Charlottetown Hospital
Encyclopedia
The Charlottetown Hospital is a former acute care hospital that was located in Charlottetown
, Prince Edward Island
. It was the first public hospital established in the province.
The facility was established in 1879 under the leadership of Bishop McIntyre
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
. It was the first hospital in Charlottetown and was established in the former Bishop's Residence on the site of the present-day St. Dunstan's Basilica
at the corner of Dorchester and Great George streets. A large annex was constructed in 1882 and the hospital was open to people of any religious background.
The increased use of the Charlottetown Hospital saw it outgrow its original building on Great George Street. In 1902, the Diocese of Charlottetown moved the hospital to larger quarters on Haviland Street in the west end of the city. A new maternity department opened in 1918 and the Charlottetown Hospital School of Nursing was established in 1920.
The Charlottetown Hospital was administered by the Order of Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal from its establishment in 1879-1925. The Sisters of Saint Martha
of Antigonish
, Nova Scotia
took over the administration of the Charlottetown Hospital and St. Vincent's Orphanage, another Diocese of Charlottetown responsibility.
In 1925 the Charlottetown Hospital moved into a new brick building on Haviland Street and the original wood building was converted into a nursing home
which was staffed by the Sisters of St. Martha and named "Sacred Heart Home".
The Diocese of Charlottetown was involved in one final health care project in Prince Edward Island when it opened the Western Hospital in Alberton
in 1944, also under the administration of the Sisters of St. Martha.
The Charlottetown Diocese undertook a major fundraising campaign during the late 1940s and early 1950s to finance major interior renovations to the Charlottetown Hospital, resulting in the construction of a new wing.
In 1969 the provincial government took over the operation of health care facilities from the Diocese of Charlottetown as part of the provincial development plan under premier Alex Campbell
. The Prince Edward Island Hospital
and the Charlottetown Hospital were identified for replacement with a single modern facility.
In 1982, after 102 years of service, the Charlottetown Hospital closed its doors when the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
opened.
The closure of the Charlottetown Hospital and Prince Edward Island Hospital also saw the end of abortion
services in the province offered by the latter institution; one of the conditions that the Roman Catholic Church
placed on the provincial government for merging the Catholic-affiliated Charlottetown Hospital with the Prince Edward Island Hospital into the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital being that all abortion services in the province be discontinued.
The building on Haviland Street remained standing into the mid-1990s as it was re-purposed for provincial government offices, including motor vehicle licensing and driver testing under the Department of Transportation and Public Works.
The Charlottetown Hospital School of Nursing was merged with other nursing schools in the province in 1969 to form the Prince Edward Island School of Nursing. This education facility closed in 1994 when its diploma programs transferred to the bachelor program at the University of Prince Edward Island
. In 1995, the provincial government funded the conversion of the waterfront building housing the Charlottetown Hospital School of Nursing into a new Holland College
campus called the Tourism and Culinary Centre, which houses a variety of management programs in the tourism and hospitality sector as well as the Culinary Institute of Canada. As part of the expansion of the new Holland College facility, the former Charlottetown Hospital building was demolished to make room for a parking lot.
The adjoining Sacred Heart Home had been moved into a new brick structure during the 1950s and was taken over by the provincial government in the 1970s. It was closed by the government and scheduled for demolition during the mid-1990s after the much larger Prince Edward Island Hospital
building was re-purposed into a government-operated nursing home called the Prince Edward Home. The Sacred Heart Home was subsequently sold to a private developer and renovated into a senior citizen apartment complex.
Charlottetown
Charlottetown is a Canadian city. It is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island, and the county seat of Queens County. Named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III, Charlottetown was first incorporated as a town in 1855 and designated as a city in 1885...
, Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. It was the first public hospital established in the province.
The facility was established in 1879 under the leadership of Bishop McIntyre
Peter McIntyre (Catholic bishop)
Peter McIntyre was the third Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown, succeeding Bishop Bernard Donald McDonald....
of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlottetown is a Roman Catholic diocese which comprises the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is currently led by Bishop Richard John Grecco...
. It was the first hospital in Charlottetown and was established in the former Bishop's Residence on the site of the present-day St. Dunstan's Basilica
St. Dunstan's Basilica
St. Dunstan's Basilica is the Cathedral of the Diocese of Charlottetown in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. It is named for St. Dunstan the great Anglo Saxon saint from Glastonbury...
at the corner of Dorchester and Great George streets. A large annex was constructed in 1882 and the hospital was open to people of any religious background.
