St. Mary's General Hospital Kitchener, Ontario a Circle of Care, 75 Years

St. Mary’s General Hospital Kitchener, Ontario A Circle of Care, 75 Years of Caring

by Christopher Rutty

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data

Rutty, Christopher, 1962- A Circle of Care: 75 Years of Caring, St. Mary's General Hospital

Includes bibliographical references ISBN 0-9685117-0-8

Copyright @ 1999 by St. Mary's General Hospital All right reserved, including the right to repro- duce this work in any form whatsoever without written permission from the publisher ( except for brief passages in connection with a review ). First edition.

First published in 1999 by St. Mary's General Hospital 911Queen's Boulevard Kitchener, Ontario N2M IB2

Design and Production by Ampersand Studios Printed in Canada by Cober Printing Limited

Photo Sources Many of the photographs in this book are reproduced through the generosity of local and regional historical archives; these sources are noted in each case according to the following legend: KPL Kitchener Public Library Archives UW /KWR Kitchener-Waterloo Record Photographic Negative Collection, Dana Porter Library, University of Waterloo SJU St. Jerome's University Archives SMGH St. Mary's General Hospital Archives SSJ Sisters of St. Joseph Archives UW University of Waterloo Archives

St. Mary's General Hospital Photographers: Karen Hawthorne, Doug Wood, Mike Lee, Scott Hebert, Karl Garner, Dan Meagher

Other sources are identified as needed. ST. MARY'S GENERAL HOSPITAL 7 STH ANNIVERSARY

Foreword Memories of 5t. Mary's Hospital III

Chapter 1 Birth of a Hospital

Chapter 2 Growth and Challenges 17

Chapter The Middle Years 33

Chapter 4 The Limits of Growth 49

Chapter 5 Transformation 61

Chapter 6 New Challenges 73

Chapter 7 A New Era 87

Chapter 8 A Fresh Perspective 97

Chapter 9 Rationalization and Renewal

Epilogue 75th Anniversary Committee Acknowledements

A Note on Sources

Footnotes

Postscript Acknowledgements 4

5t. Mary's General Hosvital 'Q6o'I Errata

The printing credit facing page I should read "This book printed in Canada by Waterloo Printing Co. Ltd." The caption beside the bottom-right photo on page 54 should read: "In one forty-eight hour period, three sets of twins were born at St. Mary's, straining an already overcrowded nursery Left to right, joan Sobczak holding the twin girls of Mr &:.Mrs Peddle, Lois Schmiedendorf with the twin sons of Mr &:.Mrs Payne, and Corinne Huras holding the twin girls of Mr &:. Mrs Williams." The caption beside the top-left photo on page 120 should read: "Her Honour, Lieutenant Governor Hilary Weston (right) congratulates Ann Hepditch after the St. Mary's volunteer was honoured with the Governor General'sCaring Canadian Award at a ceremony at Queen's Park in Toronto." The spelling of the surname "Krantz" in the photo caption on page 123 should be "Kranz". FOREWORD

~"~~~~es of 5t.

T was nine years old in November, 1952, and Still, if we crept up the side steps quietly; eagerly awaiting the birth of my brother. and if I stood very tall, my father assured me He was expected to be a Christmas baby, that the nursing Sister would allow me a but, suddenly, in the middle of the night, I was moment to see my brother, Night after night, hurriedly pulled from beneath the covers of my we followed the same ritual, Never have I warm bed into a blustery November storm. tried to look so old or to stand so tall, After My uncle had come to take me to stay with my all, I was supposed to be twelve, not simply cousins nearby Mainly I remember the raw cold a nine-year-old who wanted desperately to and the powerful gusts of wind. My fathers new see his baby brother. And there he was, fedora hat blew acrossthe street, lost in the a tiny, tiny baby held by the nurse in the night as he rushed my mother to 5t. Mary's palm of her hand, My feelings of admiration Professor of History St. Jerome's University Hospital. The baby was more than a month and affection for the Sisters of St, Joseph and The University of premature. My parents were worried, but their the nursing staff grew each night as I made Waterloo concern was something of a mystery for me that my way to the maternity floor. This was not began a new adventure and a remarkable rela- an impersonal institution, It was a warm, tionship with 5t. Mary's Hospital. caring hospital where exceptions to rules As a "premie" my brother remained at could be made and an eager child could see 5t. Mary's for several weeks, struggling to his new-born brother, gain the strength to allow him to come home Three years later, I returned to St, Mary's. to us. Every day we drove to 5t. Mary's to Now I really was twelve and able to stay in visit this tiny baby and to bring a supply of the hospital all on my own, I felt so mature, mother's milk. As Christmas drew nearer our My tonsils had become inflamed and they hopes increased that the baby would soon be were to be removed, St, Mary's seemed some- home. In their own way, the daily trips to what more intimidating this time, but I was St. Mary's had become a family outing and I brave, or I pretended to be, There was no was mesmerized by the Christmas lights on surreptitious entrance through the side door, Kitchener's City Hall and by the display of We used the main entrance. To my surprise, televisions in Joe Miller's storefront on King I was quite confident about being there, After St. , where my father would stop for a all, I had often been to St, Mary's'before, moment each evening. Although the sounds and antiseptic smells of The welcoming feeling at St. Mary's the hospital seemed different, this was still Hospital has remained with me all these the same St, Mary's that I had known, years. As a nine-year-old, I was not permit- As I as lay in my hospital bed that first ted on the maternity floor; to achieve these night, I felt that St, Mary's was a very special wondrous heights one had to be twelve. place, but I also felt somewhat scared, too, 5t, Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ III Two of my cousins had trained there as Soon enough, I found myself back at student nurses and I secretly hoped that they St. Mary's again. This time it was for day would stop by my room. My aunt had surgery. Arthroscopy on my knee, an recently taken her final vows in the advanced surgical technique rarely found Congregation of St. Joseph in Hamilton and outside of the larger American cities, was I wondered if some of her friends among the available at St. Mary's. I would walk home St. Joseph Sisters would look in on me, from surgery that normally required several although as Sisters they no longer used their weeks on crutches. Was I surprised? Not family names, and I wasn't sure that they really. This was my sense of St. Mary's. If it would know me. How wrong I was. The was possible, St. Mary's would do it. A place Sisters knew. They always seemed to know. of caring, a place of commitment, a place of That was part of what made St. Mary's so leading edge surgery, a hospital where people special. Being at St. Mary's was not about cared, where people were known and where tonsils alone; it was also a family moment patients mattered. and even a social occasion. Well sort of. And The buildings have changed over the I was twelve and as invincible as all twelve- years. Modem additions complement the year-old boys pretend to be. I was still original hospital. A new entrance welcomes pretending to be older, although that's some- patients and visitors. A high rise tower, thing I no longer do. I had been promised symbolizing the modem hospital, dominates Jello and ice cream after the tonsils were the landscape at Queen's Crescent. An emer- removed and I could hardly wait. gency entrance bustles with patients while A few years later I returned to St. Marys, the nurses' residence no longer houses the this time with the men of my parish to visit eager, young nursing students who brought our pastor, Father Daniel Simpson, who had an indelible sense of life to the hospital. The gone to St. Mary's for surgery. Another expe- building is still there, serving a new purpose, rience. But this time visiting a priest. We and providing a memory of other times past. were proud to be at St. Mary's and happy to The chapel, a gathering place, a place where see how well our pastor was doing. people meet and pray and talk and care for How quickly time passes. It was I972. one another remains central to the heart of Twenty years after my father had hurriedly the hospital. This is the St. Mary's that I have taken my mother there, I was in my own car, known. It is the St. Mary's that the commu- with my own wife, eagerly making our way nity has come to respect and to take as its to St. Mary's Hospital. This time there was no own. It is a marvellous legacy fedora, that quaint symbol of fatherhood from Christopher Rutty's history takes us a time long ago, to blow away in the wind, inside St. Mary's and tells the story of modem and although St. Marys had now become medicine in our community, introducing us St. Marys General Hospital, it remained a to those who have given so much to make very special place for us. Not the blustering possible what so many of us simply take for winds of November, but a scorching, swelter- granted. It begins with Fr. Anthony Fischer's ing July evening. It was close to midnight and tentative invitation in I9I6 to the Sisters of our first child was about to enter the world. Providence in Kingston to come to the small I waited in the operating room, dressed in city of Berlin, Ontario, to establish a hospital green surgical gowns. No I had not become a and traces the subsequent arrival from doctor, at least not that kind of doctor. Hamilton of the Sisters of St. Joseph and Fathers were allowed into the delivery room their development of St. Mary's as a landmark on an experimental basis and I was eager to institution. You'll read about the unfailing be there. Somehow it seemed right that this support of people from all walks of life who was happening at St. Marys. This time, the have made St. Mary's their hospital, and, baby was not placed in the hands of a nurse, among other things, discover how St. Mary's but tenderly in my waiting arms. This was a struggled to serve the community in the face moment I will never forget. Our baby looking of the heartaches of the Great Depression of up at me. Emotions overflowing. This was the 1930s and in the trauma of the aftermath the very stuff of life at St. Mary's. of war, the baby boom of the 1950s and the IV ~ 5t. Marys GeneralHospital hospital's own valiant battle to survive in the for a hospital is more than the sum of its face of the Ontario government's restructur- parts, and many who read this book will also ing of the province's health services in the have been a part of its history I hope that 1990s. It's been a challenging, fascinating and your memories will come alive as mine have, eventful seventy-five years. and that the place of St. Mary's in your The history that follows tells many hearts will remain strong. Your understand- stories. Each will be different from mine. ing of all that St. Mary's has meant for so Each will be unique. Each will have its own many will endure long after you have set memories of this institution that cares, this book aside.

