(Photo credit: Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan)

PIC Investment Group and the Yuel family have given $2.25 million to the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan. This will fund the creation of a patient play area, named for the donors, in the Children's Hospital of Saskatchewan.

"This will be an area where our youngest Saskatchewan patients can enjoy some sunshine and relax in a special environment created just for them. A place where the inside of a hospital becomes an outdoor experience, away from treatments and allowing them to be kids again," said Brynn Boback-Lane, president and CEO of the Children's Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan.

Located adjacent to Saskatoon's Royal University hospital, the new maternity and children's hospital will boast 152 inpatient rooms and separate emergency departments for adults and children. The hospital's design received final approval from the Ministry of Health in April. Hundreds of children and teenagers across the province were consulted about the design, which was inspired by Saskatchewan's natural beauty.

The hospital's interior will feature cheerful nature motifs and plenty of natural light. Each inpatient room will feature a parent sleep space, and there will be plenty of private family spaces.

The hospital was designed with efficiency in mind, aiming to reduce wait times and the stops patients make. For instance, mothers will be able to recover with their baby in the same room they gave birth in, rather than being wheeled down a hallway.

Construction of the hospital is scheduled to begin in early 2014 and finish in late 2016.

"We are very appreciative of the Yuel Family and PIC Investment Group's support in ensuring this outdoor play space is all that it should be for Saskatchewan children and their families," said Jim Rhode, chair of Saskatoon Regional Health Authority.