Feds providing over $9M in funding to Ronald McDonald House in Ottawa

The federal government announced on Aug. 8 that is pledging $9.3 million for the Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Ottawa. 

The funding will be used to create a new, accessible net-zero carbon building to meet the current and future needs of families travelling to seek medical care.

“Ronald McDonald House Ottawa provides equitable, accessible care for local families and families from rural, northern and Indigenous communities,” said Member of Parliament (MP) for Ottawa South David McGuinty. “The government of Canada's investment in expanding the house will help it to grow its services and support more families whose children are facing serious illness. We are proud to support the work of this important organization.”

RMH Ottawa provides a place to call home to families of children that are travelling for treatment at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO). Funding will support a major expansion to RMH Ottawa – with 25,000 square feet of extra space, the facility will gain 22 suites and new common areas.

This investment will help RMH Ottawa to accommodate more families at once and offer services to families that live closer to Ottawa. In addition, the new facility will be constructed to the Canada Green Building Council's Zero Carbon Building standard, reducing its impact on the environment, while helping it to be more resilient to power outages and changes in energy prices.

“The funding from Infrastructure Canada's Green and Inclusive Community Building program will enable RMH Ottawa to meet the current and future demand for all families displaced from their homes while travelling to seek medical care,” said Christine Hardy, chief executive officer (CEO) for Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa.  “This expansion will provide essential social infrastructure, enable equitable access to pediatric care, and reduce the financial burden faced by travelling families. Our new net-zero, LEED gold standard building will allow for RMH Ottawa to support an additional 347 families travelling to Ottawa for medical care each year.”

Work is scheduled to start in the spring of 2023.