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New helipad officially opens at Stevenson Memorial Hospital

October 8, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Stevenson Memorial Hospital held a special ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 1, to officially open its brand new helipad.

The structure had already been used several times to land and transport critically ill patients to hospitals in Toronto.

The new helipad marks the first completed project of the hospital redevelopment.

Previously, the ORNGE helicopters used a landing pad at the rear of the hospital, but it was not without considerable effort.

The old helipad was a challenging place for helicopters to land, created a lot of dust and debris from the helicopter rotors, and even had complaints from nearby homeowners who said the whirling blades blew leaves into their pool.

On top of that, the old helipad needed clearing after a snowfall.

This new helipad is big and bold, designed specifically for helicopter landings. The pad is also heated so snow will melt and run off during the winter months.

“This is an important milestone for our hospital and our community,” said Deepak Sharma, Stevenson Memorial Hospital president and CEO.

“This is an exciting day for our staff, physicians, and our partners at ORNGE, to provide critical air ambulance services across Ontario and most importantly for our patients and families. The new helipad represents much more than a piece of infrastructure – it’s an investment. It’s an investment in patient safety, for more reliable access to specialized care and our ability to respond. For patients requiring emergency transportation, every second counts. The helipad ensures those critical transfers can happen safely and effectively, and as soon as possible.”

Sharma thanked the government partners who have helped make this project possible.

“One of the helipad’s key features is the heated landing surface,” said Michelle MacInnis, SMH vice president of corporate services and chief financial officer.

“During the winter, snow and ice will no longer need to be manually removed. That will improve liability and safety for flight crews, physicians, patients, and staff.”

“The elevated design gives ORNGE pilots greater flexibility, when wind patterns change, they will be able to change the flight path and their approach. Relocating the helipad from the hospital’s upper parking lot allows for additional parking,” MacInnis added.

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