Mayor Olivia Chow was among city staff to break ground on a new 90,000-square-foot station on Progress Avenue, ensuring paramedics can respond where needed most.
By Staff Writer — CityWorks Toronto
On a clear day marked by hard hats and shovels, the City of Toronto took a significant step toward strengthening emergency health services. Mayor Olivia Chow joined city staff and Toronto Paramedic Services leadership to officially break ground on a new, state-of-the-art paramedic station on Progress Avenue.
The 90,000-square-foot facility, located in Scarborough, represents one of the city’s most significant recent investments in frontline emergency response, designed to improve response times, modernize operations and support a growing paramedic workforce.
Meeting a Growing Need
Toronto Paramedic Services responds to hundreds of thousands of calls each year, with demand steadily increasing as the city grows and ages. In parts of eastern Toronto, including Scarborough, call volumes have risen alongside population growth and expanded employment areas.
The new Progress Avenue station is strategically located to help paramedics reach high-demand areas more quickly, reducing travel times and improving overall system efficiency.
City officials emphasized that modern emergency response is not only about staffing — it also depends on having the right infrastructure in the right locations.
Designed for Today’s Paramedics
Unlike older facilities, the new station is being purpose-built to meet the operational realities of a modern paramedic service.
Plans for the facility include:
- Space for 40 ambulances and 20 specialized response vehicles
- Modern training and simulation areas
- On-site equipment storage and maintenance areas
- Dedicated rest and wellness spaces for staff working long shifts
By investing in a contemporary facility, the city aims to improve both service delivery and working conditions — supporting recruitment, retention and staff well-being.
A Scarborough Investment with Citywide Impact
While the station is located in Scarborough, its benefits extend beyond a single neighbourhood. Paramedic deployment is dynamic, and improved coverage in one area helps relieve pressure across the broader system.
For residents, this means faster, more reliable emergency medical response — particularly during peak demand periods when every minute matters.
The project also reflects a broader effort to ensure that major city investments are distributed equitably across Toronto’s neighbourhoods.
Part of a Broader Emergency Services Strategy
The new paramedic station is one element of Toronto’s long-term plan to modernize emergency services infrastructure. Over recent years, the city has worked to expand paramedic staffing, upgrade equipment and improve coordination with hospitals, fire services and police.
Mayor Chow has repeatedly emphasized that public safety and emergency response are core municipal responsibilities — requiring sustained, long-term investment rather than short-term fixes.
The Progress Avenue project aligns with that approach, pairing capital investment with workforce planning to ensure services can keep pace with demand.
Building for the Future
Construction of the new station is expected to take several years, with the facility designed to serve Toronto for decades to come. Once complete, it will stand as one of the largest and most advanced paramedic facilities in the city.
For paramedics, it represents a safer, more functional place to work. For residents, it’s reassurance that help will be closer, and ready to respond when needed most.
As the shovels went into the ground, the message was clear: investing in emergency care is investing in community safety.
