Patient care areas brighter and family-friendly to enhance compassionate care for families
Hamilton, ON – May 14, 2026 – St. Joe’s unveiled five new Smilezone areas in its pediatric clinic, celebrating with patients, their families and Toronto Rock lacrosse players. A waiting room, hallway and four clinical rooms received a colourful update with murals, paint and a custom Toronto Rock professional lacrosse team jersey. The updates were completed by Smilezone Foundation thanks to a donation from Toronto Rock. The transformed spaces give families a place to be entertained and have peace of mind as they await and receive care.
Designed and created by Smilezone Foundation, a national charity that has transformed more than 500 healthcare and community spaces across Canada, the new Smilezones are thoughtfully built to reduce anxiety, spark imagination and foster a sense of comfort and belonging for children and families receiving care. The artist collaborated with St. Joe’s to ensure the imagery reflected the Hamilton and surrounding community. The artwork leans heavily on local landmarks and the game of lacrosse, acknowledging that lacrosse is a sacred, traditional Indigenous game played for centuries, rooted in tradition and culture.
Lindsay Charters, a nurse at St. Joe’s and whose son attends the pediatric clinic, says, “As a parent, there is nothing more comforting than knowing your child is in the hands of people who genuinely care and listen to your concerns. Like many children, my son gets a bit anxious during appointments, so having a space that is welcoming and fun makes such a difference. It will without question help him and so many other children and families feel more comfortable. This clinic is such an important resource for our community, and I’m incredibly grateful, both as a parent and as a healthcare professional, for the care, support and compassion it provides to children and families every single day.”
The pediatric clinic, which opened in 2024 and saw more than 1500 visits last year, builds on St. Joe’s commitment to providing compassionate care for the community during all stages of life, and its specialty in women’s, newborn and pediatric care. Children ranging in age from newborn to 18 receive care from pediatricians and neonatologists for a range of conditions and follow up after NICU discharge.
“The Toronto Rock are proud to continue our long-standing partnership with Smilezone Foundation,” said Rock owner, president and GM Jamie Dawick. “Supporting Smilezone Foundation projects in Hamilton is important to all of us in the extended Rock family. We’re very happy and excited to play a part in making things a bit easier during difficult times for families. We also want to say a big thank you to our fans in Rock City for supporting our fundraising efforts each and every year.”
“We are incredibly proud to partner once again with Toronto Rock and St. Joe’s to create spaces that bring comfort, positivity and moments of joy to children and families during what can often be stressful and emotional healthcare experiences,” said Scott Bachly, Co-Founder, Smilezone Foundation. “Toronto Rock has been a long-time supporter of Smilezone Foundation, and their continued commitment has helped us transform spaces that not only support young patients, but also their parents, caregivers and the dedicated healthcare teams who care for them every day. These new Smilezones at St. Joe’s are designed to help children feel more at ease, spark imagination and create a more welcoming environment from the moment families walk through the doors.”
“Our healthcare workers in the pediatric clinic are dedicated to providing care for patients and their families driven by unstoppable compassion. These updates reflect the calm, caring atmosphere clinicians provide,” said Brooke Cowell, executive vice president, clinical services and chief nursing executive at St. Joe’s. “Providing compassionate care is holistic; it involves healthcare workers who care deeply about their patients, evidence-based treatment and a calming space where families feel cared for and respected. We’re very grateful to Toronto Rock and Smilezone for this transformation to our space, the second in three years after select King Campus treatment and waiting rooms received a colourful update in 2023.”
ABOUT SMILEZONE FOUNDATION: Smilezone Foundation is a registered charity in Oakville, Ontario committed to improving the lives of children receiving medical treatment at health facilities across Canada. In 2012 founders Adam Graves and Scott Bachly were approached to make a financial contribution to the construction of a local hospital. Through partnerships with hospitals, community centers, and other organizations, Smilezone creates accessible, fun, and therapeutic environments where children can heal and thrive. The Foundation has transformed 500 spaces into Smilezones across Canada, benefiting communities in all ten provinces and reaching hundreds of thousands of children, parents, health care workers and families. For more information, visit www.smilezone.com.
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For more information:
Micki Benedetti
Smilezone Foundation
P: 905-466-2575
benedetti.micki@gmail.com
To download the PDF Verison please click the link: Smilezone St Joes Hamilton – Press release FINAL
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