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Children's health in Toronto

In Ontario, public healthcare runs through OHIP: once you have the card, doctor visits and hospital care are free for the whole family. The real challenge is finding a family doctor, and one who speaks French. Here is how to find your way, from the SickKids emergency department to the few French-speaking professionals listed publicly.

Verified on 30 October 2026

How the healthcare system works

OHIP, Ontario's health insurance plan, pays directly for most medically necessary care: you do not pay upfront at the doctor's or the hospital. Simply show your health card at every visit.

Good to know

  • There is no longer a waiting period for OHIP: if you are eligible, coverage is immediate and you can apply as soon as you arrive. Source
  • A work permit holder qualifies if working full time in Ontario for an Ontario employer for at least 6 months; their partner and dependent children may then qualify too. Source
  • OHIP does not cover the dentist (except some in-hospital surgery); it does cover one full eye exam a year up to age 19. Source
  • Up to age 24, OHIP+ covers many prescription drugs for young people without private insurance, with no enrolment: the health card and the prescription are enough. Source
  • Private insurance, often provided by the employer, tops up OHIP (dentist, physio, adults' glasses, private room) and covers the family until the card arrives. Source

Addresses

  • ServiceOntario

    The health card is applied for in person at a ServiceOntario centre, for each family member; a photo is taken on site.

    Website Source

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Finding a family doctor

In Ontario, you register with a family doctor or nurse practitioner who follows the whole family. Spots are scarce: register early and use walk-in clinics in the meantime.

Good to know

  • Health Care Connect searches on your behalf for a family doctor, nurse practitioner or care team accepting new patients; you can register the whole family, in English or French, online or by calling 811. Source
  • Health811, by phone at 811 or online, gives free nurse advice 24 hours a day and points you to nearby services. Source
  • Walk-in clinics treat one-off problems with the OHIP card but do not provide follow-up; for children, a paediatrician is usually seen on referral from the family doctor. Source
  • There is no single health booklet: bring each child's French carnet de santé and vaccination record, ideally translated, for the doctor and for public health. Source
  • The public register of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario lets you check that a doctor is licensed and search for doctors by language spoken. Source

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Paediatric emergencies

For a life-threatening emergency, call 911. For an urgent problem without immediate danger, the paediatric emergency areas of local hospitals and evening children's clinics often spare you a long wait at SickKids.

Good to know

  • 911 is the single number for police, fire and ambulance: difficulty breathing, severe pain, unusual drowsiness or confusion in a child warrant calling or going to the emergency department. Source
  • 811 (Health811) answers day and night to help decide whether to go to the emergency department. Source
  • The Ontario Poison Centre, hosted by SickKids, answers 24 hours a day for any ingestion or exposure to a product. Source
  • SickKids sees several hundred children a day in its emergency department and prioritises serious cases: for less urgent problems, local hospitals' evening children's clinics are a good alternative. Source

Addresses

  • The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)

    Emergency

    555 University Avenue, M5G 1X8

    Toronto's major children's hospital, open 24 hours. Emergency entrance at 170 Elizabeth Street; Queen's Park or St. Patrick subway.

    Website Source

  • Michael Garron Hospital, Child and Youth Emergency Zone

    Emergency

    825 Coxwell Avenue, East York

    Emergency area designed for children and youth 17 and under, next to the main emergency department, for East Toronto.

    Website Source

  • North York General Hospital

    Emergency

    4001 Leslie Street, North York

    Charlotte and Lewis Steinberg Emergency for children in the north of the city, with a paediatric short-stay unit.

    Website Source

  • St. Joseph's Health Centre, CIBC Just for Kids Clinic

    Emergency

    30 The Queensway, Parkdale

    Walk-in paediatric clinic at St. Joseph's hospital in the west end, on weekdays and weekends; full emergency department on site.

    Source

  • Scarborough Health Network, Kids Care After Hours Clinic

    Emergency

    3050 Lawrence Avenue East, Scarborough

    Evening and weekend children's clinic at Scarborough General Hospital.

    Website Source

  • Children's After Hours Clinic

    Emergency

    235 Danforth Avenue, Riverdale

    Evening and weekend children's walk-in clinic on the Danforth and in North York (1100 Sheppard Avenue East); online booking advised.

    Website Source

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French-speaking doctors and therapists

Unlike other cities, Toronto has no long public list of French-speaking doctors. The consulate's list names only one GP in Toronto; we complete it with the francophone community health centre and the Toronto-Franco directory. These lists are provided for information only, without engaging their authors, and the choice of practitioner is free.

Good to know

  • The French consulate general in Toronto's list names French-speaking GPs in its district (Toronto, Ottawa, Peterborough, Sarnia), with no commitment on quality or fees. Source
  • The Centre francophone du Grand Toronto is a community health centre: doctors and nurses in French, covered by OHIP, but with a waiting list for new patients; its mental health services for ages 0 to 17 and adults are free. Source
  • For dentists and paediatricians, no reliable public French-speaking list exists: use the language search of the dental college (RCDSO) and physicians' college (CPSO) registers, and ask the TFS and Lycée français parent associations. Source

Addresses

  • Dr Sylvain A. René

    General practitioner

    Davisville, 1901 Yonge Street

    General practitioner, Davisville Medical Clinic; the only Toronto doctor on the consulate's list.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Source

  • Centre francophone du Grand Toronto, clinique médicale du centre-ville

    General practitioner

    Centre-ville, 555 Richmond Street West

    French-speaking family doctors and nurses for the whole family, vaccinations, prenatal classes; join the waiting list by form or phone.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Centre francophone du Grand Toronto, clinique de North York

    General practitioner

    North York, 5 Fairview Mall Drive

    The centre's second medical clinic; it is not taking new patients at the moment.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Centre francophone du Grand Toronto, santé mentale jeunesse

    Psychologist

    Centre-ville, 555 Richmond Street West

    Free, confidential counselling and therapy in French for ages 0 to 17 and their families, by referral or direct request.

