About Us North York General Hospital has been serving our community since 1968 and has four founding partners: • Friends of North York General Hospital (later to become the
North York General Hospital Foundation) With 40 years of providing health care services to the community, numerous milestones have marked North York General Hospital's growth over the years. In 1960, a group of local citizens established the North Metropolitan
Hospital Association to explore building a hospital to serve the growing
area of North York. Under the leadership of Col. Clifford Sifton, plans
were made and funds raised for a 70-bed community hospital on the corner
of Leslie and Sheppard. By November 1962, land on the Leslie site was
obtained. In 1963, North York General Hospital was formed when the three groups
determined that the community would be best served by an amalgamation
of their ideas and resources. Planning began for a 600-bed active treatment
hospital. Construction of the $8.2 million facility began in March 1965. Funding for the hospital came from government grants, a public fundraising campaign led by Bill Kay, and a portion of the 1 mill tax levy paid by residents of North York. The Women's Auxiliary was established on November 15, 1966. Today, Volunteer Services includes 1,000 adult and student volunteers who give time and significant financial support. On March 15, 1968, Premier John Robarts officially dedicated North York General Hospital. It included the IODE Children's Centre which was developed from the support and interest of the IODE Childen's Hospital. On May 12, 1968, the first patient was admitted, and on May 15 the hospital officially opened with 50 beds. By November, all 580 beds were open. Today, North York General Hospital encompasses four sites. In addition to the General Site, our largest on Leslie Street, the hospital includes the Branson Site, Seniors' Health Centre, and Phillips House. Branson Site — In July 1997, the final report of the Health Services Restructuring Commission directed North York General Hospital to assume management of North York Branson Hospital (near Bathurst and Finch), redistribute its inpatient services, and develop and operate an ambulatory care centre there. North York General Hospital was also directed to become a regional paediatric centre and a partner in the new Child Health Network of the Greater Toronto Area. North York General Hospital and North York Branson Hospital became one organization on May 1, 1998. As a result of restructuring, an increased level of service was required at our General Site on Leslie Street. To meet the needs of our community, a major redevelopment was launched in 1999 to increase the size of the building by 30%. The official opening of the new Southeast Tower was held on October 16, 2003. The Seniors' Health Centre (2 Buchan Court) on the north side of Sheppard Avenue was opened on October 10, 1985. The Centre is the hub of services for seniors at North York General Hospital. It includes a 192-bed long-term care home. In 1965, North York General Hospital purchased the Phillips
House and 13 acres. Located just north of Sheppard at 10 Buchan
Court, it was the former home of Colonel William Eric Phillips (1893-1964)
who had served in the British army during the First World War and had
subsequently become a wealthy business man and philanthropist. Phillips
House was used for various purposes by the hospital during the next
30 years, and until 2007, as a children's communication centre.
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