This December, after a long and rewarding career that includes 18 years at Kensington, Debbie Emmerson is retiring.

In 2001, Debbie Emmerson took a job as a Resident Team Coordinator at Kensington Gardens. The long-term care home at 25 Brunswick Ave. was not open yet, and where the 45 Brunswick Ave. location is today was a big, empty lot.

Kensington Health was a team of just six employees working in an office on the 6th floor of 340 College St., planning and developing policy. Shortly after opening their doors to seniors, Debbie became the Director of Care for Kensington Gardens – south.  In their first year, Kensington Gardens was awarded additional long-term care beds from the Ministry of Long-Term Care, and planning began for construction of the north building at 45 Brunswick Ave. 

In 2010, Kensington struck a partnership with the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to convert the old Chapel of St. John the Divine on 38 Major St. to a comforting place where people living with end-of-life conditions could spend their final weeks in a home-like setting. Kensington Hospice opened the next year, becoming the first residential hospice in downtown Toronto. Debbie decided to step out of her comfort zone as she took on the role of Director of Hospice. 

Reflecting on 18 years at Kensington

This December, after a long and rewarding career that includes 18 years at Kensington, Debbie is retiring. We sat down with her to reflect on her time here.

Q. You were there when Kensington Gardens first opened in 2002. What were the early days like?

A. I think that we were all energized with the excitement of starting something new. We felt pride in being part of the beginning of Kensington. 

Q. Can you tell us about the beginnings of Kensington Hospice?


A. Looking back, it’s incredible to see how it all came together. When we started planning for Kensington Hospice, we did not have any government funding yet. We were only depending on funds from the Kensington Health Foundation and generous donors. We were doing something big in the community. I was a bit out of my comfort zone but felt extremely supported by Bill O’Neill and the team. When working on something big, it’s important to focus on your priorities for one day and give them your best, day-by-day, and eventually everything will come together.


Q. Is there a special moment that sticks out as you reflect on your time at the hospice?

A. I remember this gentleman whose mom had passed away. He held my hands in his and said, “there is no word in any language that exists that can express how much I appreciate what you have done for us.


Dying is inevitable. We have cared for 850 people and without a doubt we have made the dying experience more comfortable for every person. The hospice operates on a human-centred model of care, focusing on one-on-one care. 


The reputation of an organization doesn’t come from the physical structure and the building, but from the people who work there. It’s important to find the right people. It’s a very demanding and rewarding experience.

Q. If you could give go back in time and give yourself some advice when you were first starting out your career, what would you say? 

A. Believe in yourself. Don’t hesitate to step outside of your comfort zone and dream. Always know that your greatest resource is the people that you work with. Always do more than is expected of you; people notice.

To learn more about Kensington Hospice, visit kensingtonhealth.org/hospice