Over the past year, IWK Health has continued to build a strong foundation for the future of health care in the Maritimes. The achievements highlighted throughout this annual report reflect the dedication, expertise, and compassion of our teams, as well as the unwavering support of our patients, families, partners, and communities.

As we reflect on the past year, one theme stands out clearly: cornerstones. A cornerstone is both a foundation on which everything else depends and a core commitment that guides where we focus our time, energy, and attention. At IWK Health, these cornerstones continue to shape our work and our future.

The first cornerstone is the advancement of programs and platforms that will transform care delivery and strengthen how we use data to support patients and families. This year marked the implementation of our new electronic health record as the first site in the provincial OPOR initiative. This significant undertaking required extraordinary commitment across the organization and represents an important step toward more connected, streamlined, and informed care across the region. Alongside OPOR, the implementation of S4HANA and UKG modernized our operational and human resource systems, enhancing our ability to support the people and services that are central to quality care.

The second cornerstone is our places and infrastructure. This year brought continued progress on the redevelopment of the new Emergency Department, a transformative project supported by the Government of Nova Scotia and by contributions from New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island through the IWK Foundation. The visible progress on University Avenue reflects more than construction activity — it represents a commitment to creating healing environments that support the best possible care for women, children, youth, and families.

We are deeply grateful to the IWK Foundation and to donors across the Maritimes and beyond whose generosity continues to elevate care through investments in equipment, spaces, innovation, and patient experience. The success of the 41st IWK Telethon, which raised more than $8.33 million, demonstrates the remarkable commitment our communities have to the future of health care.

The third cornerstone — and the most important — is our people. Throughout a year of significant change and transformation, our staff, physicians, learners, researchers, volunteers, and leaders demonstrated resilience, adaptability, teamwork, courage, and an unwavering focus on patients and families. Their commitment ensured that care continued safely and compassionately, even amid unprecedented operational change.

Finally, the fourth cornerstone is our shared purpose and values. Our purpose — to passionately pursue a healthy future with women, children, youth, and families in all their diversity through excellence in care, research and innovation, and applied learning — remains at the centre of every decision we make. It drives us to innovate, to improve access and safety, and to continuously strengthen the care and services we provide.

To our patients and families, thank you for your trust and patience throughout this period of transformation. To our staff, physicians, researchers, learners, volunteers, leaders, Board members, government partners, OPOR colleagues, and the IWK Foundation, thank you for your leadership, collaboration, and dedication.

Together, we are building the cornerstones that will support the future of health care for generations to come.

Chris Fowles
Board Chair, IWK Health

Dr. Krista Jangaard
President & CEO, IWK Health