5t. Mary:S General Hospital ~ V

The architectural firm CHAPTER of Watt and Blackwe\l prepared this sketch of 'The Hospital at Kitchener,' later named St. Mary's hospital, for the Sisters of St. Joseph. The fountains were never built. You get the hospital and (1874-1948), and his predecessor, the Source:SSJ I'll fill it for you. Reverend Anthony J. Fischer (1874-1939). Both men were born in small towns in Bruce Dr. Harry lackner to Father County, educated at St. Jerome's College in Albert Zinger, February 1923. Berlin, ordained in 1901 , and were also

B Y the time St. Mary's Hospital officially members of the Congregation of the opened its doors on October 21, 1924, Resurrection. it had already overcome numerous St. Mary's Church had been founded in obstacles to transform an open field at the 1856 to provide a spiritual focus for the scat- end of a dirt road into a modem health care tered Roman Catholic families in the area institution. Although St. Mary's was estab- who were mostly German immigrants. The lishedby the Sisters of St. Joseph of numbers of Catholics in the Berlin area grew Hamilton, who still own and operate it today, steadily, especially after 1870, bolstered by they were not the first group of Sisters families arriving from Poland, Ireland, invited to open a hospital in Kitchener. France, Italy and Syria. In 1871 Roman The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Catholics accounted for only 13 per cent of Paul, based in Kingston, Ontario, were asked Berlin's population, but by 1911 they made to launch a new hospital mission in the up 23 per cent. By 1916 the St. Mary's summer of 1916. This was a time of great congregation consisted of about six hundred tension for the city, then still known as families, not counting the substantial Polish Berlin. The First World War had cast a cloud congregation that used the church basement over the Germanic heritage and traditions of to conduct its own services. its citizens, who voted to change the name of The Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital had the city to Kitchener as of September 1, served the Twin Cities area since it opened in 1916, in an attempt to prove their loyalty to 1895. With the growth of the general popu- Canada. Into this charged political atmos- lation, it was clear that an enlargement of the phere the Kingston Sisters, rather innocently, building was needed. To Father Fischer, it seemed that a Catholic hospital, built on the thrust themselves. successful models demonstrated by the Birth 0£ a Hospital, Phase One Sisters' hospitals elsewhere in Ontario, could The origins of St. Mary's Hospital are directly offset some of the pressure on the older linked to Kitchener's St. Mary's Roman hospital, and also serve the growing Catholic Catholic Church, and especially to two of its community. Father Fischer's idea of building pastors, the Very Reverend Albert L. Zinger a new hospital for Berlin had evolved out of St.Mary's General Hospital ~ 1 Initial Attempts far afield to find support for their work. Father Fischer's Invitation By 1916 the Sisters of Providence of to the Sisters of Providence to build a local Catholic Kingston had gained considerable experience hospital came at a difficult establishing and managing hospitals. They time. It was August 1916, ran hospitals in Brockville and Smiths Falls, and Berlin would become Ontario, Daysland, Alberta, and )Vere even Kitchener; Ontario the next month. The Sisters then engaged in building another one in purchased the hospital site, Moose jaw, Saskatchewan. As was the case in but it would not be until Berlin, the Sisters had been invited by local after the First World War at the local communities priests to build and administer these hospi- could support a new tals, with their efforts supported by local hospital. community fundraising campaigns. Source: KPL Mother Regis' enthusiasm for the Kitchener hospital project was based in large part on the attractive five-acre site that was found. In September, Mother Regis wrote to Father Fischer, stating that "the Community will take over the property proposed for a Hospital there at the price offered (1 think it is $6,000)."2 This property was known as Queen's Park Crescent, at the southern boundary of the city Father Fischer and the a chance meeting in August 1916 with the Sisters announced to the press on October 2, Mother General of the Kingston-based Sisters 1916, that the property "will give ample of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul, Mother room for a substantial building and spacious Mary Francis Regis Young. Father Fischer grounds." It was in a "beautiful location, high suggested that she might "come to Berlin to and dry, giving a view of the city and coun- see the great prospects he considered [there] tryside and so situated that the hospital can were for the establishing of a Hospital." After never be walled in by other buildings, nor visiting the city, Mother Regis must have deprived of fresh air." Moreover, the presence been impressed with what she saw, since by of the new hospital, to be named "St. Mary's early September the majority of the members Hospital" after the St. Mary's parish, "will of her Order favoured undertaking the new have a quickening effect upon the real estate mission, pending the approval of the Bishop in the vicinity and will add greatly to the of Kingston.l section of the city in which it will be The Sisters of Providence had been in erected." The plan was to build a general Kingston since 1861, after several Sisters hospital similar to the Sisters' St. Francis were invited by the Bishop of Kingston to General Hospital in Smiths Falls, which extend their Montreal mission to the large would accommodate between fifty and sixty and sparsely populated Kingston diocese. patients "from any and every denomination." The original Montreal mission had been There was also to be a training school for established in 18.41-43, derived directly nurses attached to the new institution.3 from the Company of the Daughters of Mother Regis and Father Fischer quickly Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Paris, France. began soliciting subscriptions from the This non-cloistered order was founded by Catholic community in Kitchener. However, St. Vincent de Paul in 1642 and was in early October 1916, Mother Regis became primarily dedicated to the training of school uncertain about the fundraising prospects, teachers and to working among the sick "owing to the fact that 80% of the people are poor. Building a new mission in Kingston of German descent, and the wealthiest proved to be a great physical, financial and Catholics [in the city] ...were not in a dispo- spiritual challenge for the original Sisters. sition to do anything that would be a public The Roman Catholic population was sparse benefit." The Bishop of Kingston, the in the diocese and the Sisters had to travel Reverend M.j. Spratt, suggested that Father 2 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital

