Dr. John G.C. Adams (1839-1922) Commemorative Plaque, 2014
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Resource ID
5160
Access
Open
Address
650 Bay Street, Toronto, ON M5G 1H2
Credit Line
Heritage Toronto
Date of Creation
2014
Historical Themes
Program Category
Rights
Heritage Toronto
Caption
Dr. John G.C. Adams (1839-1922) Commemorative Plaque, 2014
Description
Dr. John G.C. Adams is regarded as the father of public health dentistry in Canada. His Methodist faith inspired him to become Canada's first resident dental missionary. He funded and operated the first free dental hospital on the continent in 1872, primarily treating poverty-stricken children and their mothers. Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children opened three years later and, in 1883, Dr. Adams became its first dentist of record.
In the building here, Dr. Adams operated Christ's Mission Hall and dental Institute from 1879 until 1899 when the City closed it for non-payment of taxes. A champion of preventive dental health through education, Dr. Adams advocated for dental check-ups in public schools and free dental treatment for underprivileged children. His recommendations were finally realized in 1911 with the beginning of dental check-ups in Toronto schools. Canada's first publicly funded free dental clinic opened two years later.
Marker lat / long: 43.657146, -79.384432 (WGS84)