The St. Michael's Story
The Urban Angel
For almost a century, the statue of St. Michael the Archangel has graced St. Michael's as a symbol of hope for employees, patients and their families. The artist and date of creation of the statue are unknown, but the name of 'Pietrasanta' chiselled on the back of the statue indicates the stone is from the same quarry in Italy where Michelangelo procured the marble for his famous 'Pieta'.
How the statue made its way to Canada is unclear, but what we do know is that during the latter part of the 19th century, the Sisters of St. Joseph found this statue, dirty and blackened, in a second-hand store on Queen Street. Recognizing its value, they wisely bought it for the sum of $49 - money they had accumulated from the sale of old newspapers.
The statue temporarily stands in our historic Bond Lobby. Eventually, St. Michael will have a permanent home in the Peter Gilgan Patient Care Tower, following its 2017 completion. The statue is a symbol of hope and healing for all who visit. It is why St. Michael's is affectionately known as Toronto's Urban Angel.
Corporate publications
Read latest annual report, Our Shared Purpose newsletter and more.
Sustainability & Environmental Action
Learn about Unity Health Toronto's environmental stewardship, green-friendly practices and how we are minimizing our impact on the environment.
Downtown East Toronto Resources
A local health planning area which supports the development of integrated local systems focused on better health outcomes for local residents.
