Windsor, ON:  Following the second of two generous $100,000 donations by Windsor’s John Viecelli to the Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH) Foundation, the hospital is proud to unveil a new space dedicated in John’s name.

In recognition of John’s gift to our Rehabilitation programs, the cardiac offices located within the Dr. Fouad Tayfour Rehabilitation Centre at Hôtel-Dieu Grace Healthcare on Prince Road will be named John Viecelli Cardiac Wellness Administration.

“I’ve always wanted to see others happy and I want to inspire individuals to share their blessings to spread the good and help build community,” states John on what motivates him to give. “I am just one individual, born in Northern Italy, who moved to Canada and worked hard. If we all gave what we could, imagine the difference we could make, the community that we could build.”

In July 2021, Viecelli donated his first $100,000 to the HDGH Foundation, thus unveiling the John Viecelli Rehabilitation Room on the first floor of the Dr. Y. Emara Building for Healthy Aging and Mobility.

Upon immigrating to Canada in 1950 at the age of 17, Viecelli worked on the railroad and trained with a local masonry company before branching out and starting his own masonry and home building empire – John Viecelli Construction, at just 19 years of age, two short years later.

Viecelli worked hard, building many homes from Windsor to Sarnia, all the way to Florida. Always valuing education, Viecelli completed his Tool & Die certificate at the age of 50 and started another company, buying and selling mortgages.

“John’s goal of spreading good and helping where you can is inspirational,” said Barb Sebben, Executive Director of the HDGH Foundation. ”With this gift, John will support our rehabilitation patients during their wellness journey. In our conversations, John emphasizes his desire that these two gifts will encourage others who can, to give. This speaks to John’s personal commitment to making a difference and his desire to see his gift grow through other donations inspired by his story.”

 “Immigrants from around the world have played a key role in building our city,” states Bill Marra, President and CEO of HDGH. “So much of what we have, what we enjoy, what we take pride in, we do so because of individuals such as John, who worked hard and gave back what they could.”

In addition to the two gifts totalling $200,000 to HDGH, Mr. Viecelli and his wife Lia have made another major six-figure donation in support of health care services in Windsor-Essex. In addition to donating funds to local hospitals, John has also provided multiple scholarships to young adults who, like him, believe an investment in knowledge pays the best interest.