As of March 21, 2025, MGH’s main entrance on Coxwell Avenue is closed as the next phase of our redevelopment project begins. Patients and visitors can use the new temporary main entrance on Sammon Avenue between Coxwell Avenue and Knight Street. View our campus map.
Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) recently honoured staff members celebrating career milestones at our annual Long Service Awards Reception. Over 400 staff and their managers were invited to celebrate anniversaries ranging from five years to 55 years.
The reception was an opportunity to recognize and thank them for their dedication and delivery of exceptional and seamless care to our communities.
“It is a wonderful privilege for me to celebrate and recognize the incredible accomplishments of each staff member. MGH is a special place and it’s special because of each and every one of you,” says Melanie Kohn, President and CEO of MGH. “You make such an important difference in people’s lives every day. Thank you for your continued commitment to this hospital.”
Staff celebrating their career milestones work in all areas of the hospital from frontline care to providing necessary support behind the scenes. This includes nurses, ward aides, therapists, personal support workers, sonographers, lab techs, technical analysts and many others.
Thank you for your years of service!
Keep reading to meet some of these talented individuals.
Angela Kennedy
Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator
Celebrating 55 years
“I have worked at MGH for my entire career and I feel fulfilled both professionally and personally.
When I think back over the last 55 years, the friendships of my fellow nurses and colleagues stand out the most. I am fortunate to have developed lifelong friendships here. I have also raised seven sons while working and I appreciated the flexibility of my job as I went through that phase of life.
A professional accomplishment I am very proud of is helping start the Diabetes Education Community Network for East Toronto (DECNET). The model we developed is now used across the province to help adults manage type 2 diabetes.”
Jacqueline O’Neill
Personal Support Worker (PSW), Complex Continuing Care
Celebrating 5 years
“I joined MGH five years ago, after realizing that working in healthcare is my true passion. When I started my career in the 1980s, I was living in Ireland and worked as a PSW for eight years.
When I moved to Canada in 1988, I pursued different career fields, such as becoming a nanny, and working in office jobs and call centres. But I never felt the same satisfaction.
Shortly before the pandemic, I went to George Brown College to take a PSW course, and I was quickly hired by MGH at a George Brown College career fair at the end of my course. Five of my classmates and I were all hired on the same day, and I still work with some of them!
What has kept me here is my amazing team and seeing the care that MGH provides for both its patients and staff. Working here makes me happy.”
Roger Wong
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Celebrating 20 years
“MGH has been a great place to grow and further my career. I’ve had the opportunity to work with patients, families, doctors, nurses and other disciplines, like physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. There is a lot of collaboration here!
I also met my wife at MGH, so that is another thing that stands out about my time at the hospital.”
Reanne Mayuga
Senior Laboratory Technologist
Celebrating 5 years
“I previously worked at a private laboratory. I came to MGH because I wanted to expand my knowledge and capacity to support patient care. Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to learn a lot and collaborate with many people.
My managers and team are always asking me ‘Do you need help? What else can I do to support you?’ That’s what I love about this place – I always have people supporting me and I feel I can trust everyone I work with.”
Niall Smyth
Technical Analyst, Information Management and Technology
Celebrating 25 years
“I was hired at MGH just before Y2K, when the hospital had a hiring boom for the IT Department. Since then, I’ve worked in the department supporting the hospital’s technology systems. In IT, 25 years is a long time, so I’ve seen a lot of changes.
When I started at MGH, the IT team was a small, ragtag group of only seven or eight people. Over my time here, I’ve seen our team grow along with the IT needs of the organization. This includes the introduction of digital patient records and the growing need to protect these records.
My colleagues and managers in the IT Department are fantastic people, many of whom I consider friends, and they’ve encouraged me in my career and are still teaching me new things.
I love my job because of the people and because the journey of learning is still happening. As the saying goes, if you get a job you love, you stay with it. It’s not difficult to do a job you love.”
Lucy Zheng
Registered Nurse, Stavro Emergency Department
Celebrating 20 years
“I was an internationally trained nurse and was referred to MGH by a friend. I currently work in the Emergency Department and I love the team here.
My colleagues inspire me a lot. We support each other and this helps us manage our work more effectively. The older nurses give me a lot of guidance and advice and it’s great to see the younger nurses with so much compassion and dedication.
I live in Oakville and commute to MGH every day. You know I am very committed to my job when the commute doesn’t phase me!”
Kevin Desmond
Senior Plumber, Engineering Services
Celebrating 15 years
“MGH is my community hospital. I live nearby and have been coming here for years and when the opportunity came to work here, it just made sense.
This is a nice community hospital and I really enjoy my team, my department and my coworkers. My maintenance team are like brothers to me.
Our community at MGH stands out most for me. It feels like we are doing something special and helping people and that means a lot.”
Working at Michael Garron Hospital isn’t one thing. It’s everything. Learn more about the benefits of joining our team and explore our open job opportunities.
