It’s Time For Surgical Evolution Reaches $21M Goal

August 26, 2026, Victoria, BC—The Victoria Hospitals Foundation (VHF) has announced the successful completion of Phase II: It’s Time for Surgical Evolution, a $21-million campaign that is transforming surgical and cancer care at Royal Jubilee (RJH) and Victoria General (VGH) hospitals and positioning Vancouver Island among Canada’s leaders in surgical innovation.

Launched October 2025 and powered by the generosity of more than 4,700 donors, the campaign phase reached its goal this summer, accelerating the adoption of advanced, minimally invasive surgical technologies that are changing how care is delivered across our Island’s referral hospitals.

This remarkable milestone builds on the success of Phase I: It’s Time for Surgical Innovation. Together, the first two phases of the It’s Time campaign have raised more than $38 million for surgical innovation in less than two years, demonstrating the exceptional role philanthropy can play in advancing healthcare.

“This campaign has fundamentally changed the trajectory of surgical care on Vancouver Island,” says Avery Brohman, CEO of Victoria Hospitals Foundation. “What began as an ambitious vision has become a defining moment in the history of healthcare on Vancouver Island. Together, generous donors, visionary surgeons, dedicated nurses, servant volunteers, and hospital leaders have helped establish one of Canada’s most advanced surgical innovation programs, bringing new technologies, new procedures, and new possibilities to patients close to home, in both women’s and men’s health. Today, we celebrate the impact of collective leadership that will be felt by our Island patients and families for generations to come.”

As a result of Phases I and II, RJH and VGH are now home to the first three robotic surgical systems on Vancouver Island: two da Vinci surgical robots and a Mazor X neurosurgical robot. Since the first da Vinci system was operationalized at RJH in February 2025, followed by the two additional robotic platforms at VGH in March 2026, our local surgical teams have performed more than 800 robotic procedures across seven specialties.

Today, Victoria is Western Canada’s first Robotic Centre of Excellence and home to one of Canada’s most comprehensive multi-specialty robotic surgery programs, made possible through the vision, collaboration, and leadership of our surgical teams. Increasingly, procedures once available only at larger centres are being performed right here on Vancouver Island, allowing many patients to recover faster, return home sooner, and in some cases be discharged the very same day instead of spending three to five days in hospital. We applaud our surgeons who continue to achieve significant milestones, including B.C.’s first robotic-assisted emergency surgery, B.C.’s first robotic colectomy, and Western Canada’s first collaborative robotic procedure involving the removal of multiple organs.

Alongside these robotic platforms, donors to the Foundation also funded more than 100 physician-prioritized surgical and oncology technologies through Phases I and II, expanding what is possible for patients across RJH and VGH. Many of these innovations are already in use throughout our hospitals’ 30 operating rooms, enabling new procedures that were previously unavailable on Vancouver Island, improving surgical precision, and helping patients access leading-edge care without leaving the region.

“There is a sense of energy among our surgical teams that is difficult to describe unless you have witnessed it firsthand,” says Dr. Jeff McCracken, Chief Urologist and Head of Robotics for RJH and VGH. “We are deeply grateful to the thousands of donors who have believed in our vision and helped bring it to life. Their support has empowered our teams to learn new techniques, adopt transformative technologies, and continually push the boundaries of what is possible for patients. Today, our patients have access to world-class surgical care that would have been unimaginable here only a few years ago, and that is something our entire community should be proud of.”

Beyond robotics and technology, the campaign is strengthening the entire surgical ecosystem. Investments are helping attract and retain exceptional talent, with five new surgeons already joining RJH and VGH as a direct result of innovation within the surgical landscape. The campaign has also expanded teaching and training opportunities, improved operating room efficiency, reduced surgery cancellations, and fostered a culture of innovation that is positioning our hospitals among Canada’s leaders in surgical excellence.

“For many years, there was an assumption that the most advanced healthcare innovations would emerge only from Canada’s largest centres. Today, healthcare leaders are paying attention to what is happening on Vancouver Island and looking to our community as an example of what can happen when philanthropy is deeply integrated into the advancement of care,” Avery Brohman, CEO of Victoria Hospitals Foundation adds. “My team and Board of Directors join me in thanking every donor who has shared in our vision. The future of healthcare on Vancouver Island is stronger because of you.”

The Foundation says the completion of It’s Time for Surgical Evolution marks another significant chapter in a broader vision for healthcare excellence on Vancouver Island. While celebrating this milestone, VHF is already preparing to share the third and final chapter of the It’s Time campaign that promises to be just as transformational as Phases I and II.