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May 6, 2026
KW
Kerrisa Wilson

Doctors’ Day 2026: Ontario shows its support

The province was lit up in blue as Ontarians shared sincere appreciation for all you do

From “your work is truly lifesaving” to “thank you for showing up every day,” Ontarians shared heartfelt messages of gratitude to celebrate you on Doctors’ Day this year. 

Toronto's CN Tower lit up in blue for Doctors' Day 2026.
The CN Tower is lit in blue for Doctors’ Day on May 1. (Courtesy: CN Tower)

The annual day is a chance for Ontarians — including your fellow physicians and OMA staff — to recognize your unwavering commitment to your patients’ care and to honour all that you do. 

To mark the day on May 1, 17 landmarks across the province were illuminated in blue, including the CN Tower, Timmins McIntyre Mine Headframe, Quinte West Sign, Sault St. Marie Civic Centre and many more. Eleven media outlets, including the Globe and Mail, also published stories about Doctors' Day.

Patients share their gratitude

Ontarians took the opportunity to express their sincere appreciation for the life-saving care you provide. Below is a selection of the submissions — which reflect how much you are appreciated. 

“We’re lucky to have highly skilled and dedicated surgeons.”

“Thank you for taking the time to truly listen to me, and act with urgency and care.”  

“You support us through some of our hardest moments, and even help prevent those moments from happening. <3”   

“Happy Doctors’ Day 🩺 Thank you for your dedication, compassion, and the countless lives you touch every day.”   

“Thank you for taking care of us through some challenging times, always with compassion and TLC.”

Advocating for you

We have secured 42 meetings with members of provincial Parliament to speak about your success and advocate for you and your well-being.

Leaders say thank you

Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones also shared messages of thanks for your extraordinary efforts.

Immediate Past President Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman also released a heartfelt note of gratitude. 

“Every day I am inspired by my fellow physicians,” said Dr. Abdurrahman. “On Doctors’ Day, we thank physicians across the province for their perseverance, compassion, and tireless advocacy for better care for every Ontarian.”

#DoctorsDay trends online

Sincere tributes for you also flooded social media with the hashtag #DoctorsDay. 

Patients, hospital networks, health-care workers and more took the opportunity to thank and recognize you — some of those messages are below.

Published: May 6, 2026  |  Last updated: May 6, 2026