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Celebrating A Southlake Tradition

Heritage Doors Reopen to the Future

Addressing guests who attended the December 20, 2005 event to officially reopen the Heritage Doors in their new location, Dan Carriere, President & CEO said, “Before Southlake began its redevelopment and expansion project, we made a commitment to preserve the doors and surrounding brickwork of the Hospital’s original 1927 building. We did this because we believe that where we have come from and what we have learned from past experience guides us in all that we do. At Southlake, tradition is used as a platform to allow us to move forward and expand while maintaining that personal touch. It allows us to grow, and to look for new ways to improve our patients’ experiences. Today marks the realization of that promise”.

Presenting Southlake with a heritage plaque to serve as a reminder of the Hospital’s important beginnings, Ron Marriott, Chair, Heritage Newmarket said, “As a heritage group, it is always a challenge to us to see older buildings disappear. Those that have significant history and architecture we do attempt to preserve. There are times when preservation of a building does not make sense. When that happens we try to accurately record its history and the part it played in the community and move into the future. That is exactly what has occurred here, however, the doors give us a link to the past and provide us with memories of what once was. What is important is that the building on Main Street and the building that once stood on this ground contributed to the health and well-being of the citizens of the area and that will never be forgotten. Now we move into the future with facilities that will provide outstanding health care—a continuation of the legacy that began many years ago”.

The 1927 building’s original cornerstone and commemorative plaque have also been relocated to the east lobby. During the removal of the 1927 cornerstone, a time capsule was unearthed and its contents were on display at the December 20 event. Items found included April 1927 editions of the Newmarket Era and the Express Herald, and hand-written lists of York County Hospital’s 1927 Board of Directors and the names of federal, provincial and local government officials of the time.

The former site of the Hospital’s 1927, 1945 and 1956 buildings is currently under construction for a new six-storey parking garage, which will include a bridge that spans Davis Drive and connects to a new six storey Medical Art Building on the north-west corner of Davis Drive and Lundy’s Lane. The garage will also link directly with the main Hospital and Southlake’s new four-storey Regional Cancer Centre. Scheduled to open in 2008, the Centre will provide much needed cancer services, including radiation treatment, to the over one million residents of York Region and south Simcoe County.

At the special celebration event held on December 20, 2005, Dan Carriere, President & CEO was assisted by Tom Taylor, Mayor of Newmarket (left), Joe Dales, son of York County Hospital founder, Dr. Lowell Dales, and Ron Marriott, Chair of Heritage Newmarket (right) in the official reopening of the Heritage Doors in their new location.

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