~ three installments during 1917. In the Sister's Annals was written, "May God direct that, at least, we may not lose."5 Once the Queen's Park Crescent property was

officially secured, The Very Father Fischer Reverend recommended that Albert L. Zinger

the Toronto archi- (1874-1948) tect A.W Holmes Father Albert Zingel; also known as "The Buildel;" begin drawing up was born in the small plans for the town of Teeswater in hospital. Father Bruce County and followed a very similar Fischer was famil- path to the pulpit of iar with Holmes' St. Mary's Church as work as he had Father FischeJ: After his designed the new ordination in 1901, he joined the faculty of St. Mary's Church. St. Jerome's College as a Although it is clear teachel; became president that she already of the college in 1905 and remained there until his had definite ideas appointment to St. Mary's about the hospital's Church in 1919. While at design, Mother St. Jerome's College, he built a new administration Regis paid Holmes building, and then a $700 to prepare gymnasium and, during the plans. But the early 19205, built when Holmes first St. Joseph's School and a new rectory for St. Mary's met with Mother Church. Father Zinger Regis in Kingston would strengthen this for instructions, reputation as "The Builder" by overseeing the she presented building of a new hospital plans that she had for the K-W community. With the completion of construction in 1903,the "new" St. Mary's Church already prepared, Source: SJU sym.boli.zedthe vitality of Berlin as a centre for civic, religiousand educational containing "many mstltutlons. .. Source:SJU thIngs about which he did not like." Fischer "ask a number of his parishioners to Holmes offered to prepare an alternative sign a document testifying [to] their desire to plan, as well as the one based on Mother have a Sister's Hospital." Father Fischer Regis' ideas. He later explained to Father assured the Sisters that he foresaw "no diffi- Zinger that he has spent considerable time culty in securing a greater number of names developing "an idea of an up-to-date hospital than was required, among them being some but it received no consideration by of the most foremost business people in the Mother Regis."6 city."4 On November 17, 1916, the Bishop of By March 1917, Holmes, Father Fischer Kingston finally gave his blessing to the and Mother Regis had agreed on the general project, after which the necessary papers plans for St. Mary's Hospital that were essen- were signed by the Sisters to purchase the tially the layout prepared by Mother Regis. property in Kitchener for $6,000, payable in According to the initial plans released to the 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 3 what the hospital's financial obligations to the Kingston Motherhouse would be. He also wanted to see the Rules and Constitutions of the Sisters of Providence. Once he had this information, he would consult with his Diocesan Council, consent from which was necessary before the project could proceed. The bishop's position seemed strange to the Sisters. After all, they had not volunteered their services, but had been invited by Father Fischer to come and establish a Hospital. It may be significant that Father Fischer was not a diocesan priest, but a member of the Congregation of the Resurrection, whose relationship with the bishop was not without press, Kitchener's St. Mary's Hospital was to its own problems. Along with St. Mary's Church, the presence "be one of the most up-to-date and best Meanwhile, Bishop Dowling was now of St. Jerome's College equipped in the Province." The main three- insistent that "There should be a written in Berlin since 1866 storey building was to be absolutely fireproof agreement that the Building would always reasserted Berlin's primacy as the County with a brick exterior that was to be plain and remain a Catholic Hospital, that the greater Town and the promi- simple in design. Reflecting the Sisters of part of the profits should be expended on the nence of the Roman Providence's long interest in the care of the hospital, not be sent to the Mother House."8 Catholic community As the Sisters perceived it, a serious misun- within Berlin. This new mentally ill, the plans included a detention addition was opened room for alcoholic and disturbed patients on derstanding had developed between in 1908. the ground floor, along with a special room Kingston, Kitchener and Hamilton. Source: SJU on the first floor for nervous patients and Father Fischer hoped Mother Regis would those with temporary dementia or alcoholic meet with Bishop Dowling in Hamilton to depression. There were also plans for a sepa- sort out these differences, but she declined. rate ambulance entrance at the rear of the By November 1917, the St. Mary's Hospital main floor, an on-site diagnostic laboratory project was at a standstill. and pharmacy on the ground floor, diet- Father Fischer was perhaps overly kitchens on every floor and a system enthusiastic about building a new hospital whereby all patients would be given their for Kitchener. More importantly, he was own personal food tray and set of dishes that somewhat naive about the political implica- they would use while in the hospital to tions involved in inviting a congregation of promote sanitation. Also of note was the Sisters from an outside diocese such as modest maternity department, which would Kingston, without first consulting the bishop. accommodate six to eight public ward While the local tensions in Kitchener patients and six private patients at anyone and the wartime economy each played a role time. There were also plans for a separate in undermining the hospital project, more three-storey home for nursing staff and the significant was the financial position of the Sisters, which would include a lecture room Sisters of Providence. The previous decade of for the training of nurses.7 expansion had left their financial resources Despite the good intentions of the Sisters stretched almost to the breaking point. Then of Providence, these early hospital plans did the Order found itself embroiled in a highly not get off the drawing board. The Bishop of publicized court case which left them "finan- Hamilton, the Reverend Thomas J. Dowling, cially and morally crushed in the aftermath who had initially given his consent for the of the trial," and thus in no position to Sisters to proceed, now decided that "the proceed with the Kitchener mission even if necessary formalities or laws had not been the other obstacles had been overcome.9 complied with." Bishop Dowling was particu- Despite these difficult circumstances, the larly concerned about who would own the Queen's Crescent property remained in the hospital, how it was to be maintained, and hands of the Sisters of Providence. Nothing 4 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital further took place towards the establishment 1919, shortly after becoming pastor of The Sisters of ofa new hospital until June 25,1919, when St. Mary's Church, Father Zinger resumed St. Joseph Mother Regis' successor, Mother Mary Father Fischer's hospital campaign. In look- The Sisters of St. Joseph mission was founded in Clement O'Shea, wrote to Bishop Dowling ing for a more local religious community that France in 1650 by seeking his advice about selling the property. might be interested in the project, he turned Jean-Pierre Medaille, The Sisters had invested $7,500 on the closer to home, to the Sisters of St. Joseph of a Jesuit preacher who Kitchener mission and "owing to our Hamilton, to continue what the Kingston recognized a dedication to service in a number of increased outlay during the past two years, Sisters had started. religious women who because of prevailing conditions we are Father Zinger brought considerable expe- sought his guidance. much in need of our money." Mother rience and personal charisma to his efforts to He outlined a spiritual way of life that would Clement asked the bishop if he knew of a build a new hospital for Kitchener. Indeed, allow them to serve all possible buyer. "That there is a great need of a among the people of Kitchener, Father Zinger types of individuals Catholic Hospital, there is no doubt. Is there was remembered as a "a man of commanding through any activity that any probability of another Community taking promoted unity among all presence, a favorite with old and young, people and with God. The up the work?"IO Mother Clement would not regardless of creed or political affiliations." Sisters initially worked in have to wait long to receive an answer, but it Among his friends were "many Protestants as secret as the Church was would be several years before the Sisters of well as Roman Catholics, and he enjoy[ed] suspicious of non- cloistered religious women. Providence received any money for their the respect of all in the community"ll He The Bishop of Le Puy soon Queen's Park Crescent land. assured the Sisters of St. Joseph that $200,000 sanctioned their mission could be raised within the local community to and gave them charge of a house of refuge for Birth of a Hospital, Phase Two facilitate the hospital project. orphans and destitute Soon another congregation of Sisters From the outset, Father Zinger sought the women. The Sisters expressed an interest in the mission to build active support and involvement of the local rapidly spread across France until the start of a Catholic hospital in Kitchener. In August business community to back his campaign. In the French Revolution in late August 1919 he 1789. Many religious told Mother Mary orders were disbanded during the Revolution, but Martina Long, the Sisters of St. Joseph Superior General mission was reestablished of the Sisters of in 1807 by Sister St. John St. Joseph of Fontbonne. She recruited a new generation of Hamilton, that a women, including her drive was planned niece, Sister Delphine for early September Fontbonne. In 1836, Sister Delphine established the among the Catholic first Sisters of St. Joseph communityand congregation in North businessmen of America near St. Louis, and then founded the first Waterloo County in Canadian congregation in support of the new Toronto in 1851. hospital. He asked Mother Martina to find out from Mother Clement in Kingston the lowest price that the Sisters of Providence would accept for their Queen's Crescent property In order to secure a six-month option to buy, Father Zinger himself paid the $57.92 outstanding Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 5 P!oject, and a smaller committee of seven was chosen to gather information about fundraising prospects. Father Zinger felt that in order to maintain local enthusiasm, and to ensure that an "ideal" hospital would be built, he should work closely with Mother Martina and the Hamilton Sisters. Mother Martina was born in 1860 in Hamilton and had joined the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1888. She was a trained nurse and was involved in the founding of the School of Nursing at St. Joseph5 Hospital in Guelph in 1899. She had served also as Superintendent of the Sisters' hospitals in Guelph and Hamilton. As Mother Superior of the Hamilton Sisters between 1917 and 1920 she was an enthusiastic supporter of the proposed Kitchener hospital project. The name of the new hospital was to be left up to Mother Martina to decide. The advisory board was anxious that a name be finalized quickly, "because we do not desire to give too much publicity to the 'Catholic' hospital, but prefer to speak of it as St. Mary's, or St. Joseph5, or St. Tanlac. ..or some other saint's hospital."14 The most common name for the hospitals and convents founded by the Hamilton Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph was "St. Joseph's." The Hamilton congregation was part of a network of independent motherhouses in Ontario that worked under a common constitution and common customs. Their mission was based on the model of St. Joseph, who held an honoured position in the Catholic Church as the patron saint of teaching, nursing, care of orphans and the elderly and all efforts to help the less fortunate.

