In honour of lifelong dedication to community, City of Toronto names park after president and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
Today, Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone (Ward 19 Trinity-Spadina) officially opened Paul E. Garfinkel Park, named in honour of Dr. Paul E. Garfinkel, president and CEO of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The new City of Toronto park is located adjacent to CAMH and is open to members of the CAMH community and the general public.
“This new park plays an important role in supporting our commitment to the city’s green, public spaces, while furthering Dr. Garfinkel’s vision of transforming an outmoded hospital campus into an urban village,” said Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone. “Paul E. Garfinkel Park offers a mix of shade trees, sunny areas, planting beds and relaxing seating and is a welcoming green oasis along Queen Street West.”
As president and CEO of CAMH, Dr. Garfinkel has been the guiding force in the redevelopment of the mental health facility. He led the integration of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry, the Addiction Research Foundation, the Donwood Institute and the former Queen Street Mental Health Centre into the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
“My time here at CAMH has been the highlight of my professional life. There is so much that we have accomplished over the last decade – and as we stand here today in the midst of this new park, in front of our newest buildings and next to a large construction site representing our future, I feel so proud,” said Dr. Garfinkel. “This park will be an ongoing aid for those who are ill, and an ongoing source of comfort for all who crave relaxation and calm amid a vibrant and hectic city.”
On December 30, 2008, Dr. Garfinkel was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada, honouring “a lifetime of outstanding achievement and merit of a high degree.” In recognition of his dedication to the community and lifelong commitment to improving mental health services in the City of Toronto, Paul E. Garfinkel Park is named in his honour.
Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. 2009 marks the 175th anniversary of Toronto's incorporation as a city. Toronto's government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.
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