Demolition by neglect of Vaughan Glen Hospital Heritage building

• webmaster
• February 20, 2014
• Publications

The History of Vaughan Glen Hospital:
In 1899 a group of 22 women met for tea and formed themselves into a committee to begin working on a Home for Incurable Children (18 of the committee member later went on to found Sick Kids Hospital). What started out as a Home for Incurable Children 115 years ago is now the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Canada’s largest children rehabilitation hospital. In 1987 the government funded the purchase of the Villa Private Hospital by Bloorview Kids Rehab to be used as a 100 bed long term care facility for children that were too old to reside at Bloorview Kids Rehab and needed additional care prior to integrating into the community. Vila Private Hospital was renamed the Vaughan Glen Hospital. Many of the residents of this facility eventually transitioned to living in group homes. This facility has a history of providing unique heath care services in this region until its purchase by the current owner in 1994. This facility is the heritage structure at 9000 Bathurst Street.
Vaughan Glen Hospital was listed on the City of Vaughan Heritage Inventory 9 years ago. In 2005 it was added by Vaughan City Council to the “Listing of Building of Architectural and Historical Value” commonly known as the “Register of Property of Cultural Value”. In 2012, at the recommendation of the Heritage Vaughan Committee, the Vaughan City council passed a motion to preserve the structure.

It was denoted also in the report brought up before the council prior to the public hearing on Feb 4th, 2014, here is excerpt from the report:

The subject property contains a structure that is listed on the
City of Vaughan’s Register of Cultural Heritage Value as per
Part IV, Subsection 27 of the Ontario Heritage Act, at the
location shown on Attachment #3. This structure was
constructed circa 1920 and is the former Vaughan Glen
Hospital. Through a prior development application in 2012 the
entire structure was assessed and it was confirmed that the
front portion, the former Vaughan Glen Hospital, contains strong cultural heritage importance. The school additions to the rear and side of the building were approved for demolition at the May 16, 2012 Heritage Vaughan meeting on the condition that the Vaughan Glen Hospital portions be conserved and
incorporated into future development. Heritage Vaughan at its
meeting of May 16, 2012, adopted the following
recommendation, which was adopted by Vaughan Council on
June 26, 2012: MATTERS TO BE REVIEWED COMMENT(S)

1. That Heritage Vaughan approve the proposed demolition of
the later rear and side school additions.
2. That the applicant secure the subject building before, during
and after demolition to protect it from vandalism and
environmental damage.
3. That the full revitalization of the subject structure be included as a part of any future Planning or Building Permit application on the subject property.

The current proposal, dated November 21, 2013, includes the
demolition of the Vaughan Glen Hospital and will require review and approval by the Vaughan Culture Services Division and Heritage Vaughan.

The former Vaughan Glen Hospital must be properly protected from weather elements and secured to protect it from vandalism as required by the City’s Property Standards By-law.

Currently the building is being neglected and stands in disrepair. This is in contrast to the part marked in bold and blatant disregard to Vaughan Heritage and City By Laws.

Here is what the law has to say: