0
*
Approximate number of cardiac catheterization procedures performed at WRHN since Jan. 1, 2026.
*Current estimation based on WRHN's annual cath lab statistics.
With continued demographic growth and increased demand for advanced cardiac services, the need for a third cath lab is essential – not just to manage backlog, but to ensure timely access to life-saving care as population pressures continue to intensify.
Al Qahwash, Director, Critical Care and Regional Cardiac Program at WRHN
An urgent need: by the numbers
6,500
Number of procedures WRHN’s two cath labs perform now.
9,000 - 11,000
Number of procedures we could do with a third lab.
1.2 million
Number of people served across WRHN’s cardiac catchment area.
170%
Projected increase of hospital use among seniors over the next 20 years. Older adults are more at risk for cardiovascular disease.
You have the power to help patients when they need it most – when every second counts.
February is heart month. As we celebrate the love and togetherness it brings, WRHN Foundation is asking you to help us fund a third cardiac catheterization lab, to ensure care is there the second you need it.
Need some help? Call 519.749.6797, Mon to Fri, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Patient Story
When time stood still – and life began again: Lane’s story
After surviving sudden cardiac arrest, Lane Burman’s life was saved by CPR, defibrillation, and WRHN cardiac care—leading to answers, gratitude, and years reclaimed.
Inside Look
An hour inside the cath lab: a STEMI story
The call rings out through WRHN’s PA system: "CODE STEMI, ETA: 20 minutes.” Inside the cardiac catheterization lab, staff prepare for the imminent arrival – and the life-saving procedure that’s about to begin.
Tell me more...
What is a cath lab?
A cardiac catheterization lab is a place where the saying ‘every second counts’ rings especially true.
It’s where heart attacks are treated in real time, with minimally invasive techniques, and where diagnostic testing pinpoints potentially deadly blockages and dictates treatment plans.
Put simply: life-saving moments happen in the cath lab — every hour of the day. But that doesn’t happen without your support.
Why do we need a third cath lab?
Right now, WRHN has two cath labs at its Queen’s Blvd. site (formerly St. Mary’s) – not enough to keep up with the growing demand for cardiac care in a catchment area that reaches 10 per cent of Ontario’s population. In 2025, WRHN performed nearly 6,500 cath lab procedures. By 2028, that caseload will increase to 8,500.
A third lab allows WRHN to take its cath lab services further
- Increasing resources and capacity for new procedures, including more minimally invasive valve replacements
- New technology and upgraded equipment means more advanced procedures can be done locally.
- Setting up new programs takes time. If we wait for a new hospital before introducing new programs, we’re 10 years behind.
- Recruiting top cardiac talent to WRHN now allows for a brighter future of cardiac care in Waterloo Region.
This heart month, give the gift of time.
Your donation helps fund patient-centred cardiac care across
the Region of Waterloo and beyond. Giving online is a quick,
easy and secure way to make a big impact.
There are many ways to continue making an impact—give online, call 519.749.6797 direct, and more!
Every gift matters. Every donor counts. And together, we are shaping a healthier tomorrow.
