Our foundation: Celebrating Holland Bloorview’s
early beginnings
Our foundation: Celebrating Holland Bloorview’s
early beginnings
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Top to bottom: The original site at 138 Avenue Road, Group of Children in 1911
Top to bottom: The original site at 138 Avenue Road, Group of Children in 1911
In the beginning...
In the beginning...
In the beginning, there was a house: 138 Avenue Road. Brick, green lawn, the tall shade of skinny maples, a sweeping verandah. Its inner rooms furnished with donations of iron and brass cots, oak tables, rocking chairs and a variety of toys: a music box, toy blocks, a dollhouse, crokinole, chess and many, many books. It could house up to 15 children, a few whose names we still know: Victoria, Gordon, Ida, Grace, Merrill, Rachel. These were some of the first children to arrive upon (and even before) the home’s official opening on December 16, 1899.
The house didn’t appear by chance, its origins represent a determined effort by 22 women: “The Ladies Committee”. They were a hospital-building powerhouse—18 of their members were also part of the founding of what is now SickKids Hospital!
These women recognized the lack of care available for children with chronic illness and disability. And so, what was originally dubbed ‘The Home for Incurable Children” was founded. In 1959 – thanks to public advocacy towards inclusivity – it was renamed “Bloorview Hospital, Home and School”.
Where there is vitality, there is growth”
– a line written in the hospital’s 1904 annual report.
Right top to bottom: Children racing turtles in 1934, Simone weaves on a large loom in 1937
Where there is vitality, there is growth”
– a line written in the hospital’s 1904 annual report.
Right top to bottom: Children racing turtles in 1934, Simone weaves on a large loom in 1937
While we know that much has changed at Holland Bloorview, we can see that even in the earliest beginnings of our hospital, there was a commitment to growth, learning, development and a world of possibility.
In those early days, nowhere was this value more apparent than in the breadth of activities, skills and programming the children participated in: from woodworking and carving, gardening, basket and loom weaving, metalworking, listening to music on the gramophone, turtle racing, dog visits, picnics on Centre Island, swimming, trips to the “Ex” (Canadian National Exhibition) , sewing, knitting and much more!
Evolving far beyond the confines of the small house on Avenue Road, our current building at 150 Kilgour Rd, is a state-of-the-art, fully accessible inpatient and outpatient hospital, recognized by the International Academy for Design and Health as “an inspirational building…which speaks to a child’s right to participate in our society.”
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital and academic health science centre, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. We are world-renowned for our leadership in client-centered pediatric care, teaching and research and disability advocacy. The hospital is committed to building and fostering an inclusive, diverse, equitable, accessible and anti-racist environment, where all individuals are valued and treated with respect and fairness and have equitable access to care and improved health outcomes.
Evolving far beyond the confines of the small house on Avenue Road, our current building at 150 Kilgour Rd, is a state-of-the-art, fully accessible inpatient and outpatient hospital, recognized by the International Academy for Design and Health as “an inspirational building…which speaks to a child’s right to participate in our society.”
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital and academic health science centre, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. We are world-renowned for our leadership in client-centered pediatric care, teaching and research and disability advocacy. The hospital is committed to building and fostering an inclusive, diverse, equitable, accessible and anti-racist environment, where all individuals are valued and treated with respect and fairness and have equitable access to care and improved health outcomes.
We are committed to an empowering, inclusive and safe environment that will cultivate innovation, continuous learning, education and research.”
Xiomara using the Trexo with her research and rehab team
Today, Holland Bloorview delivers personalized, interprofessional care through cutting-edge treatment and technology to over 8,700 children and youth each year. We offer everything from swimming lessons to robotics, summer camps, drum circles, ceramics, sensory rooms, employment readiness and transition to adulthood programs, and music lessons with traditional instruments like violins, pianos and Virtual Musical Instruments (VMI), to name just a few of our many programs.
We are committed to an empowering, inclusive and safe environment that will cultivate innovation, continuous learning, education and research.”
Xiomara using the Trexo with her research and rehab team
Today, Holland Bloorview delivers personalized, interprofessional care through cutting-edge treatment and technology to over 8,700 children and youth each year. We offer everything from swimming lessons to robotics, summer camps, drum circles, ceramics, sensory rooms, employment readiness and transition to adulthood programs, and music lessons with traditional instruments like violins, pianos and Virtual Musical Instruments (VMI), to name just a few of our many programs.
Get involved and shape the next 125 years
In 1938, poetry became popular among the children of the hospital. Here are a few of the poems written by the budding poets living in the hospital at the time:
Clients Agnes and Jackie read together in 1905
Get involved and shape the next 125 years
In 1938, poetry became popular among the children of the hospital. Here are a few of the poems written by the budding poets living in the hospital at the time:
Clients Agnes and Jackie read together in 1905
There once lived a fish in the sea,
I knew he was good for me,
So I said, “Little fish,
Come here on my dish,
I should like to have you for tea.”
– Pearl
There was a wise girl named Bo-Peep
Who got every night a good sleep
With windows wide open
Her sleep was unbroken
That wise little girl who kept sheep
– Howard
Pitter-pat; pitter-pat
Down comes the rain
The birds all wear their brand new hats
Spring is here again
– Jackie
The cows–the hens, the chickens too
Are glad that spring is here — are you?
The birds, the bees, the squirrel, the deer,
Are also glad that Spring is here
– Carter
Poets Pearl, Jackie, Howard and Carter all created and shared memories of their time in the hospital. Do these poems inspire you to create one of your own? Would you like to share a memory or recognize a team member who made an impact at Holland Bloorview? You can share your memories, staff spotlights, photographs or poems through our online portal at HB125.hollandbloorview.ca/submit-my-story/