This letter of Father property tax the Kingston Sisters owed the The Sisters owned and operated their own Zinger's reveals that City of Kitchener. Although he wanted to be network of institutions in the Hamilton timing, faith and taxes fair to Mother Clement, if she demanded too diocese, such as hospitals, orphanages and were important to his much for the property, he would have to find homes for the elderly They also served as efforts to revive interest in a Catholic another site.12 teachers, nurses and administrators in these hospital in Kitchener. In early September, Father Zinger and other institutions throughout the diocese. Father Zinger was chaired a meeting of about thirty men repre- The Hamilton congregation of the Sisters writing in February 1923. The construction senting the Catholic community of Kitchener of St. Joseph began in April 1852 after three of St. Mary's Hospital and Waterloo to discuss the hospital project. Sisters from the Toronto Motherhouse- began in the summer This group was "very enthusiastic that the Mother Superior Martha von Bunning and of that year. Source: SMGH matter be proceeded with, especially that Sisters Mary Joseph McDonnell and Mary they now know that the Sisters of St. joseph, Aloysius Walker-responded to an urgent and not 'somebody' else will own the build- appeal from Vicar General Edward Gordon to ing when erected."13 assist with caring for the orphans of At the meeting, an advisory board of Hamilton. The Hamilton Sisters began their thirty was established to oversee the hospital work as teachers in Hamilton schools in 6 'QiI;;'5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital 1853, and in 1858 began their service Birth 0£ a Hospital, -.Three outside Hamilton through the opening of The years surrounding the opening of convents elsewhere in the diocese. St. Mary's Hospital coincided with the final By 1919, the Sisters of St. Joseph of development of the Canadian hospital. By Hamilton were well experienced with hospi- the 1920s the traditional charitable institu- tal building, although they had not under- tion of the seventeenth to nineteenth taken such a mission since 1890 when they centuries that provided free care primarily for established St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton. the poor and needy had been transformed The Hamilton Sisters had been involved in into a modern scientific, bureaucratic, and caring for the sick since shortly after arriving professional health care institution designed in the city In 1854-55 major typhus to serve an entire community This transition epidemics in the area sharply tested the period involved new tensions and challenges courage, nursing skill and faith of the Sisters, for Father Zinger and the Hamilton Sisters of who cared for the stricken in railway sheds St. joseph. The greatest tension was financ- that served as temporary hospitals. In 1861, ing and building a brand-new modern build- the Sisters were invited by a local Jesuit ing that would meet the increasing standards priest to establish a more permanent health of the 1920s. The hospitals earlier estab- care facility in Guelph, which was the first lished by both the Sisters of Providence and Catholic hospital in the diocese. the Sisters of St. joseph, among others, were Despite the growing enthusiasm lacally almost always founded -- and the apparent interest of the Hamilton within existing buildings Sisters, by 1920 it was clear that the timing or institutions. It was ~ was not yet right for the Kitchener hospital until the turn of the project. Outside forces unrelated to the century, with the emer. Sisters or the Kitchener community resulted gence of scientific medi in the sudden curtailment of the project. It is cine, new theories of unclear what these forces were, although in disease and the February 1923, when the project was revived Nightingale system of for the final time, Father Zinger noted in a nursing, that hospitals letter to Mother M. Thecla Padden, the new ually became perceived by Superior of the Hamilton Sisters, that public as institutions thar offered superior medical car( ln fact, the hospital would be built now and At the end of the First World the Sistersof St. Josephwould be locatedhere War, the beginnings of a if our plans of 1919-20 had not beenblocked health care system in Ontario --~ by someonenot residentin Kitchenel: had emerged, monitored by a provincial From its first years, Howevel; that, perhaps,was providential inspector and dependent upon an evolving St. Mary's Hospital depended upon a wide becauseas a result of it we got a new rectory system of municipal and provincial funding. range of community (for St. Mary's Church] which would not have By September 1924 there were 122 public support. Father Zinger beenbuilt if the hospital had succeeded.15 hospitals in Ontario (including ten tubercu- signed hundreds of losis sanatoria) and fifty-one private hospi- these receipts for those who pledged to While Father Zinger's building projects tals. A year later, twelve new public hospitals pay as much as they and community work outside his church had been built, including St. Mary's Hospital could, often through were widely celebrated in Kitchener, there along with six new private hospitals.17 installments. Source:SMGH were others within the Congregation of the During the first two decades of the twen- Resurrection who were not always as happy tieth century the pace of medical science about it.16Because of this opposition, the accelerated, especially in the areas of preven- St. Mary's Hospital project would have to tative medicine and public health, diagnosis wait until a more favourable time, not only and medical technology, surgery, drug treat- for Father Zinger and the Congregation of ments, nutrition and mental health. Medical the Resurrection, but also for the Hamilton specialization also increased, as did bureau- Sisters, and for the broader Kitchener- cratization and the costs of medicine. There Waterloo community were also plowing calls for various forms of 51. MaT' ral Hospital ~ socialized medicine and government regula- growth following an expansion in 1913. tion. For hospitals, it was a serious challenge In particular, the numbers of babies born in to keep pace with such change and adapt to it the hospital's new maternity ward had successfully; especially for hospitals funded by tripled. This reflected not only a rise in the modest religious and charitable organizations. local birth rate, but also the increasing public The threat of infectious diseaseshad the confidence in hospitals as desirable places for most impact on hospitals and their work. mothers to give birth. Another reflection of Indeed, many hospitals founded during the the growing public confidence was that latter half of the nineteenth century, includ- paying patient revenues increased by 150 ing the Sisters of St. Joseph hospitals ill per cent during the 1914-20 period. The Toronto and Hamilton, were established number of indigent patients being treated during or in the wake of major epidemics, was also increasing, placing financial pres- including cholera, typhoid, diphtheria and sures on the hospital and on local govern- W.J. Motz. publisher of smallpox. Such diseases dominated the ments to pay for their care. the Kitchener Daily patient registers of these hospitals until the Thus, despite the growth of the K-W Record, began a long 1910s and 1920s, when significant improve- association with Hospital, by 1919 its financial situation was St. Mary's Hospital ments in public health infrastructures and unstable. The hospital had a significant when he pledged the introduction of new antitoxins and deficit, due to rising costs and post -war infla- substantial financial vaccines had lessened much of ~heir threat. tion which resulted in significant changes in support for the building of a hospital. However, there were older dise~se dangers, its management. In 1922, the hospitals long- Source: UW/KWR such as influenza, along with newer ones, serving Lady Superintendent, Maude Homer, such as epidemic poliomyelitis [polio], that was replaced by a professional man with a would have a major impact on hospitals in business background, Dr. johnj. Waters. Canada and their evolution during the first The following year the hospital almost closed part of the twentieth century because of its financial problems. The The influenza pandemic of 1918-19, Kitchener and Waterloo local governments which killed. more people worldwide than were forced to take control of the hospital had died in the war, was a major threat for and establish the K-W Hospital Commission. all of Canada. In particular, it presented a As of May 1924, the K-W Hospital became dramatic challenge for the Kitchener- municipally owned. Waterloo Hospital. The epidemic, which The final resurgence of the St. Mary's peaked in October 1918, demonstrated the Hospital project began in February 1923. practical value of this hospital during a diffi- In view of the problems involving the K-W cult period in its history and established it as Hospital, the physicians of Kitchener- an essential community resource. It also Waterloo were interested in seeing a new highlighted the limits of the hospital's physi- hospital and they assumed an active role in cal capacity to meet the health care needs of supporting the efforts of Father Zinger to a growing population in the Kitchener- bring in the Sisters of St. joseph from Waterloo area. Hamilton to complete the job. Indeed, Since its opening in 1895, the people of Dr. Harry M. Lackner, who was perhaps the Kitchener-Waterloo area had relied on Kitchener's busiest and most prominent the seventy beds of the K-W Hospital for physician, told Father Zinger in early their health care needs. It had been founded February 1923: "You get the hospital and 1'11 as a community hospital, built through local fill it for yoU."18Harry Lackners father, subscriptions at a time when similar institu- Dr. Henry G. Lackner, had practised medi- tions had been established in Galt and cine in Kitchener from 1876 until his death Guelph. There were other hospitals in the in 1925. He had played a key role in the area, such as the Freeport Sanatorium, as founding of the K-W Hospital and would be well as those in Hamilton and London, but the first of four generations of Kitchener the K-W Hospital was the primary institution doctors who will practise at St. Mary's for most citizens of Kitchener and Waterloo Hospital. joining Dr. Harry Lackner in during this period. Between 1914 and 1920, support of additional hospital facilities was a K-W Hospital had experienced a period of growing number of young doctors who had 8 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital set up new practices in Kitchener and new hospital, with A.R. Lang appointed as Waterloo after the end of the First its first chainnan.19 World War. At this meeting in February 1923, it was A key factor behind the more active clear that Father Zinger had a much broader support of the local doctors for a new hospi- base of support for the hospital than in tal was the continuing financial uncertain- 1919, and interest went beyond the Catholic ties at the K-W Hospital, as well as the community: As he told Mother Thecla, ongoing political battle for its control. When "All the Catholic people here and very many Father Zinger heard of the Council's non-Catholics are very anxious to have a proposal to take over control of the hospital, Sisters' Hospital here." He also stressed the

