The Heart of Giving #1: A Tale of Loblaw, Stevenson, Banting and Weston
Written by: Fayaaz Kala, SMHF Board Chair & Dr. Ted Vandevis CEO of SMHF
On June 30, Stevenson Memorial Hospital celebrated its 98th Birthday with a Community BBQ, marking nearly a century since the hospital first opened its doors in 1928, thanks to the vision and generosity of Theodore Pringle Loblaw and the support of community leaders.
The story of Stevenson Memorial Hospital is inseparable from the remarkable legacies of four names woven deeply into the history of Essa Township and Simcoe County: Loblaw, Stevenson, Weston, and Banting. Their contributions—personal, philanthropic, and visionary—continue to shape the region’s health care landscape nearly a century later.
Any history of Essa Township begins with Theodore Pringle Loblaw, known to friends simply as T.P. A pioneer of the modern grocery industry, Loblaw grew up in the same rural community as Sir Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin. Their shared roots in the fields and farmhouses of Essa Township would later intersect in meaningful ways.
After Loblaw’s death in 1933, the Weston family gradually acquired Loblaw Companies, completing the purchase in 1947. The company later reinvented itself in the 1970s under Galen Weston Jr. and Dave Nichol, transforming the Canadian grocery experience. Philanthropy also became a defining Weston legacy: in the 1950s, Willard Garfield Weston established what would become a globally influential charitable foundation, with early grants supporting the Banting and Best Institute at the University of Toronto.
Loblaw’s personal story is equally compelling. Orphaned as a teenager, he was raised by his grandparents William Stevenson and Elizabeth Pringle on the Stevenson Farm in Essa Township. That bond shaped one of the most significant gifts in local history. In 1928, after achieving success in business, Loblaw donated more than $100,000 to build a new hospital in honour of his grandparents.
At the same time, Sir Frederick Banting, by then internationally renowned, lent his support to the new hospital, serving alongside Theodore Loblaw on its inaugural Planning Committee. Together, their leadership helped establish Stevenson Memorial Hospital on a foundation of innovation, compassion, and community commitment.
As the hospital looks ahead to its 100th anniversary and the completion of its transformational redevelopment, that same spirit of community continues to drive its future.
The original 1928 building was replaced in 1964 to serve a growing rural suburban population. Now, more than half a century later, the facility is itself ailing, having undergone numerous band-aid fixes over the years. A full redevelopment is underway: a $405 million project, including an $80 million local share, to build the modern health centre the region urgently needs.
The Stevenson legacy remains alive today. Stephen and Susanne Milne, current owners of Stevenson Farms and Heritage Spa, are direct descendants of William Stevenson and Elizabeth Pringle and continue to be strong supporters of the hospital.
Together, these intertwined stories—of innovation, generosity, and community roots—form the enduring foundation of Stevenson Memorial Hospital’s past, present, and future.
As we build on the legacy of those who came before us, your support will help ensure exceptional health care remains close to home for generations to come. Please consider making a donation to the Stevenson Memorial Hospital Foundation and become part of the hospital's next chapter.