West Park Health Care

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West Park Health Care Centre originated as the Toronto Free Hospital for Consumptives which was constructed in 1904 with the help of Brampton born businessman William Gage. Gage was the President of WJ Gage Publishing creator of the "Dick and Jane' readers and other school textbooks. The hospital was erected to serve the needs of people suffering from tuberculosis at a time when it was thought that fresh air offered an effective treatment to the disease. Located on 40 acres of the former Buttonwood Farm at the Humber River, the Sanatorium was situated on the outskirts of the city far away from congested populated areas. Additional facilities were added including the King Edward Sanatorium for Consumptives in 1907 and the Queen Mary Hospital for Children in 1913.

By 1930 the name had been changed to the Toronto Hospital Weston and was home to 650 patients as well as research labs conducting research into tuberculosis. Despite these efforts, it was reported that during the first 25 years of the hospital's operation 45% of the hospital's patients died. In 1954, streptomycin, an effective vaccine against tuberculosis was developed and the need for tuberculosis treatment was all but eliminated.

As the demand for tuberculosis beds declined services were shifted toward chronic care and rehabilitation while still retaining a focus on research on respiratory medicine. In 1976 the name of the hospital was changed to West Park Hospital.

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