Message from CHEO's Board of Directors
This past year has been one of both celebration and transition at CHEO.
We proudly marked our 50th anniversary, reflecting on the visionaries who founded our pediatric hospital on Smyth Road in 1974, and honouring the people and programs that have shaped CHEO into the innovative, compassionate institution it is today.
Looking ahead, we launched our new Strategy to guide our work through 2029. Built on five foundational pillars—Excellent Care, Everyone Belongs, Strong Team, Bright Future, and Connected Care — this Strategy will help us meet the evolving needs of children, youth, and families.
In leadership, we experienced a heartfelt change. After 13 years of dedicated service, Alex Munter stepped down as President and CEO in October 2024. His legacy of compassion and innovation continues to inspire us.
Change is at the heart of transformation. As pediatric health care faces new and more complex challenges, CHEO is evolving to meet them head-on. We are focused on improving access to care, reducing wait times in our Emergency Department, and wait times for surgeries, and working closely with the communities we serve to find sustainable solutions.
Our commitment to excellence also includes modernizing our facilities. This year, we continued transforming our main campus with the construction of a new parking garage, and we unveiled the final design of the CHEO Integrated Treatment Centre — spaces that will support our teams in delivering the highest quality care.
As we look to the future, we remain steadfast in our mission: to build a brighter tomorrow by reimagining how care is delivered — ensuring every child, youth, and family receives the support they need to thrive. Finally, on behalf of our Board of Directors, we are confident that with Dr. Vera Etches as our new President and CEO, the future is bright as she leads CHEO into the next few years.
Dr. Vera Etches, President and CEO | Jo-Anne Poirier, CHEO Chair, Board of Directors, CHEO
Absent: Heidi Hauver, Seema Nagpal, Annie Chartrand
Celebrating 50 years of caring, growing and healing
CHEO's 50th anniversary was a vibrant staff engagement activity, fostering a sense of community and celebration among our staff, medical staff and volunteers. The “50 Facts About CHEO” campaign featured 50 one-minute videos that highlighted unique aspects of CHEO centred around our people and what they do. These were shared across our social media platforms, on our intranet site and in our CEO's newsletter.
The MyCHEO stories series further highlighted the dedication of CHEO’s staff, showcasing their passion for what led them to a career at CHEO.
The festivities culminated in a grand birthday party on May 17, attended by more than 300 staff, alumni, and notable stakeholders. The event showcased CHEO’s rich history and innovations, with cake, coffee, and tea for guests. Additionally, 50th anniversary pins and specially designed birthday cookies were distributed to onsite staff, while offsite managers received budgets for team treats.
CHEO's Strategy: 2024-29
After extensive consultation with more than 1,600 staff, medical staff, learners, volunteers, children, youth, families and community partners, the CHEO Board of Directors adopted CHEO’s 2024-29 Strategy — a roadmap to guide our work over the next five years.
Our destination is ambitious but simple: by 2029 it will be easier and quicker to access safe, inclusive and leading-edge care at CHEO and in our community thanks to strengthened teams and partnerships.
The excellent care we provide will be fueled by the research, innovation and improvement that we all do. All of this and more will be accomplished in newly redeveloped spaces that are being designed and built in the years ahead to meet the needs of the children and youth that we serve, our growing team and community.
Please visit our message of inclusion: Everyone Belongs & Strong Team
CHEO by the numbers
Visits
Total number of visits at CHEO: 709,438
Total number of outpatient visits: 630,717
| Clinic, service or program | Total visits |
|---|---|
| Ambulatory Care | 209,929 |
| Development and Rehabilitation (CTC) | 79,189 |
| Genetics | 11,198 |
| Medical Imaging | 101,064 |
| Emergency Department | 71,273 |
| Home and Community Care | 5,086 |
| Inpatient admissions | 7,448 |
| Hematology/Oncology | 19,473 |
| Mental Health | 30,171 |
| Neurodevelopmental Health | 45,087 |
| Surgery | 7,318 |
Financial Operating Statement
| Revenue | Percentage |
|---|---|
|
Ministry of Health and Ontario Health Funding |
56% |
|
Other funded programs |
21% |
|
Patient services |
11% |
|
Other revenue |
11% |
|
Amortization |
1% |
Total revenue (in thousands): 551,399
| Expenditures | Percentage |
|---|---|
|
Salaries and benefits |
54% |
|
Other funded programs |
21% |
|
Supplies and other expenses |
16% |
|
Medical, Surgical & Laboratory Expenses |
4% |
|
Amortization |
2% |
|
Drugs and medical gasses |
3% |
