Preserving legacy amid transformation: How Michael Garron Hospital is honouring the past as it prepares for the future

For over 75 years, the distinctive brick buildings of Michael Garron Hospital (MGH)’s  A, B, C and F Wings have stood over the East Toronto community. From welcoming new life to caring for those who approach end of life, these historic buildings have a storied past – including acting as the City of Toronto’s temporary veterans’ hospital in the aftermath of the Second World War.  

Now, as the hospital prepares for the wings’ removal this summer, their remarkable past deserves recognition. 

Building legacy, wing-by-wing 

D and F wings showcase architect Kenneth S. Gillies’ noted “progressive moderne” style, with Art Deco-inspired details that echo his work on another City of Toronto landmark, the Horse Palace at Exhibition Place. On the outside, the wings look to be one piece, but each was constructed at different times, with D Wing first to open in 1929. F, C, A and B Wings followed throughout the 1940s and 1950s.  

Wayne MacLean, Museum and Archives Volunteer and retired Medical Social Worker at MGH, notes that “as the Second World War ended, the City of Toronto needed a veterans’ hospital to care for returning soldiers. The plan was for Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre to serve that purpose, but there was only one problem – it didn’t exist yet.”  

MGH (then Toronto East General Hospital) stepped in to act as the veterans’ hospital until 1948.  

Throughout the years, these wings acted as the home to several important spaces: from the child and youth mental health units, surgical inpatient units and the former maternity ward to essential administrative offices to support patient care. There are countless memories within the walls, and MGH has plans to honour them.

Saving stories of glass and stone 

Patients, staff and visitors alike remember certain historical elements fondly, from the checkered floor tiles to the stained-glass windows that adorned the Coxwell Lobby Entrance for decades. These windows were installed in 1952 in memory of those who lost their lives during the Second World War.  

Though this space is changing, the windows – and the sacrifice they represent – were successfully removed in May 2025. They are being stored until the time comes to install them elsewhere on MGH’s campus to honour this important legacy. 

Other iconic elements include the cornerstones from the wings, which are proudly displayed near the Moez & Marissa Kassam Food Court on M1. 

While A, B, C and F Wings are being completely removed, a section of D Wing will be renovated and remain as part of the hospital's continued operations. This preservation ensures that elements of the hospital's architectural heritage will continue to serve patients, staff and the community. 

“For generations, the A, B, C and F wings have been the heart of our hospital – spaces where compassionate care has been delivered, lives have been changed and lifelong memories made,” says Melanie Kohn, President and CEO at MGH. “These buildings have shaped our hospital’s history and we’re proud to be able to preserve some of their elements on our hospital campus as we look ahead to an exciting future.”

Modern design for better patient care 

It’s nearly time to say goodbye. While the preserved elements of the campus will showcase the hospital’s history, the buildings themselves cannot meet the demands of modern healthcare. This summer, MGH will begin removing these historic wings as part of its ongoing campus transformation.  

This will ensure MGH’s physical space continues to evolve to meet patient and staff needs, including those related to accessibility and infection prevention and control. The outdated spaces have already been replaced with more than 200 new beds in the Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre, a state-of-the-art facility that MGH opened in 2023 that provides private, spacious and bright rooms for patients. 

“These walls – the A, B, C and F wings – have truly been the heart of our hospital for many years. They have witnessed decades of dedication, care, connection and love,” says Mikki Layton, Vice President, Professional Practice, Programs, Scholarship and Chief Nursing Executive at MGH, who joined the hospital as a nurse almost 40 years ago. 

“While we say goodbye to these spaces, we do so with gratitude, knowing they have laid the foundation for an even brighter future.” 

Over the coming months, the site of the former wings will transform into a new main entrance for the hospital with a spacious driveway and beautiful, bright green spaces for the entire community to enjoy.  

Soon, the first brick will fall. The commitment to preserving the historical elements of these wings ensures that, while the buildings may change, the legacy of care and community they represent will endure.