The main kitchen at Health Sciences Centre just received a renovation with a brand-new dishwashing station. 

Deep in the hospital basement, essential work happens every day. This is where the Nutrition and Food Services team prepares meals for patients who are receiving care and recovering from illnesses. In total, the staff put together approximately 2,400 meals per day – and that doesn’t include snacks, drinks, and meals prepared for Meals on Wheels.  

With thousands of meals going out each day, it’s easy to imagine the number of dishes and trays that come back. 

For almost four decades, the team relied on the same dishwashing station – a Hobart Canada machine installed on February 27, 1986. When it was officially decommissioned on October 14, 2025, after 39 years of service, it was the oldest Hobart Canada dish machine in Canada. 

After decades of service, the machine was starting to show signs of age. It would often break down, creating extra work for the team who had to quickly troubleshoot to make sure they were ready for the influx of dirty dishes coming back after meals were delivered to patients. 

But even this hardworking machine deserved a retirement. HSC moved ahead with plans to replace the dishwashing station and renovate the space, creating a safer, more modern work environment for the staff who prepare thousands of meals each day. 

For six months after the old dishwashing station was decommissioned, the staff had to manually strip down trays and wash dishes using a temporary semi-manual station. It was a big adjustment for a team already working hard to keep food services running smoothly across the hospital, but one that was necessary to complete the upgrades. 

“It was very tough and very hot in there … and [we were] really cramped together,” said Brenda Jansen, who has been a diet aide at HSC for 23 years. “Coming back to this [renovation] has been a big relief. It’s much better because we know that we don’t have to put all that strenuous work on our bodies.” 

The new dishwashing station has not only improved the team’s workflow, but also transformed the space where they spend so much of their day. The new equipment helps process the thousands of trays and dishes coming through the kitchen more efficiently, while the renovated room, with brighter lighting, white walls, and improved ventilation, creates a more comfortable and healthy work environment for staff. 

“We have this new room now, and it’s much more effective and more efficient…. Getting the [new] room running for us has really, really helped us,” said Grace Isinguzo, Patient Food Services Coordinator, HSC. 

During the transition, managers and staff worked together to adjust processes, reposition team members, and manually complete much of the work the machine had previously done. Despite the challenges, the team continued to make sure patients received their meals on time.  

“Kudos to all the staff here. Teamwork plays a very big role because all our work is dependent on another person’s work. Everybody, honestly, is a team player here…. Most of our trays have to go out at certain times because some patients are going for either dialysis or procedures,” Isinguzo said.  

Thanks to the new dishwashing station and kitchen upgrades, the team now has a modern space that helps them keep meals moving on schedule for patients with a wide range of care needs. 

While most patients may never see the kitchen below them, the work happening there plays an important role in their care. The new dishwashing station and renovated room are more than an upgrade. It is a way to support the people who help care for thousands of patients every day.  

– Written by Ligia Braidotti