The shadowo( famed he immediately called a meeting of twenty encouragement of nearly all the physicians, Kitchener photogra- representatives from the Kitchener and almost all of whom were non-Catholic. At pher Ernest Denton and his box camera Waterloo parishes, all of whom were enthu- the same time, the Sisters of St. Joseph of dominate this shot of siastic about the proposition for a new Hamilton were willing to purchase the origi- the hospital excava- Catholic hospital. They pledged themselves nal Queen's Crescent property, assuming that tion, dated from September 1923. The to contribute $30,000 to the project. Among the Building Committee decided to build hospital was built on this group were such community leaders as there. The Sisters would also take responsi- the western outskirts August A.R. Lang, a prominent manufac- bility for payment of the debt, pending of Kitchener; beyond lay the woodlots and turer and one of Kitchener's wealthiest citi- permission from Rome. Father Zinger also rolling farmland of zens, John Schwartz, Alois Bauer, Henry had the support of the mayor of Kitchener, Waterloo Township. Braniff and WJ. Motz, the owner and Louis 0. Breithaupt, who asked Father Source: SMGH publisher of the Daily Record. These men Zinger to ensure that news of the meeting would form the Building Committee for the would be made public the next day2°

5t. Mary's General Hospital 'Q(I;;'9 Over the next few days a Finance Hamilton in 1863, she had joined the Sisters Committee began planning a fundraising of St. Joseph in 1887 and had spent the drive for the new hospital, now officially greater part of her religious life teaching boys "St. Mary's Hospital." With the hospital in the higher grades. As a teacher and mission once again revived, Father Zinger Superior of the Congregation, she was asked Mother Thecla to contact Mother considered "zealous, patient, kind and an Clement of the Kingston Sisters to ask what excellent disciplinarian," qualities that were a price they would accept for their property:21 great asset in the challenging task of building By March, support for the hospital was grow- a modern new hospital. ing steadily, even before public canvassing Dr. Harry lackner was very enthusiastic had begun. When Father Zinger met with about the project. Although himself a representatives of the Waterloo parish, "those Presbyterian, he assured Father Zinger that present subscribed $21,200 which is consid- "the entire medical fraternity here are ered very good." At the same time, all adults anxiously looking forward to the completion present at the Masses at St. Mary's Church of the Sisters' hospital," and "that a great were given subscription cards that were to be many of the leading Protestants will support signed and returned on the following our hospital." Keen to ensure that the new Sunday: As Father Zinger emphasized to hospital would be as up-to-date as possible, Mother Thecla, "There appears to be no in April 1923 lackner even took a trip to the doubt that the hospital proposition will be a famous Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, to gather useful information about how St. Mary's should be put together3 Meanwhile, a quiet fundraising effort had raised about $80,000 fro~ the Kitchener and Waterloo Catholic parishes. Nothing had yet been solicited from "the merchants and manufacturers, i.e. non-Catholics-nor have we asked individual Protestants, quite a number of whom have expressed themselves as being willing to help us." A potential complication emerged in early April, when the K-W Hospital announced plans for a summer fundraising campaign to raise $150,000 for its own expansion program. Fortunately, when the plans for St. Mary's were announced in June, K-W Hospital dropped its campaign. Father Zinger was confident that the general public was behind the St. Mary's Hospital project, although it was clear that it was time for the fundraising photo, this one taken success. All the Catholics want the hospital work to expand beyond the Catholic from the box of one and many non-Catholics have expressed a community By now the Queen's Crescent of the horse-drawn desire to assist us." But he reminded her that property had been purchased from the wagons, emphasizes the construction "We shall have to move fast if we want to get Kingston Sisters for $8,500, and the architec- methods of the time. the hospital under roof before next winter's tural firm of Watt and Blackwell of London Source:SSJ cold weather sets in."22 had been hired to design the hospita1.24 Mother Thecla, who had succeeded Watt and Blackwell's plans and specifi- Mother Martina as Superior General of the cations for the new three-storey, pavilion- Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton in 1920, style red-brick hospital were unveiled to the had no previous experience with hospitals, public through the Daily Record on June 16, but she was more than able to oversee the 1923. As the paper stressed, "The proposed financing, design and construction of the new hospital to be erected will not only be hospital through to completion. Born in a great acquisition but a credit to the 10 "Q$;'5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital tion crews pause its other facilities for looking after the sick, Co. Ltd. of Toronto, for a cost of $258,000. briefly in the hospital's it will certainly be a boom to those Work began on the Queen's Crescent a week foundations during the afflicted." Highlights of the layout included later, in July 1923, when Mother Thecla, summer of 1923. Under Father Zinger's watch- two operating rooms in the front wing of along with several Sisters from the Hamilton ful gaze, construction the third floor, illuminated with natural light Motherhouse, turned the first sod. News moved quickly; by through large north-facing windows, and an coverage of the ceremony included an artist's Christmas of 1923 the entire wing of the second floor devoted to a conception of the Sisters' new hospital, hospital building had been closed in. complete maternity section. The front wing complete with lush gardens, trees, and a Source: SSJ of the first floor was to accommodate fountain in front. By early August, the Daily general offices, waiting rooms and doctor's Recordreported, "Visitors to the scene have consultation rooms. The rear of the first been forced to remark the unusually Tapid floor would serve as the home for the Sisters progress that has been made with the work." working at the hospital, who could visit the But despite the rapid progress in construc- hospital's chapel by a private stairwell. tion, the challenge was to complete the main As the newspaper report noted, "This structure before the snow fell.27 chapel, although severe in its design, will be With construction underway, the next one of the most attractive chapels in western step was to launch the hospital's public Ontario." The basement level was to accom- fundraising campaign in September, to be modate a complete kitchen, along with targeted mainly to the industrial plants and bedrooms for the staff and lecture rooms for businesses of the Twin Cities. Campaign nursing students.25 headquarters were set up at 21 King Street As the city then had only three X-ray West in Kitchener, and everyone was invited machines, each owned by private physicians, to use the mail or to visit the office, or any of St. Mary's X-ray unit was a valuable attrac- a variety of stores, to make a donation. As tion to new physicians and patients.26 the campaign advertisements emphasized, The contract for building St. Mary's the "Twin City secures a $500,000 hospital 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 11 of 100 beds at a minimum of cost." The enclosed list in one day. Take your time at it. Sisters had committed $350,000 to building You are doing a tremendous amount of writ - the hospital and the Catholic congregations ing."30 Among the major supporters of the of Kitchener