Potential for Future Medivac Capabilities for Scarborough Health Network (SHN) - General Site
Protecting our community’s hospital infrastructure is vital. Despite population growth and the second largest land mass in Toronto, behind North York, there are presently no Transport Canada certified H1-H3 medivac (Air Ambulance) helicopter pads in Scarborough.
Between Sunnybrook, SickKids, and St. Michael’s, the next closest medivac pad is located at Markham Stouffville (+30-40 min drive by land-transfer ambulance to Sunnybrook).
Due primarily to environmental factors and hazards/obstacles, it is unlikely that the SHN’s Birchmount or Centenary sites would be granted Transport Canada approvals for a Class H1-H3 pad for medivac operations either now or as a future growth possibility for the following reasons:
Birchmount (former Scarborough Grace): Site is landlocked due to the proximity of residential on all sides and rotor wash concerns near residential homes.
Centenary Site: Due to the hydro wires on the North West, high-rise development on the North and East and uneven terrain on approach (forest from the South) the site may be deemed too risky to safely land.
SHN’s General Site (Lawrence & McCowan): Given the expansive space and open lots, the General Campus is currently the only hospital site between the Sunnybrook/SickKids/St Mike’s and Markham Stouffville helipads that would satisfy Transport Canada requirements and would be capable of landing a twin-engine helicopter, a current medivac requirement.
Sunnybrook is currently the busiest trauma hospital in Canada.[1] Anticipating future growth, there could be a need in the medium-to-long term to expand services into the East (such as SHN - General) and West Regions to help alleviate this strain, transport patients that require more specialized care, or adequate support capacity in the event of disaster, mass casualty event, etc.
For example, during the 2018 Yonge Street Van Attack, where Sunnybrook handled 10 victims, the hospital was already running at over-capacity when the alert came in. [2] [3]
In addition to the above concerns, the obstacle free approaches into the General Site are from the south or east primarily where the proposed development site is located.
Due to the hydro field on the north side and low rise to the west (Bendale Acres, Rosalie Hall, Jack Goodlad Centre, etc.) the southern and east approaches are the only safe ingress/egress paths under night VFR (visual flight) rules, IFR (instrument flight) rules, strong winds and/or inclement weather (subject to Transport Canada study/review).
The height obstacle of the development may even prevent temporary “safe landing zone” medivac operations from SGH under Transport Canada - Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433) [4] and Transport Canada - Standard 325 – Heliports with a height obstacle so close to the SHN General Site. (TOC’s 36 - 25 stories versus the SHN – General’s 11 stories)[5]
The need to protect vital hospital infrastructure and future access is not without precedent. [6] As a means to protect vital infrastructure and future growth potential, both the City of Toronto, Transport Canada and Province of Ontario have designated “safe zones” around hospital infrastructure to protect this infrastructure from current or future flight path development incursions. These include:
In August 21, 2017 the federal Minister of Transportation entered into an agreement with the City of Toronto pursuant to section 5.81(1) of the Aeronautics Act, thereby authorizing the City to regulate the use of lands in the vicinity of hospital heliports, within the City of Toronto, for the purpose of ensuring that the use is not incompatible with the safe operation of a hospital heliport or aircraft; and Whereas Council of the City of Toronto has provided adequate information to the public and has held at least one public meeting.[13]
These bylaws were approved by the Planning and Growth Management Committee Item PG24.3, as adopted by City of Toronto Council on December 5, 6, 7 and 8, 2017.[14]
Concerned yet? Contact your elected official. HERE
Sources:
[1] Sunnybrook Trauma Care - Tory Trauma Program 2021-2025 Strategic Plan. p.6 https://sunnybrook.ca/uploads/1/programs/trauma-emergency-care/strategic-plan/tory-trauma-strat-plan-2025_acc2.pdf
[2] "Sunnybrook receives injured from Yonge and Finch" - Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. April 23, 2018 https://sunnybrook.ca/media/item.asp?c=1&i=1730&f=yonge-finch-incident
[3] Toronto Star - Hospitals Stepped Up To Meet The Challenge Of Toronto’s Van Rampage – Wednesday April 25, 2018 - https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/hospitals-stepped-up-to-meet-the-challenge-of-toronto-s-van-rampage/article_28d85e91-0d8e-5582-8075-83abecbc3f0f.html
[4] Transport Canada - Canadian Aviation Regulations (SOR/96-433) - Subpart 5 – Heliports
Division IV — General Certification Requirements - https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-96-433/page-27.html#docCont
[5] Transport Canada - Canadian Aviation Regulation; Standard 325 - Heliports - https://tc.canada.ca/en/corporate-services/acts-regulations/list-regulations/canadian-aviation-regulations-sor-96-433/standards/standard-325-heliports-canadian-aviation-regulations-cars
[6] D’Mello , Colin, and Isaac Callan. “Ontario to Protect Ornge Ambulance Flight Paths From Downtown Toronto Construction.” 15 Dec. 2023, https://globalnews.ca/news/10168064/ontario-mzo-protect-flight-path-toronto/.
[7] City Of Toronto By-Law 1432-2017
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/bylaws/2017/law1432.pdf
[8] City of Toronto Applications for Development within the Hospital Helicopter Flightpath https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/building-construction/apply-for-a-building-permit/building-permit-regulations/applications-for-development-within-the-hospital-helicopter-flightpath/
[9] City of Toronto - Airport Zoning Regulation to Protect Hospital Helicopter Flight Paths- Final Report (2017) https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-108477.pdf
[10] Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. P.13 - O. Reg. 10/24: Zoning Order - Protection of Public Health And Safety - Toronto Hospital Heliports (January 26, 2024) - https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/r24010
[11] City of Toronto - Airport Zoning Regulation to Protect Hospital Helicopter Flight Paths- Final Report (2017) https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2017/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-108477.pdf
[12] Ibid.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Ibid.