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Our Story

Our Story

SE Health, or ‘Saint Eliz’ as we are affectionately known, is named after Elizabeth of Hungary. Elizabeth was a princess who challenged the social norms of her time through extraordinary works of charity.

The daughter of rich and powerful king, Elizabeth relinquished a life of luxury and leisure, finding her passion in community service.

As a young woman, Elizabeth devoted her energy and family’s resources to caring for the less fortunate – feeding and clothing the poor, bringing hope and healing to those who were suffering, and empowering people to help themselves.

While Elizabeth faced many critics and challenges in her short life, she remained courageously committed to her vocation and her sense of justice, dignity and the common good. Elizabeth loved her people, and they loved her back.

Elizabeth died at the age of 24 and was canonized as a saint four years later.

Today, the story of Elizabeth continues to inspire our service to others, especially the most vulnerable.

Statue of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary in Bratislava
Statue of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary in Bratislava
Our History
 
1900s-1950s
 
1960s-1980s
 
1990s
 
2000s
 
2010s
 
2020s
 
 
1900s
1908
  • Our story begins: Four pioneering nurses come together to form a visiting nursing association at the request of the Archbishop of Toronto. Inspired by the legacy of our namesake, Saint Elizabeth, they provide care to the poor, new moms and babies, and others in need.
1911
  • 24/7 home care: Nurses are available around the clock
  • 6,894 visits including 492 night calls; 921 patients served
1913
  • First office is opened on Bond Street in downtown Toronto
1926
  • First Executive Director is hired
  • Service is expanded to Peel Region
1957
  • Staff grows to 24 nurses
1958
  • Home care program is initiated in Ontario
  • Our 50th anniversary is celebrated with a Diamond Jubilee
1960s
1962
  • 1,654 patients; 28,713 home visits
  • Price per nursing visit is $4
1970
  • 2,922 patients; 36,298 home visits
  • First large billboard to promote our work
1984
  • Our nurses help to pioneer the delivery of community-based care for people with HIV/AIDS
  • First wave of ‘computerization’
1990s
1991
  • First organization in Canada to deliver chemotherapy in the home
  • First Registered Practical Nurse is hired
1993
  • Introduction of supportive care services
1995
  • Name change to Saint Elizabeth Health Care
1997
  • The Saint Elizabeth Foundation is incorporated to lead community health care into the 21st century
  • The Idea Factory is created to spur innovation
1998
  • First accreditation is achieved from Accreditation Canada
1999
  • Virtual office opens in Thunder Bay
2000s
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
  • The SE Research Centre is established to support our evolving knowledge strategy
2003
  • The Saint Elizabeth Foundation launches an education and support program for family caregivers
2005
  • Virtual WOW Wound Care launches, leveraging digital photography and remote consultation
  • $2 million investment expands access to virtual learning for health providers through the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Program, now active in over 500 communities and organizations across the country
2007
  • Named among the 50 Best Employers in Canada
2008
  • Ahead by a century: Our year-long 100th anniversary celebrations include a free public concert in front of Toronto city hall, a health care conference focused on research and innovation, and our first major fundraising gala – the Imagination Ball
  • Community Rehab is acquired to expand our therapy offerings across the five disciplines (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, social work and speech language pathology)
2010s
2011
  • Expansion to British Columbia; education services are broadened to include an accredited training institute for community health and residential care workers
2012
  • Expansion to Quebec
  • Received the Canada Order of Excellence, reflecting our commitment to continuous improvement and outstanding performance in the areas of leadership, planning, customer experience, employee engagement and process improvement.
2013
  • Our Hope and Happiness movement is born
  • Expansion to Alberta, undertaking the management of a publicly-funded long-term care facility
2015
  • $1 million investment supports the expansion of hospice and end-of-life care through community partnerships
  • First class of Personal Support Workers (PSWs) graduate from our health career college in Barrie; launch of integrated HSW-PSW program
  • We begin to manage medical buildings, strengthening relationships with physicians and specialists
  • Together with hospital partners, we are selected to implement bundled care
  • Launch of Elizz, a digital lifestyle destination for caregivers
  • First organization to offer PSW-assisted peritoneal dialysis at home
2016
  • Rollout of mobile devices including connected tablets and smartphones to 5,000 remote health care workers, in partnership with Samsung Canada
  • The H.O.P.E Model® takes shape, building on a century of community nursing expertise and international best practices
2017
  • Launch of Journey Home Hospice, Toronto’s only hospice for people who are homeless – a partnership between the Saint Elizabeth Foundation, Inner City Health Associates and Hospice Toronto
2018
  • International partnership with Royale Home Health in Kuwait supports best practices, expertise and quality
  • Launch of SE Futures, a core team of disruptors and designers working to make health care more predictive, proactive, decentralized, continuous, people-powered and values-based
  • Named one of Canada’s Most Admired Cultures
2020s
2020
  • The Future of Aging book is launched in partnership with Idea Couture
  • Our team helps to keep thousands of people safe and healthy at home during the COVID-19 global pandemic; expansion of virtual care including 100,000 virtual visits
  • Saint Elizabeth Foundation receives landmark $1 million donation from the Iacobelli Family to support the expansion of Journey Home Hospice to 10 beds

