A teenager with glasses smiles while listening to a health care worker in a mask.

A patient enjoys an appointment as part of the Autism Services Program at the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre (RJCHC). The HHS RJCHC is celebrating 10 years of serving kids, teens and families in our region and beyond.

November 28, 2025

Ten years later: HHS’ Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre transformed pediatric care in the Hamilton region

Three people stand together in a hospital lobby.

Hospital site leaders Holly Augerman, Karen Margallo and Bruce Squires at the RJCHC 10th anniversary staff celebration.

In the early 2000s, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) had a bold vision to build a children’s treatment centre that would meet the needs of thousands of kids and families. This centre would bring HHS’ McMaster Children’s Hospital outpatient services under one roof to help ensure children could access life-changing outpatient care close to home.

In June 2011, provincial funding from the now Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services and Ministry of Health enabled the creation of a purpose-built facility to house autism services, child and youth mental health, developmental pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as prosthetics and orthotics for both children and adults.

Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation also played a key role in bringing the Centre to life, with $12.1M in support from transformational donors including Ronald V. Joyce, for whom the Centre is named, ArcellorMittal Dofasco, Hamilton District Society for Disabled Society and many valued community donors. 

On November 23, 2015, the Ron Joyce Children’s Health Centre (RJCHC) officially opened.

Over the past decade, RJCHC has become more than a health facility. It is a community anchor and a symbol of what’s possible when we invest in children.

“In the last ten years, RJCHC has transformed how children access care in our region, improving outcomes for tens of thousands of families,” says Bruce Squires, president of McMaster Children’s Hospital and vice president of women and children’s health at HHS. “We will continue to build on that progress with excellent care, stronger partnerships, and continued innovation so every child has a fair chance to reach their fullest potential.”

Ten years later, the centre has cemented itself as a trusted partner and a beacon of hope for families.

A decade of growth and impact

Over the past decade, RJCHC has become a regional hub and provincial asset for pediatric outpatient care, bringing life-changing services to the Hamilton area and beyond.

Since opening, more than 70,000 children have received treatment; today, more than 19,000 patients visit RJCHC each year, reflecting nearly 150,000 appointments annually – that’s a 51 per cent increase from seven years ago.

RJCHC now offers a broad range of outpatient services including autism programs, speech and language, developmental pediatrics, rehabilitation, child and youth mental health, extensive needs service, early intervention, school‑based care, physiotherapy, and more. It’s also home to the HHS prosthetics and orthotics lab, which is the largest of its kind in Canada, as well as a state‑of‑the‑art Motion Lab, which uses digital monitoring technology to help with assessment and treatment of physical disabilities.

By the numbers

In the last ten years, RJCHC has solidified its role as a pediatric care provider for the region and province (data covers the last seven years):

62,798 children and families received care (since 2018)
Annual number of patients increased by 11 per cent to 19,910 children* per year
Annual patient visits rose 51.8 per cent, from 97,992 to 148,569
Average visits per patient increased 36 per cent, indicating deeper, more continuous care per child
67 per cent of patients are from the Hamilton Region and 33 per cent are from other areas in Ontario
Launched over 20 new specialized outpatient programs since opening
Approximately 500 dedicated staff and clinicians
Hundreds of community partnerships established across Hamilton and beyond.

These numbers tell a story of growth in access and intensity of care, but the true impact lies in the lives changed, the milestones reached and the futures made brighter.

*Does not include Extensive Needs Service, as there is overlap in reporting.

The impact of transformative programs

RJCHC is now home to several critical services that patients rely on. New and expanded programs help more families access the right care, including but not limited to:

Autism Services: RJCHC runs one of the region’s most comprehensive autism programs, supporting thousands of children and families with therapy, early intervention, family coaching and school partnerships that build skills, independence and confidence.

Innovative and connected support programs have been launched to help address waitlists and complexity of care. This includes Family Foundational Services or the Entry to School Program which launched in 2021 and offers time‑sensitive, in‑person skill building for children entering school. Last year, it helped almost 700 families transition to school with 17,700 annual visits. The Autism Urgent Response program, launched in 2022, provides crisis care to around 150 families per year with 2,500 visits.

RJCHC is also the home of the National Centre for Autism Collaboration, a pan‑Canadian hub uniting researchers, clinicians, families and policymakers and positioning Hamilton as a leader in autism research.

Prosthetics & Orthotics: RJCHC houses Canada’s largest prosthetics and orthotics lab, serving patients nationwide. This includes in-house 3D printing of prosthetics and burn devices. Last year, the lab served 3,661 children and adults with custom devices that restore mobility and independence.

Outpatient Child and Youth Mental Health: This program provides mental health consultation, outpatient and day treatment services all under one roof, creating safe spaces for healing while expanding capacity.

In the last seven years, outpatient mental health services grew from 733 patients to 961 annual patients with over 12,000 visits in 2024-2025.
Children and youth receiving mental health consultations increased, reflecting a 207 per cent increase in visits since 2017-18.

ENS: Introduced as an innovative care model and pilot program in 2021, the Extensive Needs Service is now an essential wraparound service that reduces hospital admissions and emergency department visits, eases caregiver burden, and improves care navigation. Last year, ENS facilitated care for 515 families in the Hamilton-Niagara-Brant-Brantford region.

Children’s Rehabilitation and Developmental Pediatrics: This team provides services to children and youth who experience functional limitations due to neurological or developmental issues. This includes occupational therapy, a state-of-the-art Motion Lab, a climbing wall, in-person and school-based programs, and more.

Since 2017-18, school-based rehabilitation has had a 27 per cent increase in patients, reflecting a 716 per cent increase in total patient visits, with 24,510 visits last year.
The Seating Clinic, launched in 2021, links care to the Regional Rehabilitation Centre for 220 patients a year (both youth and adult) who are need of special devices such as wheelchairs.

Targeted specialty clinics, hubs, and other offerings: RJCHC is home to other critical programs, such as the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Hub, the Spina Bifida Clinic, Audiology, caregiver supports, fee‑based core clinical services, school and community‑based programs, and more.

A community legacy

Exterior view of the Ron Joyce Children's Health Centre

Over the past decade, RJCHC has become more than a health facility. It is a community anchor and a symbol of what’s possible when we invest in children.

“Celebrating ten years fills me with pride, as every day our teams turn evidence into action, delivering life‑changing care that has had an impact on tens of thousands of children and families,” said Karen Margallo, director of child and family community integrated care. “I’m thrilled for what’s next: together, we’ll expand proven programs, deepen community partnerships and innovate boldly so even more children can learn and grow.”

Partnerships with schools, local organizations, and health providers have pushed care well beyond our walls, making services more accessible and inclusive for families across the region.

Our dedicated staff bring expertise, compassion and continuity every day. Their commitment has built trust with patients, strengthened partnerships and created systems that keep children well and families supported.

Looking to the future

“This milestone belongs to the staff, partners, funders, families, and communities who trusted us to be the leader for children’s health care in our region,” says Squires. “Our priority now is to expand services, research and supports that benefit children across the province.”

Now, HHS is focused on the next decade. With continued investment and support, RJCHC will remain at the forefront of children’s health, ensuring every child has the chance to thrive.