About Us

Facility: Opening Celebrations

More than 300 people joined the Honourable George Smitherman, the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, and Mrs. Terri McGuinty, wife of the Honourable Premier Dalton McGuinty, on Monday, June 19th to celebrate the official opening of our new facility. Our new state-of-the-art building sets the standard for accessible buildings, and shows a true respect for the clients and families we serve.

From our humble beginnings as the Home for Incurable Children in 1899, to our history as the Ontario Crippled Children’s Centre, the Bloorview Children’s Hospital, the Hugh MacMillan Rehabilitation Centre and the Bloorview MacMillan Children’s Centre, the opening of our new facility marked an historic moment for the people of Toronto, Ontario and Canada.

“As Canada’s largest children’s rehabilitation hospital, we feel that this opening celebration of our new building will be a turning point for pediatric rehabilitation and complex continuing care in Canada,” remarked Shelia Jarvis, President and CEO and emcee for the event.

“Bloorview Kids Rehab is a world-renowned rehab hospital, and we now have a new state-of-the-art facility that matches the phenomenal work we’ve been doing for over 100 years,” said John H. Wedge, OC, Chair of Bloorview’s Board of Trustees.

Honoured guests included Ms. Kathleen Wynne, the MPP for our riding of Don Valley West, Ms. Jane Pitfield, City Councillor Don Valley West, the former Minister of Health, Elizabeth Witmer, the MPP for Kitchener-Waterloo, and Mr. Bill Davis, former Premier of Ontario.

The new state-of-the-art building is a dream come true that took over 10 years to realize. It replaces the two outdated buildings and allows children living with disabling injuries and illnesses to feel more at home.

Showing obvious passion for his work, Minister Smitherman reiterated the value of Bloorview’s new facility to the community:

“Health care is the most essential service, the most special one because it’s not just about the delivery of care. It’s about the extraordinary contribution of love that comes along side that care.”

Other speakers at the event included John H. Wedge, OC, Chair, Board of Trustees, Mr. Chris Portner, Chair, Board of Directors, Bloorview Kids Rehab Foundation, Ms. Rose Patten Chair of the Governing Council at the University of Toronto, and Mrs. McGuinty who thanked the staff at Bloorview for the important work they do every day.

Alison Gittins and Harrison Barberian, two of our youth ambassadors, cut the official ceremonial ribbon to conclude the ceremony. Our guests were offered guided tours of our new building led by various hospital staff.

The $101-million project was made possible through $56.7 million from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and $45 million from our community supporters.

June 19, 2006 official building Opening Ceremony video (Windows Media Video file)

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