35 years of MSH
From opening day in 1990 to becoming one of Ontario’s leading community hospitals, Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) has a lot to celebrate.
In 2017, MSH became the first community hospital to join the Kids Health Alliance, founded by SickKids, Holland Bloorview, and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, to enhance paediatric health care.
After 35 years, the appreciation I receive from staff and visitors keeps me going.
One of MSH's longest serving volunteers
$5M to $56M
$5M from 1983 to 1985 to begin building the hospital
$56M from 2008 to 2014 to expand into a second building.
35th Anniversary stories
MSH over the years
1967
Arthur Latcham — Stouffville resident, talented magician, community builder, and philanthropist — purchases and donates the 50-acre cornfield upon which MSH is built.
1985
MSH Foundation launches its inaugural Golf Tournament to benefit the future hospital. It’s now the hospital’s longest-running event.
1987
Ground-breaking construction begins on MSH after several years of community fundraising.
1990
On March 5, 1990, MSH opens its doors to approximately 77,000 residents.
1994
Ontario midwives are granted hospital privileges. The first baby in Canada born via midwife delivery in a hospital setting takes place at MSH.
2005
MSH acquires its first MRI machine to provide patients advanced imaging services closer to home.
2007
MSH Foundation introduces the Latcham Society to honour and recognize donors who choose to support the future of MSH with a planned gift in their will.
2008
The Ontario government approves a $400-million hospital expansion. Fundraising begins to double MSH’s existing campus, including a new Emergency Department and Cancer Centre.
2014
Ribbon cutting to celebrate a successful $50-million fundraising “Campaign for Expansion” and opening of new hospital facilities in Building B.
2019
MSH’s Wellness Clinic opens its doors in the community, including women’s wellness programming enabled by the generosity of Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women Markham.
2020
MSH's COVID-19 Assessment Centre facilitates 124,152 tests, with donors contributing $6.5 million, to protect the hospital and community.
2021
Markham Stouffville Hospital and Uxbridge Hospital are now jointly known as Oak Valley Health, encompassing their sites and community services.
2023
OVH launches Voyce, a virtual translation service offering video and audio interpretation in more than 240 languages, including Cantonese, Mandarin, American Sign Language, Cree, and Ojibway.
2025
New Cardiac Device Clinic opens, offering pacemaker monitoring, maintenance, and support for patients with existing pacemakers.
Roadmap to 40
Celebrating 35 years is no small feat; however, MSH is already looking to what the next five years will bring. Its new campaign will turn the hospital into an integrated health care hub with enhanced services, spaces, and talent. Here are the campaign’s three key priorities, plus bringing hospice care to the community.
$65 million
A new four-storey, 200,000 sq. ft. ambulatory building will house outpatient programs and clinics. It will improve the patient experience, free up space, and reduce pressure on MSH’s critical departments.
$75 million
The best patient care starts with state-of-the-art equipment, technology, and programs exactly where they’re needed — in the community. Optimizing the Emergency Department experience is a priority for MSH, starting with waiting room improvements and a new dedicated CT scanner. MSH also plans to build a six-bed Child and Adolescent Mental Health Inpatient Unit that will give paediatric patients access to life-saving mental health treatment, close to home.
$10 million
To enhance community health-focused education, MSH plans to create its own academic centre to advance research and clinical training. It will leverage the latest technology, strengthen MSH's ability to recruit staff, and foster a culture of innovation.