The story of the Burlington Dental Academy (BDA) begins not in Burlington, but in nearby Hamilton, once the industrial and cultural centre of the west end of Lake Ontario . The Hamilton Academy of Dentistry (HAD), founded in 1869, holds the distinction of being Ontario’s first locally organized dental society . Two of its members—Dr. C. S. Chittenden and Dr. D. A. Bogart—were instrumental in establishing the Ontario Dental Association in 1867 .
In the early 20th century, Burlington was a small agricultural town beside the booming industrial city of Hamilton, with only a handful of medical and dental professionals . Over time, Burlington evolved from a lakeside market town into a thriving city .
A major milestone came in 1961 with the opening of Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital (JBMH), which began with 228 beds serving fewer than 50,000 residents . Within a decade, the hospital doubled in size to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population of 75,000 .
From the hospital’s founding, Burlington dentists operated a 24/7 emergency dental service—unique in Ontario at the time . Hamilton, by contrast, offered weekend‑only emergency care . This commitment to continuous service helped inspire the desire for a Burlington‑based dental society rooted in community service .
By 1974, the Hamilton Academy of Dentistry had 232 members, 81 of whom lived in Burlington . Yet many younger Burlington dentists were not attending Hamilton events , and long‑established practitioners such as Robert Echlin and Bob Sadler felt a growing disconnect within the local professional community .
Motivated to strengthen local professional ties, Dr. Jim Biggar and Dr. Fred Bodnar gathered 32 signatures requesting the creation of a Burlington component society of the ODA . They also secured the support of HAD leadership, who commendably did not oppose the formation of the new society despite the loss of members .
In July 1975, Biggar and Bodnar presented their case to the ODA Executive Council—and the Burlington Dental Academy was officially born .
Since its founding, BDA members have contributed significantly to the profession, including former ODA president Dr. Don Russell . In the community, Dr. Robert Peeling’s 18‑year role as co‑chair of the Burlington Rotary Ribfest has helped raise millions for charity .
Under the leadership of Dr. Bruce Gardner, Burlington dentists continue to provide 24/7 emergency dental care to residents of the greater Burlington area, preserving the spirit of service that defined the Academy’s earliest days .
Respectfully submitted by Chris von Rosenbach, D.D.S.