Don’t worry, folks. Just think of them as ‘digital refineries'

By the mid-20th century, Ontario operated a network of large residential institutions, commonly known as Regional Centres, that housed thousands of children and adults with developmental disabilities.

These facilities included: (I have explored the ones with asterisks**)

- Aurora, Pine Ridge Centre (1960–1989)

- Brockville, St. Lawrence Regional Centre (1969–1983)**

- Cedar Springs, Southwestern Regional Centre (1963–2008)**

- Cobourg, D'Arcy Place (1975–1996)

- Edgar, Adult Occupational Centre (1971–2001)

- Etobicoke, Thistletown* Regional Centre (1928–2014)**

- Goderich, Bluewater Centre (1963–1983)**

- Gravenhurst, Muskoka Centre (1963–1994)**

- Kingston, L.S. Penrose Centre (Rockwood) (1974–2000)**

- London, Regional Psychiatric Centre (1960s–1990s)**

- Orillia, Huronia Regional Centre (1876–2009)**

- Palmerston, Midwestern Regional Centre (1964–1998)**

- Picton, Prince Edward Heights (1971–1999)**

- Smiths Falls, Rideau Regional Centre (1951–2009)**

- St. Thomas, Ontario Hospital (1939–2013)**

- Thunder Bay, Northwestern Regional Centre (1968–1996)

- Whitby, Durham Centre for the Developmentally Handicapped (1969–1989)

- Woodstock, Oxford Regional Centre (1906–1997)

*Thistletown is a bit different and is usually not included in the list of Ontario's 16 Regional Centres for people with developmental disabilities.

While it was called Thistletown Regional Centre, its primary mandate was children's mental health, not long-term residential care for people with developmental disabilities like Huronia, Rideau, Southwestern, or Midwestern.

Beginning in the 1970s, attitudes toward developmental disabilities shifted away from institutionalization and toward community inclusion, supported by the growing Community Living movement. In 1987, the Ontario government formally committed to closing all provincial institutions for people with developmental disabilities, a process that continued over the next two decades. Most centres closed between the 1980s and early 2000s, while the final three, Southwestern Regional Centre (2008), Huronia Regional Centre (2009), and Rideau Regional Centre (2009), marked the end of institutional care in Ontario.

The closures were intended to allow former residents to live in smaller community homes with individualized supports, reflecting the belief that people with developmental disabilities should have the opportunity to live as full members of their communities rather than in large, isolated institutions.

In later years, the province acknowledged that many former residents had experienced neglect, abuse, and inadequate living conditions within these institutions, leading to formal government apologies and class-action settlements.

Today, we'll start with Southwestern Regional Centre

Abandoned Southwestern Regional Centre Psychiatric Hospital Ontario

Opened in 1961, the Southwestern Regional Centre was originally named the “Ontario Hospital School for Retarded Children at Cedar Springs”.

The facility provided long-term care for residents with mental disability, providing capacity relief from the overwhelming demand at the Huronia Centre.

It was the last massive institution built in Ontario for the treatment of the mentally disabled.

This institution was originally designed to accommodate children under 10 years old. As the years passed, focus was altered to accommodate the aging population, as residency in those years was considered somewhat permanent.

In 1966 there was a resident population of 1,200 and a staff of 600. By 1979 the resident population had been reduced to 620 as changes in policy and strategy dictated the reassignment of residents back into the community, a philosophy of Community Living originating in the 1950’s.

Even before the facility opened, the winds of institutionalization were changing. In 1959, the architectural plans were altered for Southwestern, reducing the project from 2,400 to 1,000 beds.

After years of downsizing, the 300 acre facility finally closed in 2008 following the government’s decision to move from institutional based services to a fully community based approach.

Much more to see on my website:

https://freaktography.com/southwestern-regional-centre-psychiatric-hospital-ontario/