Our History

Our Journey

1908-1957 1958-1984 1991-1997 1998-2002 2003-2007 2008-2012 2014 2015 2017 2018

1908-1957

1908

Our story begins: Four nurses come together in Toronto to establish Saint Elizabeth Visiting Nurses Association, at the request of the Archbishop. They provide care to the poor, new moms and babies, and others in need.

1911

921 patients; 6894 home visits

1926

First Executive Director is hired
Service is expanded to the Mississauga area

1957

Staff grows to 24 nurses

1958-1984

1958

Home care is initiated in Ontario
50th anniversary is celebrated with a Diamond Jubilee

1962

1,654 patients; 28,713 home visits

1970

2,922 patients; 36,298 home visits

1984

Staff help to pioneer the delivery of community-based care for people with HIV/AIDS
First wave of ‘computerization’ comes to Saint Elizabeth

1991-1997

Nurse getting into car labeled Saint Elizabeth Visiting Nurses

1991

First organization in Canada to deliver chemotherapy in the home
First Registered Practical Nurse is hired

Shirlee Sharkey infront of wall with sign that reads Saint Elizabeth Health Care

1993

Introduction of supportive care services

1995

Name change to Saint Elizabeth Health Care

4 people gathered around a table at the Idea Factory

1997

Saint Elizabeth Foundation is incorporated to lead community health care into the 21st century
Saint Elizabeth creates an Idea Factory to spur innovation

1998-2002

1998

Saint Elizabeth achieves its first accreditation from Accreditation Canada; the organization continues to receive external accolades, including most recently, the Canada Order of Excellence (2015).

1999

Virtual office opens in Thunder Bay

woman using e-learning software on desktop computer

Home and Community Care: An integral part of the Trinidad and Tobago's National Oncology Programme

2000

Early design and adoption of e-learning programs for remote health care workers

2002

Consulting services touch people in every province and territory, and globally in 10 countries
Collaborative research unit is established to support our evolving knowledge strategy

2003-2007

nurse with two elderly clients sitting on a porch

2003

Saint Elizabeth Foundation creates the Caregiver Support program

2005

Virtual WOW Wound Care launches
Saint Elizabeth invests $2M to expand virtual health provider education through the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Program, now active in over 500 communities and organizations across the country

7 people on a stage, 2 holding a framed award

2006

Designated as a Best Practice Spotlight Organization by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario

2007

Named among the 50 Best Employers in Canada

2008-2012

client and patient in rehabilitation with an exercise ball

2008

Ahead by a century: Saint Elizabeth celebrates its 100th anniversary
Community Rehab is acquired to expand our existing therapy offerings across the five rehab disciplines

nurse with stethoscope listening to heart beat of patient

2011

Expansion to British Columbia
Staffing Solutions, a full-service medical staffing relief agency, is acquired to support hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities

2012

Expansion to Quebec

2013-2014

The Hope and Happiness movement is born

Saint Elizabeth co-sponsors Impact8, a MaRS accelerator for social entrepreneurs
Expansion to Alberta, undertaking the management a publicly-funded long-term care facility

2015

nurse administering IV in young patient on a wheelchair

18,000 home visits a day
6.5 million home visits annually

Saint Elizabeth invests $1M in hospice and end-of-life care

one nurse in foreground, nurses working in background

First class of PSWs graduate from Saint Elizabeth Health Career College in Barrie – one of four campuses across Canada

Saint Elizabeth begins managing medical buildings, strengthening relationships with physicians and specialists
Together with hospital partners, Saint Elizabeth is selected to implement ‘bundled care’

elizz website homepage - woman kissing her father on the forehead

Launch of Elizz, a new brand dedicated to all things caregiving

2017

Leadership Edge builds strength for growth

PPATH program with Trillium reduces hospital length of stay and re-hospitalization rates
Launch of Journey Home Hospice with Inner City Health Associates and Hospice Toronto

Elizz surpassed 3 million caregiver connections

2018

SE Global partners with Royale Home Health in Kuwait
Launch of SE Futures - Co-creating a future where Canadians age with health, vitality and dignity
In our 110th year of providing quality care and impacting how people live and age at home, we are updating our look with the launch of a new logo