Letter: Don’t underestimate the impact you can make, young people especially

The redevelopment of Burnaby Hospital is the single most important issue in Burnaby today – nothing else comes close. No other initiative will positively impact as many people in our community as a new Burnaby Hospital. It is a great honour and privilege for me and my wife, Alaiza to be involved in the Proud History, Bright Future campaign. We are proud to donate $25,000 to help make a new Burnaby Hospital a reality.

It is our hope that all members of our community will also take pride in supporting this campaign. We hope that our donation and this letter might inspire you to join us and many others in our community in supporting this urgent cause. This is a unique opportunity for you to be part of a campaign that is going to be so incredibly impactful for families, friends, and neighbours, right here in our own community.

Alaiza and I live in the Metrotown area of Burnaby, just a few steps away from my office. I work alongside my dad, Bill McCarthy, for our family real estate firm, McCarthy Properties. Our company has been in business in Burnaby for three generations and counting. My dad, who is chairing the Burnaby Hospital Foundation Fundraising Cabinet, has taught me the importance of community pride and giving back. Alaiza and I have been inspired by the philanthropic example my parents have set. We now hope to live up to this example and to inspire others.  

All five members of my immediate family – mom, dad, my brother and sister, and me – were born at Burnaby Hospital. Many happy, sad, and important moments for our family and loved ones have happened here, and I know there will be many more moments like these for our family – and yours – in the years to come.   

Personally, I’ve received great care at Burnaby Hospital. Dr. Tarazi operated on my knee after a football injury when I was in high school at Saint Thomas More Collegiate, and a few years ago Dr. Manarey fixed my broken nose after a basketball injury! Professionally, our family business works directly with many of the great medical professionals in our city who operate their clinics from buildings owned and managed by McCarthy Properties. It’s a great privilege to work with and assist our medical community in this capacity.  

At Burnaby Hospital we have world class medical staff and physicians, like Dr. Tarazi and Dr. Manarey, delivering exceptional care from a hospital facility that is completely insufficient. Everyone who has received care at Burnaby Hospital is aware of the urgent need for a new hospital facility. This redevelopment campaign gives our community the chance to earn the hospital our city needs now, and for the future.

Do not underestimate the impact you can make! Young people especially shouldn’t underestimate the impact we can make. Every gift no matter how big or small gets us closer to our goal, and every new donor brings our community closer together.

Alaiza and I especially wish to encourage our fellow young people in the community to use this as an opportunity to get involved and for those already involved to consider doing just a bit more during this special time.

This is an extremely proud moment for Alaiza and me. Burnaby has been incredibly good to our family and we are grateful to live here. We are fortunate to be able to make this gift.

We can do this together. Every gift, no matter how big or small makes a big difference and will make the vision of a state-of-the-art Burnaby Hospital a reality.

Yours sincerely,

John McCarthy

Burnaby Resident and Young Philanthropist