and Waterloo had already hospital were the Economical Mutual Fire donated $100,000. This left $50,000, which Insurance Co., which gave $5,000 to the the people of the Twin Cities were asked to building campaign, and the Mutual Life provide.28 The promotional literature empha- Assurance Co., which gave $2,500. The next sized the need for a second hospital in the largest donations were for $500 from the K-W area by pointing out that such cities as Waterloo Mutual Fire Insurance Co., the Guelph, Kingston and Peterborough, which Dominion Life Assurance Co. and Schreiters were all smaller than the combined Ltd. , furniture manufacturers. A variety of Kitchener and Waterloo populations, each local businesses and many members of the had two hospitals with a total of 175 to 180 medical community also gave donations beds; the 30,000 people of the Twin Cities between $100 and $300.31 had only 70 beds available. It was also The climax of the fundraising campaign stressed that other hospitals built and oper- came with the laying of the cornerstone of ated by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Ontario the new hospital on October 21, 1923. This were actually providing health services more occasion was reported at length in the Daily often to non-Catholics than to Catholics. Record and proved to ~e a large community There would be "absolutely no interference celebration of several thousand that with religious convictions of patients. combined "all of the impressiveness of the Clergymen of any denomination have access ritual of the Roman Catholic Church to the institution at any time to visit and. ..all of the dignity of civic ceremony" members of their flock."29 The afternoon festivities began with a large The St. Mary's Hospital public fundrais- procession from St. Mary's Church, consisting campaign was a great success, raising ing of members of the Kitchener and over $20,000, or almost half of its goal, by Waterloo Catholic congregations and led by February 1924. The Sisters insisted on the Kitchener Regimental Band. Joined by writing thank-you letters to most donors, the young and old of the community, the although Father Zinger told them that "It is parade made the trek from downtown up not necessary to write letters to all on the Queen's Boulevard, which was then a dirt

Several hundred people braved the cooler weather and the dirt of Queen Street to see dignitaries lay the cornerstone of St. Mary's Hospital. It was Sunday 21 October 1923; the hospital accepted its first patients exactly one year later. Source: SMGH

12 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital Kitchener mayor (and future Ontario Lieutenant-Governor) Louis Orville Breithaupt speaks at the hospital's cornerstone laying. Despite later additions to St. Mary's, the original cornerstone is still visible just outside the hospital's emergency entrance. Source:SMGH

surrounded by a half a mile of open field in Daily Record and some of the Toronto news- front and miles of farmland behind. papers of the day, along with parish directo- Among those who made the trip by ries and a sketch of the occasion, was placed other means were three teenage girls whose jointly by the mayors of Kitchener and lives would become closely entwined with Waterloo. Father Zinger declared that this St. Mary's, especially as volunteers. The day "would go down in the history of the Esbaugh sisters, Johanna and Loretta Twin City as a red letter day. ..that marked (later «Mickey" Heric and Loretta Killion) the beginning of an institution that would took a streetcar from Waterloo to downtown take a large part in the life of the community " St. Mary's Hospital would not just be a Kitchener, and then a 'Jitney" for a nickel up Queen's to the event, while Jessie Zlak pile of bricks and mortar built to generate (later Riedel) got a ride from her father. profits, but a building "which would bring Sixty-five years later, Jessie'sstrongest the angelic ministrations of self-sacrificing sisters to the suffering. " He paid tribute to memory of that day was «all the dirt in the field and hoping I wouldn't get my good the Sisters of Providence, who had chosen dress dirty because I knew my mother would the Queen's Crescent site, be annoyed if I did."32 Dignitaries on the official platform for it was one which aboundedin the beauties included Kitchener Mayor Breithaupt and of nature and it placed the hospital on an Waterloo Mayor WG. Weichel, members of eminencefrom which the sick might look out the Kitchener- Waterloo and Waterloo county upon the beauty of an imposingscene and be councils, members of the clergy from various cheeredin the days of convalescence.They Catholic parishes in the diocese, the Vicar could seethe city laying at their feet with General of the Hamilton diocese, Monsignor churchesand industries and homesand the John Kelly, Monsjgnor Joseph O'Sullivan, sight would be an inspiration to them in their Chancellor of the diocese, who represented convalescingdays. Bishop Dowling, and the Superintendent of the Ontario Hospital in Orillia, J.P Downey, Others spoke about the ecumenical mission who gave the main address. of the hospital and the unifying effect it 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 13 would have on Catholics and Protestants of the hospital to patients. On October 14, the area and on the cities of Kitchener and Father Zinger and the Building Committee Waterloo in general. In particular, Mayor joined members of the press, a group of local Breithaupt emphasized that "the event was a councillors and other public leaders for a splendid testimony of the unity existing in preview inspection of St. Mary's. All were the community A new hospital had long impressed, including the reporter, who was been needed and the spectacle of Catholics struck by "the general atmosphere of cheeri- and Protestants joining in such a splendid ness. Light and airiness pervade corridors enterprise spoke well for the balance of and rooms alike while an abundance of the community")) sunshine pours through the many well- Hospital construction progressed ahead arranged windows. The architectural keynote of schedule and Father Zinger kept a close of the entire building is sounded in the two eye on the entire building project. He visited health-giving mediums of light and fresh air." the site almost every afternoon, and on Although not all of the equipment and November 14,1923, was able to tell Mother furnishings had been installed in the mater- Thecla that "This fine weather [is] very suit- nity depart,ment, "tiny enameled cradles able for the growth of the new hospital already await the little newcomers who will building. Everything is going along nicely" be ushered into the world under the most The new building had grown beyond the favorable conditions, while in another wing first storey and would be under roof by white-painted cots in cheery surroundings Christmas. As a reporter described it then, accommodate older children in their "A slight idea of the size of the structure was hours of pain."35 gained at the time of the corner stone laying The following day; Father Zinger but a visit to the site now is a complete celebrated the first mass in the hospital revelation as to the size of the edifice." chapel in the presence of Mother Thecla and From the second floor "an inspiring the eleven Sisters who had been assigned to panorama is unfolded to the eye of the St. Mary's, including the newly appointed observer stretching from the confines of Superintendent, Sister M. Bonaventure Waterloo to the vicinity of Doon.")4 Halloran. There were no public ceremonies Work on the hospital progressed to mark the official birth of St. Mary's smoothly, to such an extent that by early Hospital on October 21,1924. Characteristic October 1924, construction was nearly of the Sisters, the formalities were modest. complete and preparation began for opening A banquet was served by the Sisters at the

