Learn a little of Toronto's history as told through its plaques.

Site of the Christie Street Veterans' Hospital

Photos by Alan L Brown - September 2006

Here, on a post in front of a rock at the south-west corner of Christie Street and Lambertlodge Avenue, is a 1996 Toronto Historical Board plaque. Here's what it says:

On this site stood the Christie Street Veterans' Hospital, originally the National Cash Register Company Factory. In 1919 the factory was converted to the Toronto Military Orthopaedic Hospital. Although most of the soldiers had been wounded in World War I (1914-1918), a few residents had been disabled in the Boer War (1899-1902) and the Fenian Raids of 1866. In 1936 the name was changed to the Christie Street Veterans' Hospital. The influx of wounded veterans during World War II (1939-1945) caused overcrowding in the already inadequate facility. This led to the construction, in 1948, of Sunnybrook Hospital. The Christie Street building was then occupied by a seniors' home, Lambert Lodge, named in honour of Padre Lt.Col. Sidney Lambert S.M. O.B.E., a veteran of both World Wars. Demolished in 1981, it made way for the construction of this Christie Gardens Apartments and Care Facility.

Plaque Location Co-ordinates: 43.673742 -79.422467

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Here are the comments for this page.

Posted June 25, 2010
My grandfather Joseph Connors a veteran of WW11 died at that hospital on February 27, 1948.

Posted June 23, 2010
My father, Michael Ewanyshyn, spent some time at Christie Street Hospital also.He was one of the first exchange prisoners at the time. He was wounded and captured by the Germans during the raid on Dieppe,in August 1942.He spent about a year at the p.o.w. camp Stalag 8B. He had his right leg amputated at the knee sometime in the early spring of 1944. I have a black and white photo of him taken around this time . He is sitting up in his hospital bed. Also his voting registration card .

Posted June 15, 2010
Hello; This is a very interesting piece. Is there any way of tracking down patients who were at the hospital, particularly 1943 - 1945? My father spent is 21st birthday there. Also, a neighbour at our family cottage was there, and I believe my fiancee's stepfather was there as well. I would really like to find out if they were all there at the same time. Another interesting point is the fact that my aunt, my father's sister currently lives at Christie Gardens, and it was at the hospital that my aunt introduced my mother to my father!

Posted May 14, 2010
This is a fascinating bit of history about the neighbourhood. Thank you

Posted July 4, 2009
My father was one of the WWII wounded veterans that was sent to Christie Street Hospital and in fact was voted the Christie street Hospital Pin-up boy........unfortunately we lost the picture but I do remember seeing it.....does anyone know how I would track down the newspaper article showing him as their pin-up boy? his daughter Peggy

Posted May 4, 2009
This is an informative bit of history. My great-grandfather, Joseph Hoare died in that hospital 26 Dec 1938. He lied about his age and went to War in 1916 along with his sons. Their luck held and they all returned home safe.

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