In the 21st century, Ottawa is home to some of the best medical centres and hospitals in Canada. Among them is the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), one of the city’s most esteemed institutions. More on iottawa.net.
How Was the Hospital Established?
Until the early 1970s, Canada, including Ottawa, lacked a dedicated children’s hospital. Pediatric departments operated within general hospitals. Ottawa activists frequently advocated for the construction of a standalone children’s hospital. However, the then-Mayor of Ottawa, Charlotte Whitton, opposed the idea.
In 1964, another mayoral election was held in Ottawa. Charlotte Whitton ran for re-election against Don Reid. Activists approached Don Reid, asking him to include the construction of a new children’s hospital in his campaign promises in exchange for their support. After winning the election, Don Reid began the lengthy process of fundraising for the hospital’s construction.
The Opening of Ottawa’s Children’s Hospital
Securing funds for the new hospital during the 1960s proved challenging. After nearly a decade of fundraising, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario finally opened its doors in 1974.
This was Canada’s first standalone children’s hospital, serving children from Eastern Ontario and Western Quebec. More than just a hospital, it became a multidisciplinary, bilingual, teaching, and research institution affiliated with the University of Ottawa. Its approach centred on family-oriented care.
In its early days, the hospital faced significant resource challenges, with funding barely covering the construction of the building. There was insufficient equipment to perform even basic tests. Over time, however, the hospital evolved into a successful institution staffed by experienced doctors and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Pediatric diagnostic tests could be performed not only in the hospital but also at home.
The hospital rapidly expanded to include new departments such as dentistry, a burn centre, neurosurgery, trauma care, neonatology, cardiovascular surgery, and more. Organ transplants became available, reducing wait times for essential procedures and significantly lowering child mortality rates. The hospital also played a pivotal role in helping children born with hearing impairments, enabling early diagnosis and professional intervention that allowed many to hear.
CHEO in the 21st Century
Over the years, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario has grown and developed into a comprehensive institution serving more than 500,000 children from Ottawa and neighbouring provinces. It now offers all the services available at adult hospitals in Ottawa, including cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, and mental health care. The hospital is equipped with the latest medical technologies for diagnostics and treatment.
In the 21st century, CHEO operates more than 70 laboratories and offers numerous health programs for children. One prominent initiative is the Child and Youth Mental Health Program, which involves high-quality specialists screening children across Ontario for mental health conditions.
The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario continues to be a beacon of innovation, compassion, and excellence in pediatric care, ensuring the well-being of thousands of children and their families.