April 2026 - Toronto ON
Tom hosts Tuesday's Treasures.
A historical plaque marks the site of the first permanent Ontario College of Pharmacy building, opened on February 3, 1887, at 44-46 Gerrard Street East in Toronto. The college was a major influence on Canadian pharmacy development.
Location: The original 1887 building was at 44-46 Gerrard Street East, Toronto.
Significance: This was the first school of pharmacy erected in Ontario, established by a provincial act in 1821.
Historical Designation: The plaque is a testament to the development of pharmaceutical education in Canada.
Current Identification: The Ontario College of Pharmacists uses a "Point of Care" symbol (green and white) to identify accredited pharmacies and licensed pharmacists
On this site, 3 February 1887, the Ontario College of Pharmacy opened its first permanent building, which was also the first school of pharmacy erected in Canada, parts of which still stand. It served as a teaching and administrative centre for the profession in Ontario until 1963. Established by provincial act in 1871, the College exerted significant influence upon the development of pharmacy in Canada far beyond the borders of the province.
In 1882, the Ontario College of Pharmacy opened Canada's first school of pharmacy, which moved into this building in 1887. A group of 18 druggists (a former term for pharmacists) founded the predecessor organization the Toronto Chemists and Druggists Association in 1867 to oversee their work with medicines and poisons.
They were a licensing and regulatory body, a teaching college, and a professional society. In the 19th century, pharmacists competed with doctors, grocers, and other retailers regarding what medication each profession was allowed to make, prescribe, or sell.
The 1871 Ontario Pharmacy Act made the Ontario College of Pharmacy responsible for testing students, issuing qualifications, and registering those who could legally dispense drugs. The College professionalized pharmacy over several decades. In 1892, it became affiliated with the University of Toronto, and the Faculty of Pharmacy offered the first graduate degree in 1953. The now-renamed Ontario College of Pharmacists remains the regulatory body for pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and pharmacies in the province.
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