The 5t. Mary's chapel dome, a familiar architectural feature to generations of visitors, takes shape. Source:Private

14 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital here under c~nstruc- doctors of Kitchener, Waterloo and strangely quiet. The business of caring for tion, was at the end of surrounding area, along with the Mayor and the sick took priority on that important day, a dirt road on the City Council of Kitchener. Beyond receiving as it would for the next seventy-five years.'Qc.. outskirts of Kitchener. Source:SMGH

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 15 Irt

, CITY o, ~ KITCH£NER ~~ A \\, I~

. 1!

;-" ~~, Excellent factory Bites with railroad facIlities, street car servlcet and less than a mile from the centre of the city.

~ Splendid Labor and , -Good ShippiDI F acilities . J makes Kltchener. Ont.. one of the best manufacturlna centres In Canada. ..'or further particulars communicate with HENRY NYBERG. Kltchener. Ont.

~ CHAPTER 2

During the ten years of operation, available to all physicians in the region. 15,000 patients without regard to During St. Mary's first ten days, thirty-one race or creed, have received a kind patients were cared for, seeking medical atten- welcome at 5t. Mary's Hospital. tion for a variety of ailments, the most common of which were broken arms, shoul- Daily Record, May 20, 1934. ders, legs or ankles, appendicitis, and tonsilli- 5 t. Marys Hospital's first decade was not tis. Several other patients were admitted for easy Substantial building debts, rising observation, for rheumatism treatment, and health care costs, and the onset of the for a special gynaecological surgical procedure Depression created a difficult environment in known as curettage. Some were admitted with which to entrench St. Mary's caring spirit into sciatica (low back and leg pain), stomach the community. This first decade, however, trouble, eczema, a kidney condition and would reveal substantial community support tuberculosis, while another required a finger and professional recognition for the work of amputation and one needed radium treatment St. Marys Sisters, doctors, nurses and volun- for a malignancy. teers. By its tenth anniversary, St. Mary's had Getting to St. Mary's during the first firmly established itself as the largest and months of its existence was often a challenge most modem institution of its kind between in itself; the hospital was surrounded only by Toronto and London. farmers' fields and no houses had yet been built in the area. Indeed, the hospital "stood The First Patients out like a sore thumb," according to Orpha On October 21, 1924, Mr. Edward Markie's Meyer, a long-time St. Mary's nurse who appendix was inflamed and he became the grew up in the neighborhood. The road lead- first patient admitted to St. Mary's Hospital. ing to the front door was not paved; there Dr. Harry M. Lackner performed an immedi- were no buses, and some taxis actually ate appendectomy on Mr. Markie, the first refused to drive up to the hospital. Until the operation in the new hospital. That same day; road was paved and a bus route was set up St. Mary's new X-ray facilities were available late in the 19205, patients travelled to the for Dr. John Hett to treat an out-patient's hospital by whatever means they could find. fractured arm. Dr. Hett was well experienced While cars were increasingly common in with X-ray diagnosis and therapy; having Kitchener, people also made their way by been the first physician in the Twin Cities to horse and wagon, or by foot. No ambulance have his own X-ray machine. Although the service would exist until 1927, when X-Ray Department at St. Mary's consisted of St. Mary's began to share an ambulance one small room, the facility was now owned by K-W Hospital. 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 17 As a modern hospital of the early 19205, Epidemic polio was an increasingly baffling the experience of being a patient at St. challenge given the decline of other infectious Mary's was dramatically different from what diseases,especially with the introduction in we would expect today. In the public wards, the mid-1920s of a toxoid that immunized privacy was sacrificed in favour of more against diphtheria. Tuberculosis was also space, better ventilation and greater social declining rapidly by the 1920s and improve- interaction than was possible in private ments in early diagnosis and lung surgery had rooms. While St. Mary's wards were a more positive effect on its conquest than spacious, bright and spotless, hospital wards open terraces in winter. The big news of the Sister Mary of the 19205 were generally quite noisy, not early 1920s was the discovery of insulin at the Bonaventure only from the patients, but also because of University of Toronto, which finally brought Halloran the frequent toppling of bed screens, which diabetes under control. Other advances of the (1867-1932) had wooden frames; curtain rods or metal 1920s included new blood transfusion tech- Sister Bonaventure was tracks had not yet been invented. One fifty-seven years of age niques and a variety of new surgical proce- when she assumed control convenience taken for granted today was a dures that came out of the First World War. of St. Mary's earlier in rarity in the hospitals of the 19205: private 1924 while the hospital was still under washrooms. There was "a lamentable dearth The First Sisters construction. She brought of plumbing on patients' floors," the result of Tall and elegant in her white habit, the first to her new job a wealth of which was "a constant parade throughout Superior, or Superintendent, of St. Mary's leadership experience that the day, particularly of nurses with bedpans she had gained as a Hospital, Sister Mary Bonaventure Halloran, teacher and administratol: and washwater, or of patients being helped made it a practice to welcome the new hospi- Born in Hamilton in the to the washrooms."l tal's patients personally Indeed, "Whenever same year as The state of medical practice and technol- possible it was her daily practice to visit Confederation, Sister Bonaventure entered the ogy in the 19205 was also very different from every patient, whether in a private room or Sisters of St. Joseph today There were no recovery rooms after public ward and without thought of differ- Congregation in 1885. surgery or childbirth and the first intensive ences in religious opinion. Many a sufferer Before moving to care unit in the Twin Cities, pioneered at Kitchenel; she taught in found her presence a source of consolation." Hamilton, Brantjord and St. Mary's, was still forty years in the future. In her quiet, unassuming way, Sister Arthul; and served as a There was no blood transfusion service within Bonaventure would oversee the rapid growth principal in 1918. She had hospitals and no intravenous preparations, of the hospital from 1924 to 1931.2 been Mistress of Novices at the Hamilton such as saline or Motherhouse in 1897-98 prepared glucose. and 1914-19 as well as a Electronic equip- General Councillor for the Congregation in 1911. ment was also mini- Source: SSJ mal; portable electrocardiograph machines were just entering the market, but only the larger hospitals could afford them. Sulfa drugs did not become available until the early 19305, and there was no life-saving heparin or other blood thinners until the late 19305, no penicillin until the early 19405, and no B.A.Jones focussed interest on the city and marked the beginningof urban vaccine against polio development,ending the divisionsand rancour which had divided the city .1 h .d 1950 during the years of the Great War (1914-1919). untl t e ml -s. Source:UW/KWR

