Cornwall residents now have a clearer picture of how their local hospital performed over the past year and where it is headed, as Cornwall Community Hospital released its 2025-2026 Annual Report in June. The document, shared at the hospital’s Annual General Meeting on June 18, 2026, shows an operating surplus of $1,379,024 for the year ending March 31, nearly double the previous year’s surplus of $851,811.
The report highlights a major upgrade to the hospital’s MRI machine, which was completed a full year ahead of its original 2027 timeline. The improved system now delivers faster processing and sharper images, a change the hospital expects will shorten wait times for residents across Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, and Akwesasne. Diagnostic Services Chief Dr. Maryam Vakili noted the accelerated timeline aligned with the hospital’s focus on improving access to care.
Another key investment was a new CT scanner installed in December 2025 to replace a machine that had reached the end of its life. The project was made possible by a $1 million estate gift from local sisters Rhoda and Minnie Bartle. The new scanner supports nearly 20,000 scans each year. Overall, the Cornwall Community Hospital Foundation put $2.3 million into equipment and programming during the fiscal year, including mobile X-ray units and cardiac monitors.
This year also marked a decade since the hospital began offering chemotherapy services locally. What started with fewer than 600 treatments in 2016 has grown to more than 2,000 treatments annually, with eight chairs now serving 10 to 15 patients a day. The milestone, reached in February 2026, means fewer residents need to travel to Ottawa for cancer care.
The report also confirms that CCH has been formally designated as a Level III Trauma Centre by Critical Care Services Ontario and the Regional Trauma Networks. The new designation enhances the hospital’s ability to treat patients with serious injuries closer to home. Chief of Staff Dr. Anastasios Boubalos said the past year felt like a return to normal after the disruptions of the pandemic and a 2023 cybersecurity incident. Board director Dale McSween noted the hospital’s continued ability to break even or report surpluses stands out at a time when many Ontario hospitals are facing deficits. President and CEO Jeanette Despatie credited staff and foundation support for the hospital’s steady financial footing.
