1965-1970
The story of our practice begins long before many of us can remember, back in the days when Cooksville was just starting to take shape into the community we know today. It all started with a man named Robin H. Williams, who was one of the first to dedicate his life to caring for the eyes of our neighbours. After graduating from The Ontario College of Optometry, Dr. Williams became the first optometrist in Cooksville and opened his practice at 2581 Hwy #10 (Hurontario St., just south of Dundas, sometime in the 1940s. He lived on Kirwin Avenue, in Cooksville, where he quickly became a staple in the community, offering his expertise to those who needed it.
A few decades later, in 1963, the Ontario College of Optometry began its Doctor of Optometry Program, giving rise to a new generation of optometrists. One of those fresh graduates, Dr. Vince Zuccaro, had already set his sights on Cooksville. As a young boy, Vince would often visit the area with his family, especially to see George at his farm on Camilla Road, not far from the heart of Cooksville. Vince’s family owned a fruit store near Toronto’s “Sunnyside,” and he had a deep connection to this community that he knew would be the perfect place to start his practice.
In 1965, word around town was that Dr. Williams might be ready to retire. Seizing the opportunity, Dr. Zuccaro, with the help of his father, purchased the practice that had been running for over 30 years. And so, “Williams and Zuccaro, Optometrists” was born. The office, though small by today’s standards, was full of promise: a cozy waiting room with just four seats, a tiny frame dispensary no bigger than 5’x 5’, a lens grinding lab, and a single exam room where the magic happened.
As the years passed, Robin Williams began to slowly ease into retirement, and by 1967, the practice name was changed to “Zuccaro and Williams, Optometrists.” That was the same year that optometry was included in the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), marking a huge milestone for the profession. It was a year of change in more ways than one—1967 also saw the Toronto Maple Leafs win their last Stanley Cup, a moment that would go down in history. In 1968, Mississauga officially became a town, bringing together the communities of Clarkson, Lakeview, Cooksville, Erindale, Sheridan, Dixie, Meadowvale Village, and Malton.
It was a time of growth, of change, and of connections, just like the story of this practice. From humble beginnings to a community cornerstone, we’ve been here for the people of Cooksville for decades, continuing the legacy of those who laid the foundation before us.
1970-1975
In the early 1970s, fate took a turn that would change the course of our practice. It was around 1971 when Dr. Vincent Zuccaro reconnected with an old friend from his Kappa Sigma fraternity days, Dr. Patrick Tracey. Pat had been practicing in Peterborough, Ontario, but life had a funny way of bringing them together. The two friends went to a Toronto Argonauts game, and what started as a fun outing turned into a life-altering conversation.
At the time, Vince had already established his practice in Cooksville, and Pat, who admired his friend’s dedication and success, was intrigued by the idea of joining him. The timing was right, and as the two talked, Pat realized that this could be a great partnership. He sold his two practices (one in Peterborough and one in Bancroft) and decided to make the move to Cooksville. On January 11, 1971, Dr. Patrick Tracey officially joined the practice.
To accommodate their growing needs, they moved to a larger office at 3071 Hurontario St., right across the street from T.L. Kennedy Secondary School, a space that would help them continue to serve the community as they expanded. But that was just the beginning. It was a space where they could be involved in the newest frontier in optometry—soft contact lenses.
At the time, optometry was entering a new era with the introduction of soft contact lenses, and Vince and Pat were at the forefront of this exciting development. Dr. Zuccaro worked closely with Dr. Al Isen in Buffalo, a pioneer in this emerging field, and with a pharmaceutical company as they learned together how corneal physiology was positively impacted by these new materials. They discovered how the conventional rigid contact lens could be improved, and as they did, the practice became one of the first in Canada to fit soft contact lenses. It was an unforgettable learning experience, one that marked the beginning of a new chapter not only in their professional lives but also in the field of optometry itself. Along with the development of contact lenses, innovations in disinfecting and preservative processes were also being explored, ensuring the safety and comfort of patients.
After two years of working as an associate, Dr. Tracey officially became a partner in the practice, and “Zuccaro and Tracey, Optometrists” continued to grow. The community took notice, and the practice became known for its innovation, its expertise, and its unwavering commitment to providing the best care possible.
In 1974, Mississauga itself was also growing, officially becoming a city. Dr. Martin L. Dobkin was elected as its first Mayor, and the city, whose name comes from the Ojibwa word meaning “River of the North of Many Mouths,” had a population of just 156,000 at the time. Square One Shopping Centre also opened its doors in 1973, becoming a central hub for residents. The same spirit of growth and transformation that defined the city would also come to define our practice, as we continued to evolve and serve the people of Mississauga, one patient at a time
