St. Joseph's Hospital (Peterborough, ON)

Bishop Thomas Dowling (Bishop of Peterborough) purchased ‘St Leonard's Grove' in Ashburnham and on October 14, 1888 laid the cornerstone for a Catholic hospital in Peterborough. At the request of Bishop Alphonsus O'Connor (who had succeed Bishop Dowling as Bishop of Peterborough), five Sisters from the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto came to Peterborough in 1890 to set up the new hospital. These Sisters were part of the group which in August 1990 formed the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough, shortly before the official opening of the hospital. The first retreat for the new Congregation, which ended with the election of Reverend Mother Austin Doran as the first Superior General, was held at the new hospital. A few days later, on August 20, 1890, Bishop O'Connor presided over the official opening of the 25 bed facility and declared that it was "open to all denominations", unlike Peterborough's other hospital (Nicholls Hospital) which was restricted to Protestants.
The following year forty aged, blind and destitute people (including orphans) who were being cared for by the Toronto Congregation arrived at the hospital. The former stable was renovated to accommodate the men and boys, and the women and children occupied the top floor of the hospital. The crowding and the unsuitability of the accommodations led to the opening of the House of Providence in 1900.
In 1894, three Sisters came from Lindsay to staff the Lake Street School (Sacred Heart School), the first teaching Sisters in Peterborough. They resided at St. Joseph's Hospital until Mount St. Joseph opened in 1895. St. Joseph's Hospital was incorporated as a charitable institution in 1894. In 1898 during an outbreak of typhoid fever which swept Peterborough, the hospital played an crucial role in caring for those afflicted with the disease.
Electric lighting was installed in 1900, making the care of patients much easier.
The hospital continued to grow with the opening of a major addition in 1908. This new wing included an operating room, sterilizing facilities, twelve additional patient beds, an isolation ward, space for a laboratory and accommodation for both Sisters and nursing students. It also boasted the first elevator in Peterborough. In later years this addition and the original building were referred to as 'C Wing'. These earliest sections were demolished in 1969.
In 1909 the first baby was born at St. Joseph's Hospital - at the time most births happened in homes.
In 1911 a steam laundry was opened to service the enlarged hospital.
After one of the Sisters had received training at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, an X-ray Department was established in 1913 in what had been the isolation ward. The X-Ray machine was purchased through the efforts of the three city parishes. The following year the Clinical Laboratory was opened, the first of its kind in Peterborough.
The hospital played a major role in responding to the disastrous fire at their neighbour, Quaker Oats Company, in 1916. In order to deal with the wave of injured, help was received from willing hands from House of Providence, Mount St. Joseph and St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. Two years later the hospital responded vigorously to the Spanish Influenza epidemic which struck Peterborough.
1922 saw a number of major achievements: a second addition ('A Wing') with sixty additional patient beds (including obstetrical, medical and surgical units) and an operating room and the awarding of a ‘Certificate of Approval' by the American College of Surgeons.
In 1944 Bishop John MacDonald (Bishop of Peterborough) transferred ownership of the hospital from the diocese to the Congregation.
St. Joseph's Hospital Auxiliary was formed in 1946 to assist the Sisters in meeting patients' needs.
The years after World War II were busy times as a number of important additions were completed. 1947 saw the opening of a Nurses' Residence, with a tunnel connecting it to the hospital. The same year a new power plant and laundry was opened. In 1950 a major addition ('B Wing') opened with 75 additional beds, Dietary Department and a Business Office. The cafeteria was completed in this section in 1952, as was the fourth floor of the Nurses' Residence.
The 1960's saw major changes to the facilities. A Cancer Clinic was opened in 1961 on the first floor of the Nurses' residence. The A Wing (built in 1922) was renovated in 1963 to bring it up to modern standards. It was designed to accommodate the nursery and Paediatric Department. A major addition ("D Wing") was completed in 1964, including 113 additional beds, new X-Ray Department, new Laboratory Department, new Surgical Suite, Emergency Department, Admitting Department, Physiotherapy Department, Medical Records Department, Pharmacy, Central Supplies, Morgue, Medical Library, Tuck Shop, Administration Office and an extension to the Dietary Department. In 1965 renovations to create a new Intensive Care Unit were completed. The Chapel was renovated in 1966. In 1969 the original hospital and most of the 1908 wing (except the chapel) were demolished, as they were no longer suitable for modern patient care.
In 1970 Mr. Leo Doiron became the first lay administrator of St. Joseph's Hospital.
In keeping up its tradition of offering the best in patient care, a Nuclear Medicine Department was opened in 1971.
The Laundry Department was folded in 1972, as the hospital become one of the founding members of Kawartha Hospital Linen Services, a co-operative venture of area hospitals. In 1973 a Teen Volunteer Program was begun to allow interested young people to provide assistance to staff and patients, while giving them valuable experience of hospital work.
