1874

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Opened

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital opened as a chronic and long-term care facility. It began offering physiotherapy and occupational therapy in the 1930s and created a dedicated rehabilitation program in the 1970s.

1886

Hillcrest Hospital Began Operations

Hillcrest Hospital began providing long-term care and gradually added services such as occupational therapy. In the 1970s, it developed new rehabilitation programs for stroke survivors, amputees and cardiac patients.

1922

Toronto Rehabilitation Centre Founded

The Toronto Rehabilitation Centre was founded to meet the rehabilitation needs of Canadians wounded in the First World War. It was the first free-standing rehab facility in North America and later became home to the first outpatient cardiac program in Ontario.

1945

Lyndhurst Hospital Opened

Lyndhurst Hospital was created to provide rehabilitation services for Second World War veterans who had suffered spinal cord injuries. It was the first rehab hospital of its kind in North America and soon became internationally renowned.

1997

Rehabilitation Institute of Toronto Established

The Rehabilitation Institute of Toronto was created by the merger of The Queen Elizabeth and Hillcrest Hospitals.

1998

Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Created

Toronto Rehab was created by the amalgamation of the Rehabilitation Institute of Toronto, the Toronto Rehabilitation Centre and Lyndhurst Hospital.

1999

Foundations Merged

The Rehabilitation Institute of Toronto Foundation and the Lyndhurst Hospital Foundation merged to create the Toronto Rehab Foundation.

2000

Unprecedented Research Investment Received

Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Elizabeth Witmer announced an unprecedented $15M grant over five years to fund rehabilitation research at Toronto Rehab. The Toronto Rehab Foundation augmented this with a further commitment of $1M annually.

2000

First Research Chairs Created

Toronto Rehab's first five research chairs were created and two were fully funded: the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute Chair at the University of Toronto and the Saunderson Family Chair in Acquired Brain Injury Research at Toronto Rehab.

2001

Multiple Trauma and Oncology Rehabilitation Services Launched

The Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Program launched a Multiple Trauma Rehabilitation Service for people who experience multiple injuries, often as a result of traumatic circumstances. It also launched the city's only Oncology Rehabilitation Service, which specializes in rehabilitation services for people who have cancer of the musculoskeletal system.

2001

New Specialty Spinal Cord Clinics Added

The Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Program completed the addition of new specialty outpatient clinics, including a skin and wound clinic, a bone densitometry lab and a gynecology clinic, to complement the existing seating, urology and assistive technology clinics.  

2002

Hemodialysis Service Launched

Toronto Rehab built a new dialysis suite at University Centre and began providing dialysis treatments for Geriatric Rehabilitation and Complex Continuing Care patients in collaboration with the University Health Network.

2003

Link Between Sleep Apnea and Heart Function Discovered

Toronto Rehab researchers were the first to show that treating sleep apnea in people with congestive heart failure improves their heart function.

2004

Cardiac Diabetes Service Launched

The Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention Program launched the specialized Diabetes, Exercise and Healthy Lifestyle Service to help adults living with diabetes to improve their quality of life.

2004

Lakeside Long-Term Care Centre Grand Opening

Ontario Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman officially opened Toronto Rehab's newest facility, Lakeside Long-Term Care Centre. This brought the number of Toronto Rehab's clinical programs to seven.

2004

IPE Student Placement Program Introduced

Toronto Rehab is the first Toronto-area hospital to develop an interprofessional education (IPE) student placement program.

2005

Scholarship for Research Students with Disabilities Launched

Toronto Rehab launched an innovative Scholarship in Rehabilitation-related Research for Students with Disabilities to involve people with disabilities in rehabilitation research by supporting and mentoring them to become scientists. TD Bank Financial Group generously provided funding.

2005

New FES Technique Pioneered

Toronto Rehab researchers pioneered a new application for Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to teach damaged muscles to move again in people paralyzed by stroke and spinal cord injury, restoring unprecedented levels of balance, walking and grasping.

2006

FHRAT Program Introduced

The Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Program developed a successful and cost-effective model of care for hip fracture patients who have cognitive impairments, called Fractured Hip Rapid Assessment and Treatment (FHRAT). Toronto Rehab trained hundreds of health care practitioners to roll out the new model in 34 hospitals across the GTA.

2006

New Palliative Care Unit Opened

The Complex Continuing Care Program opened a palliative care unit to provide treatment to relieve symptoms of far-advanced life-threatening illnesses and help people live as comfortably as possible when a cure is not available.

2007

Major Renovations Completed at Lyndhurst Centre

Toronto Rehab completed major renovations at Lyndhurst Centre, as part of an ambitious multi-million dollar redevelopment plan.

2007

First FICCDAT Conference Hosted

Toronto Rehab co-hosted with March of Dimes Canada the Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology.  This conference was the first of its kind and attracted more than 1,100 people from more than 60 countries.

2007

Everything Humanly Possible: The Campaign for Toronto Rehab Launched

The Toronto Rehab Foundation launched the public phase of a $60 M capital campaign, Everything Humanly Possible: The Campaign for Toronto Rehab.

2007

iDAPT Announced

Toronto Rehab announced its $36 M research initiative - iDAPT (Intelligent Design for Adaptive Participation and Technology), which will bring together hundreds of scientists, research students, clinicians, social scientists, engineers and industrial designers from across Canada and beyond and state-of-the-art technology in a collaborative venture.

2007

Living With/Living Well Series Initiated

Toronto Rehab launched a free public education series to help people learn to live with and prevent disease, injury or age-related conditions and to empower them to make positive choices to improve their health and quality of life.

2007

First $5M Personal Donation Received

The Toronto Rehab Foundation received the largest personal donation to date. In recognition of the $5M gift, the Queen Elizabeth Centre was renamed the E.W. Bickle Centre for Complex Continuing Care.

2008

New Hand Hygiene Technology Created

Toronto Rehab researchers developed new hand hygiene technology to help professional caregivers reduce hospital-acquired infection rates and provide safer care for patients.

2008

Renovation at Bickle Centre Started

An $8 M renovation of the E.W. Bickle Centre for Complex Continuing Care was started as part of an ambitious, multi-million dollar redevelopment plan. It will enhance patient safety and significantly improve patients' living environment.

2008

Construction Began at University Centre

Construction began at University Centre, the keystone of an ambitious, multi-million dollar redevelopment plan. When complete, Toronto Rehab’s University Centre will be a more modern hospital with facilities better designed to care for adults undergoing rehabilitation for serious injury and illness including stroke, brain injury and multiple traumas and cancer. The redevelopment will also include the creation of iDAPT, one of the world's most advanced rehabilitation research facilities.