 

1908
  • Our story begins: Four pioneering nurses come together to form a visiting nursing association at the request of the Archbishop of Toronto. Inspired by the legacy of our namesake, Saint Elizabeth, they provide care to the poor, new moms and babies, and others in need.
1911
  • 24/7 home care: Nurses are available around the clock
  • 6,894 visits including 492 night calls; 921 patients served
1913
  • First office is opened on Bond Street in downtown Toronto
1926
  • First Executive Director is hired
  • Service is expanded to Peel Region
1957
  • Staff grows to 24 nurses
1958
  • Home care program is initiated in Ontario
  • Our 50th anniversary is celebrated with a Diamond Jubilee

 

1962
  • 1,654 patients; 28,713 home visits
  • Price per nursing visit is $4
1970
  • 2,922 patients; 36,298 home visits
  • First large billboard to promote our work
1984
  • Our nurses help to pioneer the delivery of community-based care for people with HIV/AIDS
  • First wave of ‘computerization’

 

1991
  • First organization in Canada to deliver chemotherapy in the home
  • First Registered Practical Nurse is hired
1993
  • Introduction of supportive care services
1995
  • Name change to Saint Elizabeth Health Care
1997
  • The Saint Elizabeth Foundation is incorporated to lead community health care into the 21st century
  • The Idea Factory is created to spur innovation
1998
  • First accreditation is achieved from Accreditation Canada
1999
  • Virtual office opens in Thunder Bay

 

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
  • The SE Research Centre is established to support our evolving knowledge strategy
2003
  • The Saint Elizabeth Foundation launches an education and support program for family caregivers
2005
  • Virtual WOW Wound Care launches, leveraging digital photography and remote consultation
  • $2 million investment expands access to virtual learning for health providers through the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Program, now active in over 500 communities and organizations across the country
2007
  • Named among the 50 Best Employers in Canada
2008
  • Ahead by a century: Our year-long 100th anniversary celebrations include a free public concert in front of Toronto city hall, a health care conference focused on research and innovation, and our first major fundraising gala – the Imagination Ball
  • Community Rehab is acquired to expand our therapy offerings across the five disciplines (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, social work and speech language pathology)

 

2011
  • Expansion to British Columbia; education services are broadened to include an accredited training institute for community health and residential care workers
2012
  • Expansion to Quebec
  • Received the Canada Order of Excellence, reflecting our commitment to continuous improvement and outstanding performance in the areas of leadership, planning, customer experience, employee engagement and process improvement.
2013
  • Our Hope and Happiness movement is born
  • Expansion to Alberta, undertaking the management of a publicly-funded long-term care facility
2015
  • $1 million investment supports the expansion of hospice and end-of-life care through community partnerships
  • First class of Personal Support Workers (PSWs) graduate from our health career college in Barrie; launch of integrated HSW-PSW program
  • We begin to manage medical buildings, strengthening relationships with physicians and specialists
  • Together with hospital partners, we are selected to implement bundled care
  • Launch of Elizz, a digital lifestyle destination for caregivers
  • First organization to offer PSW-assisted peritoneal dialysis at home
2016
  • Rollout of mobile devices including connected tablets and smartphones to 5,000 remote health care workers, in partnership with Samsung Canada
  • The H.O.P.E Model® takes shape, building on a century of community nursing expertise and international best practices
  •  
2017
  • Launch of Journey Home Hospice, Toronto’s only hospice for people who are homeless – a partnership between the Saint Elizabeth Foundation, Inner City Health Associates and Hospice Toronto
2018
  • International partnership with Royale Home Health in Kuwait supports best practices, expertise and quality
  • Launch of SE Futures, a core team of disruptors and designers working to make health care more predictive, proactive, decentralized, continuous, people-powered and values-based
  • Named one of Canada’s Most Admired Cultures

 

2020
  • The Future of Aging book is launched in partnership with Idea Couture
  • Our team helps to keep thousands of people safe and healthy at home during the COVID-19 global pandemic; expansion of virtual care including 100,000 virtual visits
  • Saint Elizabeth Foundation receives landmark $1 million donation from the Iacobelli Family to support the expansion of Journey Home Hospice to 10 beds