    Languages spoken : FR

    Website Source

  • Catherine Desjardins

    Psychologist

    Little Italy, College Street

    Clinical psychologist, member of the College of Psychologists of Ontario, Clinique de psychothérapie francophone de Toronto (adults, teens from 14, couples).

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Isabelle Bonsaint

    Psychologist

    Bloor West Village, Bloor Street West

    Clinical psychologist, Clinique de psychothérapie francophone de Toronto (adults, teens from 14, couples).

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

  • Nadia Brabant

    Psychologist

    High Park, Bloor Street West

    Social worker and psychotherapist, Clinique de psychothérapie francophone de Toronto.

    Languages spoken : FR, EN

    Website Source

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Pregnancy and maternity

Pregnancy care is provided by your family doctor, an obstetrician on referral, or a midwife, free and available without referral. The main maternity units are downtown and in North York.

Good to know

  • Midwives are part of Ontario's health system and free for residents; they care for you through pregnancy, birth (in hospital, at home or in a birth centre) and the six weeks after. Source
  • No medical referral is needed for a midwife: call as early as possible in the pregnancy, spots go fast. Source
  • Ontario's pregnancy leave lasts up to 17 weeks, unpaid by the employer; federal Employment Insurance pays up to 15 weeks of maternity benefits, followed by parental benefits. Source
  • The Centre francophone offers prenatal classes and parent-baby workshops in French, and EarlyON (ON y va) centres welcome 0 to 6 year-olds with their parents for free. Source

Addresses

  • Mount Sinai Hospital (Sinai Health)

    Maternity

    600 University Avenue, Discovery District

    Major downtown maternity unit, known for high-risk pregnancies, with a neonatal intensive care unit.

    Website Source

  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

    Maternity

    2075 Bayview Avenue, North Toronto

    Sunnybrook's DAN Women and Babies Program, north of downtown, close to Leaside and Lawrence Park.

    Website Source

  • North York General Hospital

    Maternity

    4001 Leslie Street, North York

    Maternity and paediatrics in one place, handy for families in Lawrence Park and North York.

    Website Source

  • Toronto Birth Centre

    Maternity

    525 Dundas Street East, Regent Park

    Midwife-led birth centre, for low-risk pregnancies followed by a midwife.

    Website Source

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Pharmacies and medicines

Pharmacies are often inside big chains (Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall) or supermarkets, and many stay open late. Many common medicines are sold over the counter.

Good to know

  • Ontario pharmacists can prescribe treatment for common ailments (pink eye, diaper rash, head lice, insect bites, urinary tract infections, among others), at no cost with your OHIP card; call first to check your pharmacy offers it. Source
  • A French prescription is not valid: Ontario pharmacies only fill prescriptions from prescribers licensed in a Canadian province or territory. Have it renewed by a local doctor. Source
  • The pharmacist dispenses the exact number of pills prescribed and can send a renewal request straight to the doctor. Source
  • Brand names change: paracetamol is sold as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen as Advil or Motrin. Bring the generic names of your children's medicines.
  • Up to age 24, without private insurance, many prescription drugs are free through OHIP+. Source

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Vaccines: what changes

Ontario's schedule looks like the French one, with a few differences. Above all, the law requires parents to report their children's vaccines to public health so they can attend school.

Good to know

  • Chickenpox is part of Ontario's routine schedule: one dose at 15 months, then the combined MMRV vaccine around age 4, whereas it is not routine in France. Source
  • Hepatitis B, meningococcal and HPV vaccines are offered in grade 7, at school; in France, hepatitis B is given in infancy. Source
  • Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, you must report your children's vaccines to your local public health unit, Toronto Public Health; a student whose record is not up to date can be temporarily excluded from school. Source
  • Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are recommended every autumn for everyone 6 months and older who lives or goes to school in Ontario. Source
  • The tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster (Tdap) is recommended in every pregnancy. Source
  • Vaccines are given by your family doctor, at the Centre francophone, in some pharmacies (from a certain age) or at Toronto Public Health clinics, which publish the schedule in French. Source

Go further

These landmarks do not replace the advice of a health professional. In an emergency, call the local emergency number shown above.

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Toronto will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Ontario, demander l'OHIP et la carte santé
  2. 2 Ontario, ce que couvre l'OHIP
  3. 3 Ontario, Accès Soins et Santé811
  4. 4 Consulat général de France à Toronto, liste de notoriété
  5. 5 Centre francophone du Grand Toronto, clinique médicale
  6. 6 SickKids, urgences
  7. 7 Ontario, calendrier de vaccination systématique
  8. 8 Toronto-Franco, annuaire santé mentale et psychologues

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