Sunnybrook Pays Tribute To Its Fallen 'First In Class' Leader

In a memorial service held today, staff, physicians and volunteers at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre paid tribute to Harry Taylor, Director Facilities Services, who was killed last week in a tragic incident on the Gardiner Expressway.

In Mr. Taylor’s honour, Sunnybrook has created two fitting tributes to his legacy of more than 20-years of dedicated service to the Hospital. In the coming months, Sunnybrook will install the largest number of solar panels in a Canadian healthcare facility, which will be formally known as the Harry Taylor Solar Energy Wall. In addition, at the Hospital’s annual Earth Matters Showcase, which is an expo of environmental initiatives, Sunnybrook will present the Harry Taylor Innovation Award which will be given to a staff member who has made an outstanding contribution to achieving the Hospital’s vision of inventing the future of healthcare.

“It is important for us to ensure Harry’s legacy serves as an inspiration to everyone at Sunnybrook and these tributes will help us remember him as the person he was, innovative and always striving to make sure he and his staff were first in class,” said Dr. Barry McLellan, President and CEO, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. “He was someone who had such a positive impact on the entire organization and we want to ensure his memory lives on through the work of his staff and by literally powering Sunnybrook to be there when it matters most.”

Under Mr. Taylor’s leadership, Sunnybrook blazed a new trail for environmental stewardship and became recognized throughout Ontario for its work in this area. The hospital received numerous rebates for water and energy conservation and was applauded for its work in recycling and adopting sources of renewable energy. Earlier this year with Mr. Taylor’s leadership, Sunnybrook signed a landmark agreement with Honeywell to create initiatives throughout the hospital that would save dollars on energy which could be reinvested in upgrades to patient care infrastructure.

As well as his work in green programs, Mr. Taylor was known as an innovator who helped guide the Hospital through a number of crises. His efforts during the SARS crisis for example, led to the creation of the first SARS in-patient unit and the city’s first SARS screening and assessment centre. Mr. Taylor and his team literally transformed areas of the Hospital overnight into areas that would care for patients and ensure the safety of Sunnybrook staff.

“Harry was the kind of person everyone should be fortunate enough to not only work with at some point in their career but be lucky enough to be able to call him a friend,” said Marilyn Reddick, Vice President Human Resources. “I knew him as a friend and colleague for 25-years and in that time we saw the healthcare system change and grow and in many respects Harry helped shape the future of how hospitals operate their facilities. He was a true innovator and someone we will all miss dearly.”

Mr. Taylor’s family will host a memorial service this Saturday, November 15, at 11 a.m. at 2125 Erin Centre Boulevard in Mississauga.