Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) is proudly celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Cardiac Wellness Program, marking a quarter century of helping patients throughout Windsor-Essex improve their heart health through expert care, education, exercise, and ongoing support.
Since opening its doors in June 2001, the Cardiac Wellness Program has become a cornerstone of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention in the region. Operating from three locations, the Petro Family Exercise Centre in Windsor, the Leamington Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Complex, and the Bob Probert Tecumseh Campus, the program supports an average of more than 400 patients each week.
Designed to help individuals recover from cardiac events and build healthier futures, the program provides comprehensive medical, educational, exercise, nutritional, and psychosocial services. In addition to its rehabilitation services, the Cardiac Wellness Maintenance Program supports approximately 100 patients annually who wish to continue exercising under medical supervision while maintaining and strengthening their cardiac health.
Over the years, the program has made a profound impact on the health and well-being of local residents. Since 2013 alone, Cardiac Wellness has served 7,161 unique patients, supported 83,233 patient visits, and celebrated thousands of graduated patients who successfully completed their cardiac rehabilitation journey. Patients ranging in age from 20 to 95 years old have accessed the program's services, demonstrating its broad reach across generations.
To commemorate the milestone, HDGH hosted a special 25th Anniversary Celebration. The event brought together patients, families, employees, donors, and community partners to celebrate the achievements of the program and recognize the people who have made its success possible.
Leading up to the celebration, former and current patients shared with our team. These stories, along with personal testimonials shared during the event, highlight the life-changing impact of the program over the past 25 years.
"As a past program graduate, I can personally attest to the tremendous impact this program has on the individuals who participate," recalled Sonya Vani, who was a program patient 20 years ago after experiencing a heart attack. Today, Sonya is a proud member of the HDGH team as Operations Manager of Allied Health. "I truly believe I would not have been as successful in my recovery without their guidance and support, and I likely would have required more physician and emergency department visits along the way. Thank you to the incredible Cardiac Wellness team for everything you do."
The impact felt by these patients and their loved ones wouldn’t be possible without the contributions of Cardiac Wellness employees, whose expertise and encouragement have supported patients through recovery and long-term heart health management.
As a token of appreciation, the team was presented with a commemorative certificate signed by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, which read, "By caring for and supporting cardiac patients, you have made an invaluable contribution to your community over the years, which is an accomplishment you can all be very proud of."
The Cardiac Wellness team has facilitated 5,645 classes since 2022, helping patients gain the knowledge, confidence, and skills needed to manage their cardiac health and improve their quality of life.
"As we celebrate 25 years of Cardiac Wellness, we reflect with immense pride on the thousands of patients whose lives have been touched by this program," said Bill Marra, President and CEO, Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare. "This milestone is a testament to the dedication, compassion, and expertise of the many employees who have contributed to the program's success over the past quarter century. Their commitment to supporting patients on every step of their recovery journey has helped make Cardiac Wellness a trusted and impactful resource for our community."
A heartfelt thank you was also expressed to the HDGH Foundation and its donors whose support has helped fund equipment, facilities, and resources that continue to enhance patient care.
"While we are proud of the program's history, we are equally excited about its future," added Marra. "Together with our patients, employees, volunteers, donors, and community partners, we look forward to continuing to advance cardiac wellness care for generations to come."