The increased use of the Charlottetown Hospital saw it outgrow its original building on Great George Street. In 1902, the Diocese of Charlottetown moved the hospital to larger quarters on Haviland Street in the west end of the city. A new maternity department opened in 1918 and the Charlottetown Hospital School of Nursing was established in 1920.
The Charlottetown Hospital was administered by the Order of Sisters of Charity of the Hôpital Général of Montreal from its establishment in 1879-1925. The Sisters of Saint Martha
Sisters of Saint Martha
The Sisters of St. Martha were founded as a religious congregation in 1900 at Antigonish, Nova Scotia.The Sisters of St. Martha are members of the Sisters of Charity Federation....
of Antigonish
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
Antigonish is a Canadian town in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia. The town is home to St. Francis Xavier University and the oldest continuous highland games in North America.-History:...
, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
took over the administration of the Charlottetown Hospital and St. Vincent's Orphanage, another Diocese of Charlottetown responsibility.
In 1925 the Charlottetown Hospital moved into a new brick building on Haviland Street and the original wood building was converted into a nursing home
Nursing home
A nursing home, convalescent home, skilled nursing unit , care home, rest home, or old people's home provides a type of care of residents: it is a place of residence for people who require constant nursing care and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily living...
which was staffed by the Sisters of St. Martha and named "Sacred Heart Home".
The Diocese of Charlottetown was involved in one final health care project in Prince Edward Island when it opened the Western Hospital in Alberton
Alberton, Prince Edward Island
Alberton is a Canadian town located in the western part of Prince County, Prince Edward Island. It is situated in the township of Lot 5....
in 1944, also under the administration of the Sisters of St. Martha.
The Charlottetown Diocese undertook a major fundraising campaign during the late 1940s and early 1950s to finance major interior renovations to the Charlottetown Hospital, resulting in the construction of a new wing.
In 1969 the provincial government took over the operation of health care facilities from the Diocese of Charlottetown as part of the provincial development plan under premier Alex Campbell
Alex Campbell
Alexander Bradshaw Campbell, PC is a former politician of Prince Edward Island, Canada. He is the son of former premier Thane A. Campbell and Cecilia L. Bradshaw. He entered politics by winning a seat in the legislature through a 1965 by-election in 5th Prince...
. The Prince Edward Island Hospital
Prince Edward Island Hospital
The Prince Edward Island Hospital is a former acute care hospital that was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. It was the first public general hospital established in the province and the largest such facility throughout its history....
and the Charlottetown Hospital were identified for replacement with a single modern facility.
In 1982, after 102 years of service, the Charlottetown Hospital closed its doors when the Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Prince Edward Island
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital is a 274 bed acute care hospital located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, making it the largest hospital in the province....
opened.
The closure of the Charlottetown Hospital and Prince Edward Island Hospital also saw the end of abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
services in the province offered by the latter institution; one of the conditions that the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
placed on the provincial government for merging the Catholic-affiliated Charlottetown Hospital with the Prince Edward Island Hospital into the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital being that all abortion services in the province be discontinued.
The building on Haviland Street remained standing into the mid-1990s as it was re-purposed for provincial government offices, including motor vehicle licensing and driver testing under the Department of Transportation and Public Works.
The Charlottetown Hospital School of Nursing was merged with other nursing schools in the province in 1969 to form the Prince Edward Island School of Nursing. This education facility closed in 1994 when its diploma programs transferred to the bachelor program at the University of Prince Edward Island
University of Prince Edward Island
The University of Prince Edward Island is a public liberal arts university in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the sole university in the province. Founded in 1969, it traces its roots back to its two earlier predecessor organizations, St. Dunstan's University and Prince of Wales...
. In 1995, the provincial government funded the conversion of the waterfront building housing the Charlottetown Hospital School of Nursing into a new Holland College
Holland College
Holland College is the provincial community college for the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island. It is named after British Army engineer and surveyor Captain Samuel Holland...
campus called the Tourism and Culinary Centre, which houses a variety of management programs in the tourism and hospitality sector as well as the Culinary Institute of Canada. As part of the expansion of the new Holland College facility, the former Charlottetown Hospital building was demolished to make room for a parking lot.
The adjoining Sacred Heart Home had been moved into a new brick structure during the 1950s and was taken over by the provincial government in the 1970s. It was closed by the government and scheduled for demolition during the mid-1990s after the much larger Prince Edward Island Hospital
Prince Edward Island Hospital
The Prince Edward Island Hospital is a former acute care hospital that was located in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. It was the first public general hospital established in the province and the largest such facility throughout its history....
building was re-purposed into a government-operated nursing home called the Prince Edward Home. The Sacred Heart Home was subsequently sold to a private developer and renovated into a senior citizen apartment complex.