Happy Birthday CHEO: Celebrating 50 Years of serving the community and beyond

The golden anniversary was marked inside CHEO’s Rainbow Cafeteria with a party filled with history and the people who built the hospital from the ground up, including some of the hospital’s first patients, nurses and doctors. 

The cafeteria also featured innovations that highlight CHEO’s present and future, including its new 3D printer and the Trexo robot that helps children with accessibility issues.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa, and Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe were among those in attendance, in addition to Derek Anderson, CHEO’s first overnight patient in July 1974, and Rosalind Reid, daughter of former Ottawa mayor and CHEO’s first-ever board chair Don Reid. 

“It gives you chills when you walk through here. I’m just so proud of the work that you all do here. [The Ontario government] will always be there for CHEO,” said Ford.

The idea of CHEO originated in the 1960s when a group of mothers and grandmothers mobilized to request a pediatric centre in the region, which became part of Don Reid’s mayoral platform. 

Reid was elected mayor in 1964 and fundraising began as he lobbied for support from the Ontario government. It took two years, but the province awarded Ottawa a children’s hospital. 

"This hospital wasn’t supposed to happen. But the resiliency and advocacy of our community back then is only match by today’s efforts by everyone who works at CHEO, whether inside or outside our buildings," said Alex Munter, CHEO’s president and CEO. "As we look to the growing needs of our children and youth, we will continue to be resilience and be strong advocates for children. After all, this is in CHEO’s DNA.” 

For the past half-century, CHEO has offered cutting-edge medical services tailored to the unique needs of children, from routine check-ups to life-saving surgeries. The hospital has been a trusted partner in nurturing the health and well-being of countless families throughout the region. 

"Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is like a rediscovery every day,” said Maureen Jones, head of the Child Life Services department. She spent 47 years at CHEO and officially retired on May 17. 

Throughout its history, CHEO has been a pediatric health-care leader, pioneering breakthrough treatments and advancements in medical research, and it continues to grow and transform while building a new integrated treatment centre, 1Door4Care, just outside the front doors of the Smyth Road campus. 

“As CHEO looks ahead to the next 50 years and beyond, we are committed to providing exceptional care and support to children and families,” said Jo-Anne Poirier, chair of CHEO’s Board of Directors. “With the community's continued support, CHEO will make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of countless children for years to come.” 

Some notable moments in CHEO's history include: 

Today, CHEO sees more than 500,000 children per year and partners with thousands of organizations and health-care professionals.