The 1970s

Timeline

Angus McClaskey succeeded Colonel Clifford Sifton as Board Chairman in 1970.

 1970: The Medical Arts Building on Sheppard Avenue opens. This makes the corner of Leslie and Sheppard a focal point for health care in the community. All 586 beds are opened.

 

 

 

 

 

Aerial view of North York General Hospital circa 1970.
Aerial view of North York General Hospital circa 1970.

 

1970: The first class graduates from York Regional School of Nursing, located across the street from NYGH. In 1973, the custodianship of nursing schools is transferred from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and Seneca College subsequently takes over the school's operations. 

 

 

 

Nursing station in 1972
Nursing station in 1972

 

1972: Renovations to the emergency and occupational therapy departments are finished.

 

 

 

 

 

A Food Services staff member encourages the use of the metric system at NYGH during the 1970s. .
A Food Services staff member encourages the use of the metric system at NYGH during the 1970s. .

 

1973: Expansion of the laboratory, radiology, dietary and stores departments are completed.

1976: The Volunteer Services organization plants five trees on the patio at the rear of the hospital to commemorate its 10th anniversary. 

1977: The main lobby is refurbished and automatic doors are installed.

 

 

 

NYGH's lobby in the 1970s

1978: Ambulatory care begins with an ear, nose and throat clinic and programs in speech and language pathology and auditory-verbal therapy. Classes in diabetic education and a comprehensive maternal-infant program follow. 

1978: The intensive care unit expands to 17 beds from 10. 

The NYGH Maternal/Infant program took a highly preventative approach to the care of expectant mothers and infants.
The NYGH Maternal/Infant program took a highly preventative approach to the care of expectant mothers and infants.

 

Men whose wives were in labour could wait in the Fathers' Room.
Men whose wives were in labour could wait in the Fathers' Room.

 

Dr. Charles Palmer, President of the Medical Staff Association, presents Dr. W. Kenneth Welsh with a colour portrait at the medical teaching library opening.

Dr. Charles Palmer, President of the Medical Staff Association, presents Dr. W. Kenneth Welsh with a colour portrait at the medical teaching library opening. 

Throughout the years, residents of all ages have supported their community hospital:

  • Fundraising continued even after the hospital opened. In the summer of 1971, Jennifer Stobbs, 12, and Connie MacDonald, 10, set up a booth in front of their North York house to sell soft drinks, stamps and chewing gum. In a letter, they sent along $3.35 and four unused pieces of gum. “We decided to help out. The gum hasn't even been unwrapped.”
  • Another young person, 8-year-old Christopher Hewitt, was also a fan of NYGH after visiting the hospital in 1970 for repairs to a four-inch gash he suffered when he ran into a stone wall while playing. He wrote a letter when he got home:
    I want to say thank you for the kindness. I like you very much, you are so nice. All my stitches are out now and it did not hurt when they were taken out. I also want to thank you for the bottle of lemonade. When I got home, I had lots of nice things to eat.