This year's Annual General Meeting provided an opportunity for us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the many achievements that have taken place at The Scarborough Hospital in the last 12 months.

"There are many, many achievements we should all be proud of," said outgoing Board Chair Mike Mueller (shown in header photo). "In my time as Chair of the Board I have learned exactly how challenging it is to run a hospital. The pace of change, the budget challenges, the regulatory and reporting requirements and the importance of the work that takes place at a hospital all add up to an extremely challenging environment. We need to continue pushing forward - raising the bar on our key objective of quality care. We need to find ways to connect with people's passion to achieve excellence and to innovate. We need to learn from our mistakes. Most of all, we need to remain patient-centred. If we can do that, there is no question in my mind that The Scarborough Hospital will continue to have successes to report at its AGMs."

> ANNUAL REPORT

The Canadian Tamils' Chamber of Commerce held its 11th Annual Walk-a-thon on Sunday, June 5, 2011, raising an incredible $16,500 to support The Scarborough Hospital. The business community once again exhibited the giving spirit of our community. The 4 km walk through major streets around The Scarborough Hospital, Birchmount campus, led back to Kids Town Waterpark where a closing ceremony was held.

> VIDEO

During the summer, there's nothing better than sharing picnics, bbqs and camping trips with your friends and family. However, foodborne illnesses - also known as food poisoning - can be the biggest party crasher at any outdoor meal. Symptoms of a foodborne illness can include stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and fever. They can begin a few hours after eating contaminated food, or can be delayed by several days or even weeks.

"There's a greater risk of food poisoning during the summer months because of the increased heat and humidity, and lack of refrigeration and washing facilities at many outdoor activities," says Susan Butson, a Dietitian at The Scarborough Hospital. "The good news is that we can minimize our risk by remembering some simple food safety guidelines."

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Once again, the children from Sir Samuel B. Steele Junior Public School made a generous donation to the pediatric unit of the Birchmount campus. Every year, the students do a 10 km trek around the neighbourhood of the school. The children raise money through sponsors and the funds are used to help with special projects and supplies for the school, with a percentage of the money donated to TSH. This year, their donation will help provide age-appropriate activities for the children in our Emergency Department. Going to Emergency is a stressful experience for patients at the best of times but, for children, the impact can be even more dramatic.

TSH Child Life Specialists Sue Regan - who participated in the trek - and Michele Clark-Ward visited the school for a special cheque presentation on May 27. At the assembly, the children were reminded of the importance of helping those in need.