Being in the hospital with children can be a trying time, but the new Smilezone at Joseph Brant Hospital’s (JBH) Maternal and Child program space can make a tough day a little brighter now.
Essentially, the project has changed rooms and waiting areas from “hospital beige” to colourful places where children’s imaginations can take them anywhere.
This morning (Aug. 8), staff, politicians, patients and donors celebrated the grand opening of the new Smilezone in the Maternal and Child program space on the second floor of the North Tower.
Donors Bill and Donna Hook, along with some 14 family members and representatives from the Smilezone Foundation, were recognized for the donation that made the transformation possible. The locally-themed murals feature images of Spencer Smith Park and the pier, Burlington Beach and the lighthouse.
“Providing pediatric patients and the passionate caregivers at JBH with an uplifting and cheerful environment gives our family great pleasure,” said the Hooks. “Our love for children runs deep, having raised three of our own and now six grandchildren in Burlington.”
The murals and four colourful, themed rooms manage to make a hospital visit a little less stressful by creating fun and engaging spaces that children can relate to.
Maternal Child clinics include breastfeeding, gestational diabetes, pediatric diabetes and pediatric rapid assessment. As such, the bright, cheery paintings, in themed rooms – in the jungle, at the farm, under the sea and more – can take children’s minds anywhere.
It’s not just the children who get a boost from the artwork, either.
Dr. Laura Waltman, chief of pediatrics at JBH, said the staff -physicians, midwives, nurses, lactation consultants, social workers, respiratory therapists, dietitians and clerks providing services to pregnant moms, newborns, children and adolescents - also benefit from the cheerful environment.
JBH board chair Barbara Elliot, who thanked the maternal and child teams, said the Smilezone is dedicated to families so they can have an even better hospital experience.
“Children can get lost in a photo,” she added.
Burlington MP Karina Gould said she’s proud of the hospital and it’s the place where, as a mom, she brings her child when needed.
“We come and get exceptional care,” she said, adding she had a flashback moment of walking slowly to the area (in labour) as she made her way across from the parking garage. “To have a space bring more joy, and be that much cozier, I want to thank you Donna and Bill for making a real difference in the lives at JBH.”
Ward 1 councillor Kelvin Galbraith agreed, adding “gone are the days of shared magazines, while in the waiting room.”
Local artists worked on the project for several months before installation took place in late July. All four patient rooms were painted to match the murals that were put in place by artists, team lead Sarah Carlson of Burlington, Katie Sokolova of Oakville and Jude Phillips of Ancaster.
Smilezone Foundation is an Oakville-based non-profit group, founded by Scott Bachly and Adam Graves in 2012 during the construction of Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. Its mission is to make tough days brighter for kids receiving treatment in hospitals and health care facilities. The first Smilezone opened at Erin Oaks Kids Centre in 2013 in Mississauga. There are more than 150 planned in Ontario for 2024 alone and 340 fun and engaging Smilezones in waiting rooms, treatment and patient rooms across Canada.
Bachly, co-founder and co-chair of Smilezone Foundation, said they are thrilled to be part of the exciting renovation at JBH.
“We are delighted with the new areas featuring sea creatures and farm animals, giving children and their families living in Burlington a reason to smile during their hospital visits.”
“It doesn’t change how (patients) are treated, but it changes the environment from hospital beige – every one across the country, the same different shade of beige. We take pride in knowing each centre is pre-planned.”
He said costs for each project vary between $50,000 and $100,000.
To learn more about the project go to www.smilezone.com
