SickKids Foundation - Toronto, Ontario

Sherry H.

One of the best foundations funding one of the world’s leading paediatric research hospitals. Incredible staff and programs engaging people of all ages to support kids’ health. 2025 marks 150 years of SickKids delivering best-in-class healthcare.

Hashem S.

SickKids Hospital in Toronto is one of the most wonderful medical institutions focused on pediatric care. It stands out for providing high-quality healthcare services thanks to a team of highly trained doctors and nurses who show great dedication to the well-being of children. The infrastructure is advanced, with modern medical equipment that makes the treatment experience comfortable and effective for patients and their families. The overall atmosphere in the hospital is warm and welcoming, which helps alleviate stress for both children and their parents. Additionally, their focus on medical research, particularly in areas like genetic diseases, reflects their commitment to improving the future of pediatric healthcare. In short, it’s a place that combines professionalism with humanity, making it an excellent choice for anyone seeking exceptional care for their children.

Madalayne R.

Stayed here overnight for several days a couple times for a friend’s surgery (he is an adult but had been going to sickkids his whole life and was finishing up his care with some final procedures here). Overall good experience, nurses are all kind and patient, with some really going above and beyond. There are some doctors who really don’t have the people skills necessary to work in healthcare, or at least face to face with patients, let alone with children unfortunately. Empathy, patience, and respect are 3 things you would want from all healthcare professionals! Unfortunately one of the anesthesiologist fellows and a surgeon who used to work there were not very empathetic or patient. But this doesn’t quite overshadow the overwhelmingly positive experiences we had with the nurses and all other doctors, or the skills of the doctors in general! It does not go unnoticed when a healthcare professional is patient and empathetic, though (and vice versa). Food is alright, actually pretty good number of options for a hospital! and the beds in the overnight rooms / observation rooms aren’t the most comfy… but that is to be expected.

TTalltale

I want to echo another recent review that this is directed at the charity foundation and not the good work that the hospital does to help children.

I was lucky to be visiting my mother when a canvasser knocked on her door looking for donations. Nice, friendly person - looking to see if we can help support the cause. No issues with this.

What I didn't like and why I felt compelled to write this review is the somewhat sneaky way this employee of the foundation tried to get my Mom to sign up for a monthly donation. I had to intervene and explain to my mom what they really wanted her to sign up for.

When I asked the SickKids Foundation employee to confirm and explain clearly with my mother that this is going to be a monthly donation on her credit card, they never gave me a straight answer. Instead, they continued to point to some fine print that she had to read.

Well, the fine print pretty much confirmed what was hinted at and i had to explain again to my mother what she was getting into. All she wanted to do was give a single one-time donation. I was frustrated that this guy could just not say the truth to her outright. Instead they were walking this fine line of trying to be nice and follow the charity talking-points of what to say and what NOT to say at someone' s door.

And of course, if she wants to cancel the recurring charges to her credit card she has to call some person she doesn't know, after she digs up the phone number, listens to some computer voice listing all her options, wait times, etc etc. Do you think she'll do that? No. And that's what they're probably hoping.

Anyway, it turned into one long drawn out back and forth conversation, to the point where I felt it bordered on taking advantage of an elder senior who may not have enough knowledge about the process to make a proper decision when signing something.

They were also asking for phone number and email and were very insistent. Well, funny enough, that's what saved my Mom. She is so very giving and wanted to help but she does not use email and therefore this SickKids Charity process could not proceed. Literally, both the employee and the call-centre person (who he had to call from the door), both said that she had to have an email or get a family members email. No thank you.

It does tarnish the reputation of the hospital a bit in my mind but I'll hope for better experience next time.

Dawn C.

In 17 years we've never had a negative experience in any of the 5 different specialty departments we've attended. Child Life Specialists work miracles with kids who have have anxiety and/or a million questions about their upcoming procedures that are new to them. Doctors take the time to thoroughly explain things to the patient and their families, and they explain it all in layman's terms, not medical speak. To say that this is a special place, that the staff is extraordinary doesn't begin to do it justice.

Azeem M.

One of the best hospital of Canada. Staff is very friendly and fully trained to handle kids. Unlike other hospital staff won’t poke your kids multiple times to collect blood samples. Rooms and buildings are painted with kids favourite cartoons. Sickkids should open more branches to major cities . Going to town down Toronto for early morning appointments is a painful experience due to congested traffic.

Izabel F.

My grandson was hospitalized this week and was very well taken care of by the doctors and nurses!

Austin C.

I want to preface this by saying that I have no ill will against the SickKids Foundation or SickKids Hospital, because they are doing very important work for children in our country.

However, I ran into some of their volunteers at a booth set up in the lounge at Billy Bishop Airport in Toronto. When it came to the part of their pitch when they asked for donations. I offered them some spare change of a few dollars I had in my wallet, but they refused saying they didn't take one-time donations of less than $50 or so.

Furthermore, when I said i couldn't commit to a monthly donation, they decided to ask me if "there was a reason," as if my word wasn't enough or as if I somehow owed them anything at all.

I'm not going to blame these volunteers for the donation policies and I get that being persuasive is part of the job, but I was appalled at their complete lack of tact. The children at SickKids deserve donations, but this is absolutely not the way to do it.