Visionary donors are ushering in a major advancement in surgical care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre by helping to fund and propel the hospital’s next cancer-fighting surgical robot — the da Vinci Xi — into practice. The technology will expand robot-assisted surgeries and treatment options to conditions that were previously out-of-reach at the QEII and increase critical access for patients across the Maritimes, particularly women facing gynaecological and reproductive cancers.
Extraordinary contributions from the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative and a landmark $1-million gift from Tony and Julie Metlege are helping accelerate this next chapter of minimally-invasive surgery at the QEII. Their leadership reflects a shared commitment to improving outcomes and strengthening access to world-class care close to home; momentum that is also shaping the establishment of Canada’s first Centre of Excellence in Robotic Surgery.
A RECORD-BREAKING NIGHT FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
At this year’s third annual Orchid Gala, the community rallied with unprecedented generosity — raising $1,942,544 in support of the da Vinci Xi. Hosted on October 3, the evening was driven by the remarkable women behind the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative, including founders and leaders Sheri Morgan, Liz Rigney, Julie Metlege and Jennifer Auld.
Their mission is deeply personal. The initiative was founded in honour and memory of their best friend, Deanne Reeve, whose experience with cervical cancer ignited a determination by her closest friends and peers to change the trajectory of care for women across the region. The Orchid Women’s Health Initiative has grown into a powerful movement of women and supporters dedicated to improving outcomes for those facing pelvic floor disorders and cancers of the gynaecological organs, bladder and rectum. Their focus is clear: earlier detection and intervention, innovative treatment options and ensuring care teams can help more patients, sooner.
The QEII’s soon-to-be-funded da Vinci Xi will support many of the surgical needs driving their efforts — enabling the QEII to treat a broader range of gynaecologic cancers and manage precancerous and early-stage conditions with greater precision. For some patients, this can translate to smaller incisions, less pain and faster recoveries; outcomes the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative has proudly championed from the outset.
The 2025 Orchid Gala’s record-setting impact also launched a new five-year partnership between the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative and the QEII Foundation, marking a long-term commitment to advancing women’s health in the Maritimes through the QEII.
A GIFT ROOTED IN FAMILY, LEGACY AND IMPACT
The evening also marked the celebration of a transformational gift from Tony and Julie Metlege, whose $1-million contribution honours Tony’s late father, Anthony Metlege Sr., and his mother, Nouha. Their support will be recognized through the Anthony and Nouha Metlege Surgical Robotics Suite, reflecting a family legacy built on generosity, love and community.
The examples set by both Tony’s parents, as well as Julie’s — Sandy and Wayne — were one of the many reasons behind this inspirational donation and the impact it’ll make possible. As Tony and Julie explain in this video behind their ‘why’, their families' longstanding commitment to giving back and supporting others made the da Vinci Xi a beautiful fit for their investment.
Their gift, as well as Julie’s leadership through the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative, reinforces what donors across the region are making possible: better access to innovative surgical options and strengthened care for those facing some of the most complex cancers.
Its potential impact is perhaps best stated by one of Tony and Julie’s three sons, Anthony III: “it’s just amazing that we can help people celebrate more birthdays. We can save many more lives with the da Vinci machine.”
A GROWING PROGRAM SHAPING NATIONAL LEADERSHIP
The da Vinci Xi builds on one of Canada’s most comprehensive robotic surgery programs. With seven surgical robots in total — six made possible through QEII Foundation donors — the QEII will be among the select few Canadian hospitals offering such depth of robotic capability across multiple surgical specialties, from cancer and orthopaedics to neurosurgery and spinal care.
This donor-enabled momentum aligns with the QEII Foundation’s vision to create Canada’s first Centre of Excellence in Robotic Surgery. The centre – through the QEII Foundation’s ongoing $20-million project – will unite robotics, research, simulation, real-time data and surgical expertise into a coordinated, high-impact program designed to elevate care across Atlantic Canada.
The leadership shown by the Orchid Women’s Health Initiative and their supporters, Tony and Julie, and other generous donors demonstrates a shared belief in what’s possible when innovation meets philanthropy. Their commitment is not only expanding access to minimally-invasive cancer surgery today — it's helping shape the future of surgical care at the QEII for generations to come.
Until December 31, 2025, all donations to the QEII Foundation in support of the Centre of Excellence in Robotic Surgery and da Vinci Xi will be matched by the Davison family, up to $100,000. Click here to learn more or donate.
