Ontario's hospital sector is one of the largest employers of nurses in Canada — with over 150 hospitals ranging from small community facilities to world-class academic health sciences centres. But knowing which hospitals are actively hiring, what they offer, and how to get noticed is the difference between months of applications and a fast offer.
Here are the top 10 Ontario hospitals and health networks hiring nurses in 2026, based on volume of open positions, active recruitment, and workplace reputation.
All Ontario hospitals require active registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO). Make sure your registration is in good standing and your annual membership fee is paid before submitting applications.
The Top 10 List
University Health Network (UHN) — Toronto
UHN operates Toronto General, Toronto Western, and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre — three of Canada's premier hospitals. It's the top destination for nurses seeking complex, high-acuity, specialized care. UHN consistently has hundreds of nursing vacancies across ICU, oncology, transplant, and surgical programs. Unionized under ONA with strong wage grids and exceptional professional development funding.
Trillium Health Partners — Mississauga & Brampton
Operating Credit Valley Hospital and Mississauga Hospital, Trillium is one of Ontario's largest community hospital networks and one of the most active nurse recruiters in the GTA. The Brampton Civic Hospital expansion and new Peel Memorial facility are creating significant new RN and RPN positions. Strong reputation for work-life balance and structured mentorship for new graduates.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre — Toronto
Sunnybrook is Canada's largest trauma centre and a leading academic hospital. Specialties include trauma/critical care, oncology (Odette Cancer Centre), cardiology, and veterans care. Known for innovation, cutting-edge nursing practice, and exceptional research opportunities. Competitive but highly sought after — new graduate positions in the Sunnybrook residency program are among the most coveted in Ontario.
Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS)
HHS operates five hospital sites including Hamilton General, McMaster Children's Hospital, and Juravinski Cancer Centre. It's one of Ontario's major academic health science centres, affiliated with McMaster University's DeGroote School of Medicine. Excellent for nurses interested in pediatrics, cardiac surgery, and high-acuity adult care. Lower cost of living than Toronto makes Hamilton increasingly popular for nurses.
Ottawa Hospital
The Ottawa Hospital operates the Civic, General, and Riverside campuses and is the primary academic hospital for Eastern Ontario. It's currently planning a massive new campus — one of the largest hospital projects in Canadian history — which will create thousands of new positions over the coming decade. Bilingual (English/French) requirements apply to some positions. Strong trauma, cardiac, and cancer programs.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC)
LHSC is the primary academic health centre for Southwestern Ontario, operating Victoria Hospital and University Hospital. Strong programs in cardiac surgery, neurology, neonatal intensive care, and transplant services. London's lower cost of living compared to the GTA makes LHSC a highly attractive option for nurses seeking a strong hospital career outside the Toronto region.
Humber River Health — North York
Humber River is one of North America's most digital hospitals — fully equipped with robotic pharmacy, automated patient monitoring, and smart room technology. It serves a large and diverse community in North York and regularly recruits nurses interested in tech-forward healthcare delivery. Growing rapidly with strong volumes across medicine, surgery, and the emergency department.
St. Joseph's Health Care — Hamilton & London
St. Joseph's operates major facilities in both Hamilton and London, with particular strength in mental health, rehabilitation, and complex continuing care. Nurses interested in mental health and addiction medicine, palliative care, or geriatric rehabilitation will find some of Ontario's best programs here. Known for supportive workplace culture and strong interdisciplinary team environments.
Mackenzie Health — Richmond Hill & Vaughan
Mackenzie Health opened the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital in 2021 — one of Canada's first smart hospitals, built with AI-enabled clinical decision support. This relatively new facility is actively building its nursing workforce and offers excellent opportunities for nurses interested in working in a modern, technology-forward environment. Rapidly growing patient volumes in the York Region.
Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC)
KHSC serves Eastern Ontario and is the academic health sciences centre affiliated with Queen's University. Strong programs in cardiac care, oncology, and regional trauma. Kingston offers an excellent quality of life — smaller city feel, lower cost of living, and proximity to the Thousand Islands and Algonquin Park. Consistently ranked among Ontario's better hospitals for staff satisfaction.
Tips for Getting Hired at an Ontario Hospital
- Apply to multiple hospitals simultaneously — hospital hiring can be slow; casting a wide net increases your chances of a timely offer
- Tailor your resume to each hospital's specialty — if applying to a cancer centre, highlight any oncology clinical experience or coursework
- Sign up for job alerts on each hospital's career portal — many positions fill quickly and aren't widely advertised
- Consider new graduate residency programs — UHN, Sunnybrook, and several other hospitals offer structured transition-to-practice programs for new RNs
- Network during clinical placements — many nurses receive their first offer from a unit where they completed a clinical placement
- Don't overlook smaller community hospitals — hospitals outside the top 10 often have less competition, faster hiring, and excellent environments for new graduates
Many Ontario hospitals offer New Graduate Guarantee positions funded by the provincial government, providing new RNs with structured orientation, mentorship, and full-time employment. Check the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) website and individual hospital career pages for current new grad postings.
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