 The League's 75th anniversary project addressed a critical
need in our community. It also paid tribute to and reconnected members with the JLHB founder,
Margaret Gilmour. Because of Margaret's insight and leadership, for the past 75 years, the JLHB has been at the forefront of community improvements and simultaneously providing continous, high quality member training in leadership and voluntarism. The Mark Preece Family House building is located on
the site, and incorporates some of the historical features, of the
former Smart Turner business, owned by Margaret's husband, Wm. (Bill)
Gilmour. Although the building at 191 Barton Street East was
devastated by fire in 2008, caused by arson, reconstruction on the same site is now complete.
Ellen McWhinnie
JLHB President, 2011-2013
 
JLHB Members and new Mark A warm welcome from Mark
Preece House Executive Director, Preece Family House Staff.
help with the Official Opening Tour.
The Junior League of Hamilton-Burlington (JLHB) committed volunteer
resources and donated a total of $41,770 to the Mark Preece Family House in
Hamilton, Ontario. League members participated in the interior planning and they also assisted with the organizing and staffing of the opening weekend. The House has 14 bedrooms, all with private baths, a common room, living room, kitchen/dining area and laundry facilities. We are very proud to have the beautifully appointed kitchen and dining area named in our behalf.
 
 
 Families supporting loved
ones in critical care in hospital can be miles from home and prefer to
stay close to the bedside of their loved ones.
The Mark Preece Family House will assist families in need of
accommodation by providing home-like, accessible accommodations and
support in a compassionate environment for families of critical care patients in Hamilton area hospitals.
The Mark Preece Family House will service families from out of town and the local vicinity of Hamilton-Burlington.
The Mark Preece Family House will be the first Hospital Family House of its kind to be built in Ontario. Until now, there has been no affordable place in our community for patients' families to stay which keeps them close to the bedside of their loved one.
Benefits to the community:
Rest and support for family members in a home like setting
Close proximity to the hospital and bedside
Family remains close to support patients in critical condition
Families lend support to other families in similar situations
Personal expenses for families are minimized
Contributes to the revitalization of the local neighbourhood
Background:
Mark
Preece, a respected Intensive Care Physician in Hamilton, required
specialized cancer care that was not available locally. While
receiving treatment in Pittsburgh PA, a Family House was available to
Mark's family, allowing them to be close to him during this period.
As Mark and his family recognized the importance of a Family House,
after his death, family, friends and colleagues committed to ensuring
the same type of care and support became available in Hamilton.
Hamilton is a regional healthcare centre, serving 2.3 million residents from central west and southern Ontario, as well as many patients referred from the northwest area of the province.
Hamilton
Health Sciences family of hospitals provides leading edge health care
for more than 40,700 acute care inpatient cases and more than 1300
rehabilitation cases each year. Annually, approximately 2,400 acute in-patients have
spent time in one of the Hamilton General Hospital's intensive care
units. Many patients at St. Joseph's Healthcare require extended
hospitalization in areas such as the intensive care unit,
rehabilitation unit and mental health and addiction programs. 
 
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