West Park History on Display at the Gallery
West Park History on Display at the Gallery
UHN’s West Park Healthcare Centre recently unveiled the Westmount Army & Navy Club Gallery, a dedicated space next to the main lobby that preserves and showcases the hospital’s rich 120-year history.
The opening of the Gallery was the result of a dedicated team effort over the course of two years. From the initial planning stages to the final touches, Susan MacDonald, Partner for Operational Readiness, and John Tagg, former West Park Librarian, played a vital role in ensuring the Gallery’s success.
Susan and John worked closely together to plan all aspects of the Gallery’s development.
Susan envisioned a space to tell the story of West Park’s legacy. She meticulously planned the layout and displays to ensure each artifact reflected the hospital’s historical significance.
After retiring in 2019, John took on the role of curator, volunteering countless hours to research, catalogue, and preserve the artifacts now on display.
Together, they made decisions about what to retain from the archives and what to donate or discard.
Among the Gallery’s highlights are an iron lung, vintage nurse uniforms, Inuit artwork, and a table crafted from an oak tree that provided shade to patients for most of the 20th century.
Some items were transferred to other institutions, including antique medical equipment that was shared with the University of Toronto and historical tuberculosis records, which were sent to the Archives of Ontario.
Thank you to the Westmount Army & Navy Club, whose generous gift to the Get Your Life Back Campaign is recognized through the naming of the Gallery.