The 1970's saw the beginning of rationalization of functions with Peterborough Civic Hospital, as Obstetrics were moved to Civic, and Orthopaedic services were centralized at St. Joseph's. This specialization led in 1974 to the formation of a Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine and in 1977 to the opening of a Prosthetic/Orthotic Workshop and the Adult Rehabilitation Program. Also in 1977 The Cancer Clinic was re-organized and expanded in conjunction with Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, so that Peterborough area residents did not always have to travel to Toronto for diagnosis and treatment. The following year an Audiology Department, Back Care Program and Orthopaedic Clinic were opened.
From 1978 to 1981 the Canadian Hearing Society operated a Hearing Handicapped Centre in part of a house owned by the Sisters of St. Joseph (Medaille House) to support the work of the Audiology Department.
In 1982 a Joint Boards Committee was formed with Civic Hospital to formalize on-going planning of Peterborough area medical care and other issues of mutual concern.
A Palliative Care Program was initiated in 1983 to train volunteers who would assist the dying and their families. In the same year the Paediatric Ward was closed, as all services for children would be offered at Civic.
In February 1984, St. Joseph's Hospital assumed responsibilty for ownership and operation of two small Red Cross "outpost" hospitals in Haliburton and Minden. In April 1996 this responsiblity was transferred to Haliburton Highlands Health Services.
St. Joseph's Hospital of Peterborough Foundation was founded in 1985 to fund-raise for major hospital capital projects.
In 1986 a Day Hospital was opened to offer minor surgical procedures. The chapel was refurbished in 1989.
The Centennial of St. Joseph's Hospital, along with the Centennial of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peterborough, were celebrated in 1990 with a variety of special events.
In 1991 the Cancer Clinic was moved to Civic Hospital.
Because of growing concerns about the ability to provide and finance hospital care in Peterborough, St. Joseph's Board of Governors met with the Civic Hospital Board of Governors along with representatives from the City and County of Peterborough in 1992. These efforts to provide the best possible medical care in times of financial stress continued throughout the following years, leading to an evolution of the roles of the two institutions. In 1992 the hospital's name was changed to St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Centre, since it was no longer a general hospital.
In 1993 the phasing out of emergency services at St. Joseph's began, with the Emergency Department closed from midnight to 8:00AM. A number of services were consolidated at St. Joseph's including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, urology, dentistry and general rehabilitation.
The Emergency Department was closed in 1994, and renovations were made to accommodate more Day Surgery. In the same year, the Oncology Centre for cancer treatment was transferred back to St. Joseph's. It was now operated in co-operation with Kingston Regional Cancer Centre and Ontario Cancer Research Foundation.
In 1995 a new Palliative Care Centre was opened, providing a multi-disciplinary approach to palliative care in a home-like setting. Also in 1995, all the health care facilities owned by the Congregation were transferred to the sponsorship of the Fontbonne Health Care Society. This is a Public Juridic Person committed to carrying out the vision of the Sisters of St. Joseph in the hospital as well as Marycrest Home For the Aged and Marycrest at Inglewood.
Further rationalization of services was carried out in 1996 as the ICU (Critical Care Services) were consolidated at Civic. Also in 1996, the hospital became a separate corporation, known as St. Joseph's Health Centre. In the same year, the hospitals in Minden and Haliburton were transferred to the community-based Haliburton Services Board.
An important step in the co-operation between St. Joseph's Hospital and Civic Hospital occurred in 1996 with the formation of the Peterborough Hospitals Joint Services Agreement. Initially this involved Pharmacy, Diagnostic Imaging and Laboratory Services. In subsequent years it expanded to include Human Resources and Financial Services. The two hospitals also submitted a Joint Operating Plan to the Ministry of Health. This plan proposed that St. Joseph's become the Regional Chronic Care Centre, while all acute care was to be available at Civic.
An innovative program was begun in 1997 in the former Nurses' residence. A Complementary Care Centre was opened, offering services such as massage therapy, therapeutic touch, yoga and other complementary services. St. Joseph's was the first hospital in the province to offer these types of services.
The Ministry of Health sent a Special Investigation Team, led by Dr. Barry Smith, to review the operations of St. Joseph's and Peterborough Civic Hospital because of media reports of problems providing timely, efficient care.
In 1977 the District Health Council issued a report after considerable discussion and debate which recommended the transformation to St. Joseph's Continuing Care Resource Centre to offer Chronic Care, Rehabilitation, Geriatric Assessment, Palliative Care, and a variety of non-acute ambulatory out-patient services. Civic Hospital would become the regional Acute Care Facility.
On March 12, 1998, despite the overwhelming support of the community for the recommendations of the District Health Council that Peterborough retain two hospitals, the Health Services Restructuring Commission decreed that all hospital services in Peterborough be located at Civic Hospital and that St. Joseph's be closed by the year 2000. In spite of outcry in the community, this decision saw the end of St. Joseph's Hospital. A major tribute was hosted by the Peterborough community later in 1998 to thank the Sisters of St. Joseph for their 108 years of hospital care.
The building continued in use as the 'Rogers St. Site' of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre until June of 2008, when new hospital building was opened.

Peterborough, Ontario