Bay Centre Timeline

Bay Centre for Birth Control Opens

Bay Centre for Birth Control opens its doors as Toronto’s first hospital-supported walk-in birth control clinic, located at 901 Bay Street in a small house. The space is shared with WCH’s Cancer Detection Clinic.
 
Dr. Jadwiga Iwanowska is appointed as Bay Centre’s first medical director. Its staff consists of one public health nurse, two counsellors, four physicians, and six volunteer workers.

In its first year, Bay Centre sees 2,216 patients – with 70% of its patients under the age of 20 years old.

Bay Centre also establishes itself as a teaching site, accepting nursing, medical, social work and pharmacy students.

Bay Centre narrowly avoids closing

After its initial funding from Health Canada ends, it appears that the Bay Centre might have to close its doors. However, it remains open thanks to volunteer physicians at WCH who staff the clinic for almost one month. Funding from Ontario’s Ministry of Health is secured by the end of November 1974.

Bay Centre’s Joyce Kennedy becomes WCH’s first nurse practitioner

Dr. Marion Powell is appointed as the Medical Director of Bay Centre

Dr. Powell joined the staff of Bay Centre in July 1973 as a staff physician. For the next 20+ years she conducts numerous research studies out of Bay Centre in the areas of sexual and reproductive health. She also becomes a trusted advisor to the Canadian and Ontario governments on issues related to reproductive rights. Dr. Powell later retires as Bay Centre’s Medical Director in 1988 but remains on its staff until her death in 1997.

Birth Control Week

Bay Centre takes centre stage at “Birth Control Week” as Toronto’s busiest and only full-time birth control clinic.

Bay Centre Education

Bay Centre reaches over 1,000 students from Toronto and Peel Region with its High School Education Program.

Women’s Health Centre

Bay Centre is incorporated into Ontario’s first Regional Women’s Health Centre located at WCH and later moves into 790 Bay Street.

Bay Centre begins a free Hepatitis B immunization program for high-risk women

Ministry of Health Designation for HIV Testing

As of April 3, 1995, Ontario’s Ministry of Health designates the Bay Centre as an Anonymous HIV Testing site. This new service allows the Bay Centre to have a comprehensive STD service.

Bay Centre participates in one-day workshop for practitioners called “Conception and Menopause in the ’90s” at WCH

Women’s Health Matters Forum & Expo

Between 1997 – 2009, Bay Centre participates in the annual Women’s Health Matters Forum & Expo to promote its services and provide sexual health information.

Dr. Sheila Dunn Receives Dr. Marion Powell Award

Dr. Sheila Dunn, Medical Director of Bay Centre, is awarded the Dr. Marion Powell Award – an award established by WCH to recognize individuals who exemplify Dr. Powell’s legacy of leadership, commitment, and dedication to the advocacy of women’s health.

Virtual Reproductive Care

In June of 2020, Bay Centre launches one of Ontario’s first virtual ‘no-touch’ abortion programs to deliver safe and timely access to Mifegymiso for medication abortion. By integrating virtual care into its services, the Bay Centre is able to provide contraceptive counselling and virtual no-touch abortion care for people living in remote areas of Ontario, where access to clinics is limited and patients would otherwise need to travel long distances to access reproductive healthcare.

The launch was fast-tracked to accommodate the barriers to access exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including quarantine restrictions, stay-at-home orders or the threat of domestic violence.