I consider myself fortunate to live and work in a city blessed with beautiful ravines and an abundance of natural spaces. As the CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, walking has become more than just a personal practice; it’s a deliberate act that connects me to the world around me, offering clarity, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of the community we serve. It’s easy to overlook the hidden gems right in our neighbourhoods, but taking the time to explore the ravines and streets surrounding Sunnybrook and the Leaside community fills me with gratitude.
Growing up in a small town, in a house on the edge of Ontario’s cornfields, I spent my childhood outdoors, surrounded by nature. My brothers and I would lose ourselves in the open fields, our imaginations running wild. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong love of running, biology, and, ultimately, medicine. There were many steps, and many walks, along the way that guided me toward a fulfilling career as a cancer surgeon and now as a hospital CEO.
While running was my passion in my youth, after an injury, I turned to walking. It’s a practice I’ve maintained for decades, transitioning from journaling runs in a paper log in the ’80s to tracking my walks on Strava today.
These days, I make it a point to appreciate the moments that matter, not just for myself but for those who join me on my walks. Whether it’s connecting with family and friends, brainstorming with colleagues or mentoring a future leader, walking through the Toronto ravines fills me with energy and creativity. The recruitment of Sunnybrook’s Foundation president, Kelly Cole, and our Odette Cancer Centre Chief, Dr. Monika Krzyzanowska, both started with a walk in the Don Valley ravine by Sunnybrook. My walks serve as a space for connecting, brainstorming, mentoring, and asking the right questions.
In addition, I frequently walk along the streets around Sunnybrook, where I’ve come to better understand the challenges our community faces. It’s also allowed me to build connections with community partners. I’ve walked alongside leaders from community groups, like SPRINT Senior Care and LOFT Community Services, visiting the communities where their teams provide vital in-home supports to our neighbours. These walks offer a unique opportunity to engage with community leaders, understand the needs of the people we serve, and identify where more is needed.
Toronto’s ravines hold a special place in my heart. Unlike the towering, visible mountains in Vancouver, our ravines are hidden treasures, tucked below the city’s grade, waiting to be discovered. My favourites include the Don Valley and Cedarvale ravines. Jason Ramsay-Brown’s book Toronto’s Ravines and Urban Forests is an excellent guide for anyone looking to explore these spaces. I often walk a 10-km route from Sunnybrook to the Evergreen Brick Works on weekend mornings, where we indulge in a blueberry scone and kombucha at the end of the trail.
One winter weekend in the Don Valley Ravine stands out vividly. The sky was a crystalline blue, and the air was bitterly cold as I made the first tracks in the freshly fallen snow. As I turned a bend in Sunnybrook Park, I caught the unmistakable scent of barbecue. A Turkish-Canadian family was grilling quail and invited me to join them. We chatted briefly before I continued on my way, but the warmth of that seemingly random encounter has stayed with me.
Walking is a practice with deep roots, from Saint Augustine’s belief that “it is solved by walking” to the Gemba Walks implemented as part of Toyota’s Lean Management practices. Acclaimed science writer Annie Murphy Paul, in her book The Extended Mind, shares the science to support the idea that our minds extend beyond our brains, that nature enhances our mental processes, and that walking expands our thinking. When I walk with others, our interactions are more energized, our minds sharper, and our creativity heightened. Together, we create moments that matter.
Team Sunnybrook is blessed to work and serve in a beautiful, park-like setting. Our groundskeeping team is driven by a deep sense of purpose. Their care for our gardens reflects the restorative environment we strive to create for our staff and patients alike.
In the hustle and bustle of the world, I encourage everyone to take the time to step into nature, walk, run or roll with others, and connect with the beauty that surrounds us.
Dr. Andy Smith is the President & CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.