James Walter MacNeill
Encyclopedia
Dr. James MacNeill was the first superintendent of Saskatchewan Hospital, North Battleford
for mentally ill patients in the province of Saskatchewan
.
He was born in Prince Edward Island
, educated at McGill University
, where he received an MD
degree in 1901. He practiced in New Brunswick
and then moved to Hanley, Saskatchewan
in 1906 where he practiced as family physician until 1912. He was elected
to the Saskatchewan Legislature
in 1908
as a Liberal member until 1913. He traveled to England
and the USA
in 1913, where he studied the administration mental hospitals for his new role as the medical superintendent of Saskatchewan Hospital. He served in this position until 1945.
At Saskatchewan Hospital, he changed the organization and program delivery from that of a prison and asylum to that of a modern (for the time) mental health hospital. He valued moral therapy - the use of productive work for its therapeutic value. During his tenure, a farm project and golf course were built on the hospital grounds. He established a 2 year attendant training program in 1930 and at the Weyburn Mental Hospital
, where the province's second mental health hospital was built in 1921.
His other contributions were reform of housing for the mentally handicapped in Saskatchewan and building of the Moose Jaw Training School. He died shortly following his retirement in June 1945. He had received an honourary degree from the University of Saskatchewan
in 1941. The child and youth mental health clinic in Saskatoon was named MacNeill Clinic from the 1950s to 1994, when the Saskatoon Health Region
absorbed all community mental health services into Saskatoon City Hospital
and Royal University Hospital
.
North Battleford, Saskatchewan
In the late 2000s a large number of Ruthenians have emigrated to Canada, concentrating in North Battleford.-History:Prior to European settlement, the Battlefords area was home to several aboriginal groups...
for mentally ill patients in the province of Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
.
He was born in 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...
, educated at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
, where he received an MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
degree in 1901. He practiced in New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and then moved to Hanley, Saskatchewan
Hanley, Saskatchewan
Hanley is a town in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located 65 km south of Saskatoon. Population 510. It was named after Hanley in Staffordshire, England by early founders. It is also the seat for the rural municipality of Rosedale....
in 1906 where he practiced as family physician until 1912. He was elected
Hanley (electoral district)
Hanley is a former provincial electoral division for the Legislative Assembly of the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, centered on the town of Hanley, Saskatchewan. This district was created before the 2nd Saskatchewan general election in 1908...
to the Saskatchewan Legislature
Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan
The 25th Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan was in power from 2003 until November 20, 2007. It was controlled by the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party under premier Lorne Calvert.-Members:-By-elections:...
in 1908
Saskatchewan general election, 1908
The Saskatchewan general election of 1908 was the second provincial election in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It was held on August 14, 1908 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan. Premier Walter Scott and his Liberal Party were re-elected for a second term, defeating...
as a Liberal member until 1913. He traveled to England
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1913, where he studied the administration mental hospitals for his new role as the medical superintendent of Saskatchewan Hospital. He served in this position until 1945.
At Saskatchewan Hospital, he changed the organization and program delivery from that of a prison and asylum to that of a modern (for the time) mental health hospital. He valued moral therapy - the use of productive work for its therapeutic value. During his tenure, a farm project and golf course were built on the hospital grounds. He established a 2 year attendant training program in 1930 and at the Weyburn Mental Hospital
Souris Valley Mental Health Hospital
Souris Valley Mental Health Hospital also called the Souris Valley Extended Care Centre was a public hospital in Weyburn, Saskatchewan. Originally called the Weyburn Mental Hospital when opened in 1921, it was the largest building in The British Commonwealth and was considered on the cutting edge...
, where the province's second mental health hospital was built in 1921.
His other contributions were reform of housing for the mentally handicapped in Saskatchewan and building of the Moose Jaw Training School. He died shortly following his retirement in June 1945. He had received an honourary degree from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in 1941. The child and youth mental health clinic in Saskatoon was named MacNeill Clinic from the 1950s to 1994, when the Saskatoon Health Region
Saskatoon Health Region
The Saskatoon Health Region is the largest health region in Saskatchewan, Canada. Primarily based in the city of Saskatoon, the health region operates out of 75 facilities, including 10 hospitals, 29 long term care facilities, and numerous primary health care sites, public health centres, mental...
absorbed all community mental health services into Saskatoon City Hospital
Saskatoon City Hospital
Saskatoon City Hospital is a public hospital in the City Park neighborhood of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It was originally opened in 1909, and it was the second municipal hospital in Canada. The hospital is operated by the Saskatoon Health Region....
and Royal University Hospital
Royal University Hospital
Royal University Hospital, often abbreviated RUH, is one of three hospitals in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. It is located on the University of Saskatchewan campus. RUH is a teaching hospital and closely tied to the College of Medicine within the university. It was opened on May 14, 1955 by...
.
External links
- Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan, mental health services
- Smith, Colin (1971) A History of the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford. Published by the University of Saskatchewan.