Item - 2026.SC32.26

Scarborough Community Council:

1. Directed the City Manager to undertake a review of the name “Bernice Redmon” for the Long-Term Care Home located at 4610 Finch Avenue East to honour Bernice Redmon and direct the General Manager, Senior Services and Long-Term Care to report back to Scarborough Community Council at the July 2026 meeting, in accordance with the City of Toronto’s Commemorative Framework and the City of Toronto Property Naming Policy, and with the inclusion of a biographical plaque.

Naming this long-term care home after Bernice Redmon would recognize a pioneering Torontonian whose life and career broke down racial barriers in the healthcare system. Born in 1917 and raised in Toronto at a time when Black women were denied access to nursing programs in Canada, Redmon pursued her education in the United States before returning home in 1945 to become the first Black nurse to practice in public health in Canada. Later on she would become the first Black Canadian admitted to the Victorian Order of Nurses. Her determination, professionalism, and commitment to patient care helped pave the way for future generations of Black healthcare workers across the country.

Naming this new Long-Term Care Facility in her honour would also reflect the values of inclusion, equity, and public service that are central to Toronto’s healthcare and community care systems. Long-term care homes are places built on compassion, dignity, and service to others — values that Redmon demonstrated throughout her career despite facing discrimination and systemic barriers. Honouring her legacy would serve as an important acknowledgment of the contributions Black Canadians have made to healthcare, often without the recognition they deserved at the time.

Naming a public institution after Bernice Redmon would help preserve an important part of Canadian history while inspiring future generations to continue advancing equity in healthcare and public life. As Toronto continues its efforts to celebrate its diverse histories and build a more inclusive city, commemorating Bernice Redmon through the naming of a long-term care home would be a meaningful and lasting tribute to a true Canadian trailblazer.