How it all began...

More than a half century ago, through a generous bequest of publisher William James Gage, the Victorian mansion "Fernwood" was purchased and became a residence for senior women. Initially, in keeping with the spirit of the bequest, the Home was opened to "twelve needy widows". This was the beginning of a long tradition of service to senior women in the community.

The home was named after Ina, wife of W.J. Gage and his mother whose maiden name was Grafton.

Overlooking the Don Valley at Broadview Avenue and O'Connor Drive in mid-town Toronto, there have been several major additions to the Home, allowing the numbers of residents served to grow from 12 to 110.

With its own board of directors, administrative and support staff, the Home is a long term care facility under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Ministry of Health. Today the Home is literally the world for its 110 residents.

Ministering to each resident's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs is the mission of those involved in the life of the Home. Special emphasis is placed on preserving the dignity and independence of each resident. As residents' needs and society itself have changed, so the focus of the Home has changed.