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70 years of Sunnybrook: at a glance

Sunnybrook evolved from its origin as Canada's largest veterans hospital into an internationally recognized health sciences centre, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto as a teaching hospital. Get to know our history by browsing some photos from our archive, below.

Joseph Kilgour

Sunnybrook Farm

Sunnybrook Park, aerial view. 1940.

Toronto Women’s Committee

Sunnybrook under construction. October 1944

Sunnybrook under construction. 1945.

Sunnybrook under construction. 1945

Sunnybrook under construction. 1946.

First patients

Entrance to Sunnybrook. September 26, 1946.

Entrance to Sunnybrook. 1948.

'The public is invited to attend the Official Opening Ceremonies at Sunnybrook Hospital June 12th 1948 3.30 to 4.00pm. Prime Minsiter W.L. Mackenzie King will officiate.

Postcard

Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King delivers a speech

Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King visiting a patient

Bob Hope visiting Sunnybrook

Prosthetics at Sunnybrook. 1949

Tending the patients garden. 1949.

The Red Cross Lodge

The exteriors of the Red Cross Lodge.

Red Cross Volunteers lawn bowling with veterans. 1950.

Veterans performing rehabilitation exercises. 1950-60.

Singing nurses at Sunnybrook chapel.

Sunnybrook Library. 1950-60.

Operation being televised

Aerial view of Sunnybrook.

Clinic room. 1950.

Veteran with the Stanley Cup

Queen Elizabeth II

Switchboard at Sunnybrook. 1950-60.

Transferring of Sunnybrook to UofT

Grand Rounds. Approximately 1970.

Kids watching air ambulance. 1970-80.

Elizabeth Royal (Queen Mother), greeted by Norman Bell

The Orthopaedic and Arthritic Hospital (now the Holland Centre)

St. John’s Convalescent Hospital opens its doors.

M-Wing under construction

Sunnybrook was built on the legacy of those who chose to make a profound difference for future generations. It began with a gift of land from the estate of Joseph Kilgour by his widow Alice. Sunnybrook now stands on their original Sunnybrook Farm residence. 400 acres of land were donated to build a war veterans’ hospital.

Did you know?
Jerry Seinfeld, Jann Arden, Justin Bieber, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Bryan Adams and Sting are a few of the artists who have performed at events supporting Sunnybrook.

By the numbers:

550,000+:
number of donors
Over 2.8 million:
number of donations received
Over $1 billion:
total amount raised

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