Haunting photos show the demolition of a landmark Toronto hospital

A beautiful structure that has served Toronto's health care needs for almost three-quarters of a century is being reduced to rubble, and haunting photos of the demolition at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) document the final days of this impressive but ultimately doomed landmark.

Following the completion of MGH's new Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre in early 2023, the facility is embarking on the next phase of a long-term plan to modernize and expand the complex.

However, this next phase of the hospital's transformation will come at a significant cost to the area's architectural character.

The old brick wings of MGH (formerly Toronto East General), including a grand structure along Coxwell Avenue, were officially closed back in March and are now in the process of being torn down as part of the hospital's long-term revitalization plan.

Constructed in 1951, well after the Art Deco and Streamline Moderne periods, the building exhibits some impressive features distinctive of these styles, though, due to its mismatched style and period, the building was not deemed worthy of preservation under the Ontario Heritage Act.

Demolition commenced this past summer, and, according to MGH, the teardown of "several outdated wings" will continue into 2026.

Photos of the teardown captured in late September offer what could be one of the final glimpses of this structure still relatively intact. 

Much of the work to demolish the central wings of the old hospital buildings was carried out in spring and summer, paving the way for the removal of the main Coxwell frontage now taking place.

Demolition has already removed a large section at the south end of the structure's main frontage.

These views provide one last glimpse of former hospital rooms as they are deleted from existence, one concrete fragment at a time.

Sadly, the old brick building won't be replaced with a structure of similar interest value, as MGH states that "These wings will be replaced with the new Coxwell Avenue entrance and future green space, along with improvements to existing hospital infrastructure to better serve the East Toronto community."

Michael Garron Hospital's redevelopment will add green space and a new entrance to the former footprint of what is now being torn down.

However, not all is lost. The hospital intends to preserve certain elements of the building after demolition.  Among the features that MGH intends to preserve are the stained glass memorial windows and plaques in the main Coxwell Lobby, as well as the cornerstones erected during various building phases.