September 10, 2025 – St. John’s, N.L. – The Health Care Foundation, in collaboration with Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services, today announced a significant milestone in the revitalization of the wayfinding system at the Health Sciences Centre Complex, made possible by a $350,000 investment from RBC Foundation.
This investment supports a multi-phase initiative to modernize and unify navigation across the complex, including the new Adult Mental Health and Addictions Centre, the Molecular Imaging Facility, and other key areas serving patients and families throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
With accessibility and patient experience at the heart of the project, the revitalized system is designed to ensure that individuals of all ages, abilities, languages, and literacy levels can access care with clarity, dignity, and ease.
“The ability to confidently and independently navigate a health care environment is a fundamental part of the patient experience,” said Paul Snow, President and Chief Executive Officer, Health Care Foundation. “This investment from the RBC Foundation will enhance that experience for thousands of patients, families, and visitors each year. It reflects a shared commitment to inclusive and equitable health care.”
The new wayfinding system features a range of accessible design elements, including high-contrast signage, braille and tactile cues, dementia-friendly visual language, digital maps, and multilingual options. These enhancements are already in place at the new Mental Health and Addictions Centre and the Molecular Imaging Facility, with broader implementation across the complex currently underway.
“Over half of buildings in Canada are either not accessible or only partially accessible[1],” says Kelly Sutton, Regional Vice President, Newfoundland and Labrador, RBC. “That’s why, through the RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund, we aim to bridge the accessibility gap by providing funding to organizations such as the Health Care Foundation, who are working to minimize barriers by implementing a revitalized wayfinding system at the Health Sciences Centre Complex to help foster greater inclusivity in our communities.”
The RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund marks the first of its kind awarded by RBC Foundation in Newfoundland and Labrador and represents a meaningful step forward in creating health care spaces that are welcoming, intuitive, and accessible to all.
– 30 –
[1]
Source: Built environment – Accessibility Standards Canada
About the Health Care Foundation
The Health Care Foundation advances adult health care in Newfoundland and Labrador, providing essential support to NL Health Services. Through the generosity of its donors, the Foundation funds state-of-the-art equipment, innovative programs, research, and education— empowering health care teams to deliver exceptional patient care right here at home.
With initiatives spanning cardiac care, diagnostic imaging, mental health, women’s health, emergency services, medical innovation, and surgical services, the Foundation is committed to creating healthier futures for the province’s residents and strengthening the health care system for generations to come.
Learn more: healthcarefoundation.ca
Media Contact
Samantha Harding
Director, Marketing and Communications
Health Care Foundation
T: (709) 687-9707
E: samantha.harding@healthcarefoundation.ca
