of our site. We didn’t want to waste a chance to put a smile on their faces,” says Evans.

Hoists were painted with bright colors, cartoon characters and positive messages. Hoardings were trimmed with festive decorations during the holidays, and a project crane operator even made a special appearance as Santa, waving to kids across the street from a crane platform. 

Longtime PCL employee and senior project manager Annette Matthews knows all too well the important role SickKids plays. At five months old, she underwent an eight-hour cranial facial surgery at the hospital to reconstruct part of her skull and left eye socket.

“When you are born, you have a soft spot which allows your head to move through the cervix. After birth four sections of your skull come together to close the spot. In my case, this soft spot was closing faster than it should have on the left side of my head,” says Matthews. “My family and I are forever grateful to the doctors and nurses of SickKids Hospital. Not only has SickKids changed my life, but they also saved the lives of a few of my young family members.”

Now a monthly SickKids Foundation donor, Matthews is proud to work for an organization that partners so closely with a hospital providing exceptional care to the families who rely on its services.

“In building health care facilities, we’re building places that save lives, or offer comfort and dignity in those final moments. It really means a lot to me to work for a company that takes a patient-centered approach,” says Matthews.

HSE Supervisor David Molinaro echoes both Matthews and Evans, sharing a deep sense of pride for health care sector projects.

“When you turn over the space and see patients coming into a brand-new state-of-the-art facility that will help them get through what they are facing, it really makes you feel good,” says Molinaro, whose daughter Deanna was diagnosed with Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) as a baby, requiring frequent visits to SickKids.

“They call them butterfly children because their skin is very fragile. As the largest organ in your body, your skin affects everything so there are a lot of different specialists we would have to see,” says Molinaro.

In 2004, Dr. Elena Pope established an EB clinic at SickKids to help cut down on the duration of time kids would need to remain in hospital, giving families access to more convenient back-to-back appointments. Inspired to do more, Molinaro and his wife Fran founded DEBRA Canada, a Canadian chapter of DEBRA International, aimed at spreading awareness about EB and providing support for people affected by the disease. Deanna also served as an advocate and voice for the disease until her passing in 2023.

“If you get a chance to volunteer at SickKids don’t pass it up. It's going to make you cry, but you won’t regret it. The people that you will meet, the friendships that you build and the smiles that you'll help put on people's faces, you will never forget,” says Molinaro.

Founded in 1875, SickKids is now the number-one publicly funded hospital in the world. As 150th birthday celebrations wrap up, PCL is proud to continue its support of the hospital's mission to deliver world-class care, innovation and hope to children and families when they need it most. In past years, PCL and its employees have supported the SickKids GetLoud event, raising funds and awareness for the hospital. In addition, leading up to this year’s birthday celebration, PCL hosted two out of 150 balloon sculptures SickKids commissioned as part of a public art initiative to commemorate the milestone. “The support that PCL provides is truly fundamental in making this a reality,” says Julie Garcia Sjogrim, vice president of corporate and community partnerships with SickKids Foundation. “PCL’s involvement has allowed us to transform the lives of our young patients across the world.”

Garcia Sjogrim adds that the longstanding partnership makes days like the recent 150th birthday celebration possible. “It allows us to focus on helping kids get back to just being kids.”

It’s a partnership rooted in compassion, one that continues to shape spaces where healing, hope and childhood thrive.

“Giving back to the community is especially important for PCL, particularly in the health care sector. It’s how we build stronger communities, not only now but into our future,” says Monique Buckberger, vice president and district manager of PCL Constructors Canada Inc. (Toronto). “We are thrilled to celebrate alongside SickKids as they mark their 150-year commitment to care and investing in the health and well-being of the next generation.”