Home to Waterloo's Regional Cardiac Care Centre
Every year, our cardiac team cares for patients across the region. Nearly 1.4 million people rely on WRHN for their care, and our team offers everything from emergency cardiac catheterization to open-heart surgery and rehabilitation. Your gift helps make sure care is there the moment it's needed.
Join community members across Waterloo Region already funding this care.
Care that's there when it matters
Our Cardiac Catheterization Lab provides emergency heart care 24 hours a day, backed by a full Heart Rhythm Program and a dedicated cardiac rehabilitation team supporting patients before and after surgery.
Help us fund a third Cath Lab
WRHN's two cardiac catheterization labs already reach 10% of Ontario's population. Procedures are projected to rise from 6,500 in 2025 to 8,500 by 2028. A third lab would mean capacity for roughly 11,000 patients a year.
Regional cardiac care, close to home
Made possible by donor support across the region.
Regional Reach
Home to the Regional Cardiac Care Centre, with two cardiac catheterization labs reaching patients from Haldimand-Norfolk to Bruce County.
Surgical Volume
Cardiac surgery services including bypass, valve repair, and aortic aneurysm repair.
Emergency Access
WRHN’s exercise-oncology research, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found a 37% lower risk of death for patients in a structured exercise program after treatment.
Recovery Support
A dedicated cardiac rehabilitation program helps patients recover with confidence.
Cardiac Programs at WRHN
Here's what your gift helps make possible: comprehensive heart care for Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, and communities across the region, from Haldimand-Norfolk to Bruce County.
Cardiac Catheterization Lab
Emergency and scheduled procedures including angiograms, angioplasty, and stenting. Open 24/7 for STEMI heart attack response.
Heart Rhythm Program
Diagnosis and treatment for arrhythmias, including ablation procedures and implantable devices like pacemakers and defibrillators.
PREVENT Clinic
Helps patients identify and manage heart disease risk factors early, through education, medication management, and referrals. Community support, including the annual RedDAY fundraiser, helps power this preventative care.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Supervised recovery programs that help patients rebuild strength and confidence after a cardiac event or surgery.
Donor funding allows our team to advance the field and match what's being done at the best centres in the world. Without community members stepping up to fund equipment and programs, we can't offer that world-class care to our patients who need it.
Dr. Gabe Acosta · Electrophysiologist, WRHN
Lane's story
Lane Burman had just finished pushing his wife's car out of the snow when his heart suddenly stopped. He collapsed on the street, and woke up hours later in WRHN's coronary care unit.
Thanks to 12 minutes of CPR from a passerby, six rounds of defibrillation from a paramedic, and care in WRHN's cardiac catheterization lab, Lane survived. Nine years later, donor-funded advances in WRHN's heart rhythm program continue to support his ongoing care.
Thanks to 12 minutes of CPR from a passerby, six rounds of defibrillation from a paramedic, and care in WRHN's cardiac catheterization lab, Lane survived. Nine years later, donor-funded advances in WRHN's heart rhythm program continue to support his ongoing care.
"Without any one of those people doing what they did that day, I wouldn't be here."
"Everybody there knows me. They know my story, and they care about my story." Lane Burman, on his ongoing care team
Common Questions About Cardiac Care at WRHN
What does my gift actually fund?
Your donation funds equipment, technology, and expanded capacity for WRHN's cardiac program, including the push for a third cardiac catheterization lab and ongoing support for preventative care at the PREVENT Clinic.
How can I support cardiac care at WRHN?
You can give today or become a monthly donor.
Will I receive a tax receipt for my donation?
Yes. WRHN Foundation is a registered Canadian charity (Charitable Registration No. 889180394 RR 0001), and tax receipts are issued for eligible donations. Monthly donors receive an annual tax receipt each February covering all gifts from the previous calendar year.​
If I need cardiac care myself, who should I contact?
Most cardiac care begins with a referral from your family doctor or specialist. For chest pain or other life-threatening symptoms, go to your nearest Emergency Department immediately.
Let your experience inspire others.
Whether you’re a patient, family member, donor, event participant or proud WRHN staff, sharing your story and connection to Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) is a powerful way to show how donations impact our community in real, tangible ways.
Your gift funds the tools our cardiac care team needs, for the care patients deserve.
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