05/08/2026
Behind this shop, there's a family. And behind this family, there's a story that runs a lot deeper than oil changes and brake jobs.
This week, Ontario Health announced that rTMS, Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, will now be publicly funded across 15 sites in the province, reaching up to 2,250 people every year who are living with treatment-resistant depression. That's depression that hasn't responded to medication or therapy.
Until now, accessing rTMS in Ontario meant paying out of pocket, qualifying for a clinical trial, or being fortunate enough to receive compassionate care funded by donors. For most people living with treatment-resistant depression, that meant it simply wasn't an option. That's what's changed.
We’re saying something about this because it's personal to us.
Shelley has lived with treatment-resistant depression for most of her life. rTMS is one of the treatments that genuinely changed things for her. Derek has watched that firsthand, in ways that are hard to put into words. For the past couple of years, Shelley has been sitting on a provincial advisory committee working toward exactly this kind of access. Her role was a small one, but she was in the room, and that's mattered to her more than she can say.
Mental health advocacy has been part of this family for a long time. Doug (Dad) and Barb’s grandson Zach walked from Barrie to Ottawa at thirteen years old and raised over $175,000 for youth mental health. They supported that walk with everything they had, both personally and through the businesses Dad built in this community for decades.
We try to do the same. We speak when we're asked. We share when it might help someone. We donate where we can. Most of it happens quietly because that's not why we do it.
But an announcement like this one, publicly funded treatment now reaching thousands of Ontarians who might have thought they were out of options, makes every one of those moments worth it.
If you or someone you love hasn't responded to medication or therapy for depression, rTMS exists and in Ontario it's now covered. You're not out of options. You're not out of hope.
𝗢𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 💙
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive, evidence-based treatment for adults 18+ living with treatment-resistant depression – depression that doesn’t get better with psychotherapy or medication.
rTMS uses a magnetic field to deliver a series of short magnetic pulses to the brain, stimulating the nerve cells that help control emotions. Over time, these pulses can help ease depression symptoms and improve mood with minimal side effects.
Ontario has launched its publicly funded rTMS program across 15 sites, supporting 18 rTMS devices. This is a major step towards improving access to care and will help up to 2,250 clients every year. It may also reduce the need for more intensive services, like Electroconvulsive Therapy.
𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 – 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁: Christopher Doyle, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
𝗣𝗵𝗼𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Brenda McCarthy, RN (right) demonstrates how to position the repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation device with her colleague Caitlin Ireland, RN, in the rTMS labs at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton's West 5th Campus.
St. Joseph's Healthcare and Foundation
