The future of mental healthcare for children and youth in Atlantic Canada just got brighter.

On Monday, the IWK Foundation announced it had received a $25 million donation from Berna and Myron Garron. The contribution will provide Halifax’s children’s hospital with new resources for mental health and addiction treatment for children and youth.  

The gift is the largest-ever donation to health care in Atlantic Canada, according to the foundation. 

The couple, whose wealth stems from an automotive parts business, is known for their support of children’s healthcare. 

In 2010, they donated $30 million to Toronto’s SickKids Hospital, where their son Michael Garron, was treated for cancer before his death at age 13.  

Five years later, Toronto East General Hospital was renamed the Michael Garron Hospital after a $50 million donation from the couple, which enabled investments in cutting-edge technology and research.

The Atlantic Canada gift is poised to leave a similar legacy. 

The foundation said the donation will enable IWK Health to reduce wait times for children and youth seeking treatment for mental illness and addictions, creating an “ecosystem” of care. 

The mental health of Canadian youth was severely impacted by the pandemic and has yet to rebound, according to a report released late last year by Children’s Healthcare Canada and the Conference Board of Canada.

It found that approximately 1.6 million Canadian youth are dealing with a mental health issue and that many do not have access to appropriate support.

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