BLS Near Humber College and St. Joseph’s Toronto
For Humber students and St. Joseph’s Health Centre staff. Walking distance from Dundas West Station.
Humber College healthcare students (nursing, paramedic, practical nursing, dental hygiene, RT) and St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto staff need current BLS for placement and employment. Life Safe runs full BLS ($55, 4–6 hours) and BLS Renewal ($49, 3–4 hours) at 2381 Dundas St W — walking distance from Dundas West Station, accessible from both Humber campuses, and close to St. Joseph’s, Runnymede Healthcare, and the wider west-end healthcare network.
Why West Toronto healthcare students and staff need BLS
BLS (Basic Life Support) is the healthcare-provider version of CPR. It’s required across nearly every clinical placement and clinical employment role in Ontario, including the major West Toronto sites — St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto on the Queensway, Runnymede Healthcare Centre, Etobicoke General, and the network of community clinics, long-term care homes, dental practices, and home care agencies across the west end.
For a deeper explanation of how BLS differs from the public CPR Level C course (and why “HCP CPR” is the old name for the same course), see our BLS vs HCP CPR post.
Humber College programs that require BLS
Humber runs healthcare and emergency response programs at both the North campus (Finch and Highway 27) and the Lakeshore campus. Programs that require current BLS for placement include:
- Practical Nursing (RPN diploma)
- Bachelor of Nursing (BScN, collaborative)
- Paramedic (Primary Care Paramedic diploma)
- Personal Support Worker (PSW)
- Dental Hygiene
- Respiratory Therapy
- Pharmacy Technician (with expanded scope)
- Massage Therapy (clinical placements)
Each program has its own placement coordinator and exact requirements — confirm during orientation or check your program handbook before booking. Some Humber programs integrate BLS into curriculum; others expect external certification.
The Junction venue from Humber and St. Joseph’s
| From | By car | By transit |
|---|---|---|
| Humber Lakeshore Campus (Lake Shore & Kipling) | ~15–20 min | ~30–40 min (501 Queen + 504 King) |
| Humber North Campus (Finch & Hwy 27) | ~25–30 min | ~40 min (subway + bus) |
| St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto (Queensway & The Queensway) | ~10 min | ~15 min (504 King) |
| Runnymede Healthcare Centre (Runnymede & Annette) | ~5–10 min | ~10 min (subway via Runnymede) |
| Etobicoke General Hospital (Humber River area) | ~20 min | ~35 min |
Healthcare roles served across West Toronto
Beyond Humber students, the Junction venue serves clinical staff across multiple west-end facilities:
St. Joseph’s Health Centre Toronto (Unity Health)
Acute care hospital on the Queensway. BLS is required for RNs, RPNs, PSWs, RTs, paramedics on transfer units, physicians, midwives, and clinical students. Same compliance approach as St. Michael’s and Providence — annual renewal, centralized tracking, accepted Heart and Stroke certificates.
Runnymede Healthcare Centre
Specialty hospital focused on complex care and rehabilitation. BLS required for clinical staff. The Junction venue is the closest dedicated BLS provider.
West-end long-term care and retirement homes
The cluster of LTC homes and retirement residences across Etobicoke and the west end employ RNs, RPNs, and PSWs who all need annual BLS renewal.
Community clinics, dental practices, and home care agencies
West-end clinics, dental offices (which need BLS under RCDSO and CDHO requirements — see our dental BLS post), physiotherapy practices, and home care agencies.
The 2-year program timing problem (for Humber students)
BLS is valid for 1 year. Humber healthcare programs run 2–3 years. That means every Humber student needs to renew BLS at least once during the program — usually twice for a 3-year program.
| Program stage | Typical BLS action |
|---|---|
| Pre-orientation (August) | First-time BLS before placement |
| Late semester 2 / summer | Card approaching 1-year mark — plan renewal |
| Before year 2 placements | Renew BLS to extend through next clinical block |
| Final year clinical / preceptorship | Confirm BLS extends through completion + first job start date |
The annual renewal cycle (for working healthcare staff)
St. Joseph’s and Runnymede compliance systems flag staff 30–60 days before BLS expiry. The cleanest pattern:
- Set personal calendar reminder 60 days before expiry
- Book a date 30–45 days before the card lapses
- Take the 3–4 hour renewal at the Junction venue
- Upload the digital certificate to the hospital portal same day
If your card expired
- Notify your manager or placement coordinator immediately — don’t take a shift with an expired card
- Book the full BLS course (4–6 hours, $55) — not the renewal
- Find the soonest available class at the Junction venue or another Life Safe Toronto location
- Upload the new certificate the same day you complete the course
What’s in the renewal session
- Current Heart and Stroke / ILCOR guideline updates
- High-quality compression refresh — depth, rate, recoil
- Adult, child, and infant CPR variations
- Two-rescuer coordination
- Bag-valve-mask ventilation
- AED use including pediatric pads
- Choking response across age groups
- Written knowledge check + hands-on practical assessment
Book BLS in West Toronto — $49 renewal / $55 full
2381 Dundas St W, walking distance from Dundas West Station. Close to Humber campuses, St. Joseph’s, and Runnymede.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Humber healthcare students need BLS?
Yes — required for placement in nursing, paramedic, RPN, dental hygiene, and RT programs.
Where can St. Joseph’s Toronto staff renew BLS?
Life Safe at 2381 Dundas St W — about 10 minutes by car from the Queensway location.
How often do I need to renew?
Annually. BLS is valid for 1 year in Ontario.
What if my card expired?
Take the full BLS course ($55, 4–6 hours), not the renewal.