CBRHF Celebrates 40-Years
The Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation (CBRHF) is proud to celebrate 40 years of community support, generosity, and impact in 2025.
“What makes this milestone so special is that every achievement belongs to our community,” says Paula MacNeil, CEO of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation. “From our very first campaign to today, our progress has always been powered by individuals who care deeply about this community and about creating access to health care here at home.”
In the early eighties, well-known community leader Dr. Jack Yazer (1913 – 1915) had a vision for a specialized medical facility for Cape Breton Island. He spearheaded a petition, which saw more than 70,000 signatures; hosted community meetings; and, led a fundraising campaign to make this vision a reality.
In 1985, under Yazer’s leadership, the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation officially became a registered charity. In the years following, the volunteer committee raised $6 million to support the build of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital (CBRH), which officially opened in 1995 replacing the Cape Breton Hospital, Sydney City Hospital, and Sydney Community Health Centre.
The Cape Breton Cancer Centre shortly followed, opening in 1998.
Since this time, donors, volunteers, and community partners have continued to build on the original committee’s vision to strengthen health care on the Island. Over the past four decades, multi-millions have been raised to purchase vital equipment, fund research and innovation, and directly support patients as they navigate challenging health care journeys.
“Forty years ago, a movement began, and I’m proud to say it’s still going strong today,” adds MacNeil. “Because of our donors, volunteers, friends and partners, our community has better access to care. And we at the Foundation will continue working towards our vision of ‘an Island without barriers to health care’ well into the future.”
To learn more about the impact of the past 40 years, and to see how you can be part of the next chapter, visit cbrhfoundation.ca/40-years.