September 13, 2023, BRAMPTON/ETOBICOKE – The annual Tour de Bleu fundraiser hosted by Mattamy Homes and the Peter Gilgan Foundation has raised a record $5.65 million for William Osler Health System Foundation (Osler Foundation) to support specialized mental health care at William Osler Health System (Osler) hospitals to benefit youth in our community.

A total of 46 avid cyclists participated in the event, riding 200km over the course of the weekend, including a ride from cottage country to Osler’s Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness (Peel Memorial) in Brampton. The funds raised—the most of any Tour de Bleu to date—will help Osler increase capacity for mental health care with the transformation of Peel Memorial into Brampton’s new hospital. The new Peel Memorial will include the area’s first Adolescent Intensive Day (AID) Program for youth struggling with self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

“Those of us with young people in our lives recognize the toll the COVID-19 pandemic took on their mental health,” said Ken Mayhew, President and CEO, William Osler Health System Foundation. “Social isolation, school closures and pandemic-related family stress amplified what was already a growing problem—youth struggling with their mental health and a profound need for greater access to care. We are immensely grateful to Peter Gilgan, the Peter Gilgan Foundation, and all of the Tour de Bleu cyclists and sponsors for their invaluable commitment to making a tangible difference for youth in our region.”

“With a growing number of adolescents in Ontario currently waitlisted to receive mental health care, it’s vital that we build capacity to provide specialized treatment to youth struggling in our community,” said Dr. Frank Martino, President and CEO, William Osler Health System. “There’s no better time for this contribution from Peter Gilgan and the Peter Gilgan Foundation to make a real impact on the future well-being of our young people.”

Launched in 2005 by the founder of Mattamy Homes and avid cyclist, Peter Gilgan, the Tour de Bleu event has raised $39 million for world-class organizations such as SickKids, CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health), Women’s College Hospital, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, the Mattamy National Cycling Centre, Markham/Stouffville Hospital and Trillium Health Partners.

“Osler has earned a reputation, both locally and regionally, as a centre of excellence for community hospital-based programming for mental health and addiction disorders,” said Peter Gilgan, Chairman and CEO, Mattamy Asset Management and founder of Mattamy Homes. “We’re thrilled that our support will contribute to the world-class care provided by Osler and help ensure that youth in the community and beyond receive timely access to specialized care.”

For more information about Osler Foundation, please visit oslerfoundation.org. To learn more about Osler’s redevelopment, including the new Peel Memorial Hospital, visit www.williamoslerhs.ca/buildosler.