A legacy of
Innovative Care
The origins of EHN Guardians began
with one pioneering visionary.
In the first half of the 20th century, the treatment of mental health disorders and addiction still faced stigma in Canada’s medical community. At the same, Canadian soldiers returning from war faced an increased risk of trauma and substance use disorders.
Enter Dr. Gordon Bell, a University of Toronto Medical School graduate and doctor with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp. He witnessed first-hand the condition of soldiers returning from World War II and felt compelled to do something to help.
With a limited budget with which to begin treatment, Dr. Bell took advantage of an obscure regulation allowing doctors to treat up to four patients in their own homes. Known as Glenmaple, he began treating his first patients in 1946.
By 1964, the success of his practice allowed him to open the Donwood Institute, a facility in Toronto’s Leaside neighbourhood.
In 1982, he founded Bellwood Health Services (which became part of EHN Canada in 2014) and championed mental health and addiction recovery. For decades, he worked to innovate his treatments and saw growing success in the recovery of his patients.
Today, EHN Guardians proudly carries on that legacy.