lS ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital Sister Bonaventure led a dedicated group had already served as Supervisor of Nurses at of eleven Sisters assigned to St. Mary's to St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, before serve as nursing supervisors and support joining St. Mary's. staff. These women were mostly from small Sister M. Madeleine Enright (1871- towns in the Hamilton diocese and brought 1953) and Sister M. Angela Cahill (1867- , with them a variety of backgrounds and 1939) each brought strong teaching back- experience. Most had been either teachers or grounds to their new assignments in nurses with varying degrees of hospital St. Mary's pharmacy and business office, experience before coming to St. Mary's. respectively St. Mary's was the first major Sister St. Basil McClarty (1868-1961), assignment outside Hamilton for three of the who had joined the Sisters in 1895, was the Sister Supervisors, Sister M. De Pazzi Cassin most experienced of the new Sisters in hospi- (1864-1950), the Assistant Superintendent, tal work when she became the first Sister M. Andrea Cairns (1888-1979), who assumed the position of X-ray and Laboratory Supervisor, and Sister M. Rosalie Long (1889-1972), the Supervisor of the Domestic Staff. This group organized the running of the new hospital with the assistance of several other Sisters, one of whom was the popular Sister M. Consilli Schmidt (1877-1966), who served as a nurse, and also in the office at St. Mary's, until her retirement in 1947. She had a keen wit and was famous for her artistically arranged food, which was not only served hot, but surely added to the recovery of patients by stimulating their appetites. The Sisters were also helped by a small lay staff of maids, an orderly, an office clerk and an engineer. While there were many changes in the staff during the first years, there were some who remained for ~ several years. Beatrice Klein was St. Mary's first office clerk and switchboard operator, while Joseph Moert was St. Mary's engineer during the early years. He came highly Schmidt relaxing for a moment on the roof of recommended by Father Zinger; however, his St. Mary's. The open countryside surrounding the hospital is clearly visible in the background. initial salary of $75 per month, along with Source:Private collection room and board, was considered by Father Zinger to be "low for a man of his capabili- Operating Room Supervisor at St. Mary's. ties." As he told Mother Thecla in July 1924, During the early 1920s she served as "when the hospital is going he will save it Superintendent of St. joseph's Hospital in many dollars in plumbers, steamfitting, elec- Hamilton, where she had completed her tric and general repair bills."3 qualifications to become a registered nurse. Both the lrish-bom Sister M. Frances Clare The First Nurses Donaghy (1870-1955), Supervisor of On opening day, fourteen nursing students Obstetrics, and Supervisor of Nurses Sister nervously waited for the first patients to M. Xavier Reding (1893-1931) were trained arrive. Four were students in their third year nurses. Before her appointment to Kitchener, of the nursing program at the St. joseph's Sister Frances worked at St. joseph's Hospital Hospital Nursing School in Hamilton, who in Guelph. Sister Xavier, at thirty-one, were loaned to St. Mary's on a rotating basis the youngest of the first Sisters at St. Mary's, every two months. During this final year of 5t. Marys GeneralHospital ~ 19 Back row (1. to r.): Mae taught by Kitchener doctors in the newly Supervisor of Obstetrics in 1926. Over half Stroedel; Clara Dietrich, Hazel MacDonald, Irene established St. Mary's Hospital School of the graduate nurses found work as private- Busch, Constance Wit tel; Nursing. These students were assisted by six duty nurses, and many left the profession Matilda Busch, Leona first -year students who had just entered after getting married. The reality was that Carson, Kathleen St. joseph's Hospital School, but who would hospitals of the 19205 and 19305 were not in Bodendistel, Bernadette Hawkins, Anastasia continue their studies in Kitchener. a financial position to hire very many gradu- O'Toole, Anna Buhlman The first class admitted to the St. Mary's ate nurses. Nursing students were thus reiied Centre front. Marguerite School of Nursing, who would become upon to provide a range of services, both Fischer known as the Class of 1927, was made up of nursing and domestic, and in effect became a Source: SMGH twelve young women, most of whom were source of inexpensive labour, in exchange for from outside the Kitchener-Waterloo area. an education program and accommodation By the time they graduated, few would actu- at the hospital. ally get a nursing job at St. Mary's, or indeed During the hospital's first decade, nurs- at any other hospital. During the 1920s, ing students at St. Mary's were given room almost all the nursing at St. Mary's was done and board and paid an allowance of $6 per either by the nursing students as part of their month in the first year, $7 per month during training, or by those Sisters who had been second year and $8 per month for the third trained as nurses. Through the 1920s there year of their program. While the third floor was only one registered nurse on staff at of the hospital soon became home for most St. Mary's who was not a Sister. This position of the student nurses, until 1931 some slept, was first filled by Miss B. Haller in 1924-25 or at least tried to sleep, in the basement. 20 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital Rose Schmaltz, a young nursing student who nursing students that were enforced by the had been transferred from Hamilton to Sisters. Smoking was forbidden, as were St. Mary's just before it opened, later recalled personal relationships with the doctors. that the basement was not a quiet place. Discovery of either activity would result in Many nurses invariably stayed up late study- the nurse being expelled. Many of the ing, chatting or washing their clothes after doctors, however, went out of their way to their evening lectures, which were held in the defend the nurses and openly resisted some basement of the hospital. In 1925, Father of the stricter, or more impractical rules, Zinger was asked by Sister Bonaventure to such as the one that prohibited nurses from give the student nurses a religious talk once a using the elevators. As Rose Schmaltz later week. As he told Mother Thecla in his recalled, Dr. Lackner objected to this rule characteristic self-deprecating and jovial and offered to pay any extra maintenance manner, "I gladly consented (proof of my charges that might be incurred should the stupidity, or arrogance) and now test their nurses use the elevators. That particular rule patience an hour every Friday aftemoon- was soon dropped. until stoned to death."4 Student nurses worked twelve to four- The First Doctors teen hour days in the hospital and were also During the first year, some twenty-six expected to attend 6:00 a.m. mass in the doctors treated patients at St. Mary's. They By the early 19305 chapel. That regimen left little time for fun; also performed 429 operations and managed 5t. Mary's Hospital had everyone was simply too tired. Student sixty-four emergency cases. As was common become a significant nurses assisted the doctors in many ways in smaller hospitals, the first doctors at landmark, providing a sense of dignity at the beyond what might be expected. They spent St. Mary's worked in an environment with no terminus of Queen's considerable time washing the operating formal hospital departments, no medical by- Boulevard and ensuring floors before and after surgery and coating laws, no official rules and regulations, and the place of the hospital as a prominent operating instruments with vaseline to keep few controls over patient care beyond that community presence. them sterile. There were also strict rules for exercised from Sister Bonaventure's office. Source: UW/KWR

In addition to Dr. Lackner, there were faith. There were very few Catholic physi- several specialists at St. Mary's, including cians in the Twin Cities at this time, and he Dr. Henry H. Huehnergard (1884-1945), hoped to serve the growing Catholic an obstetrician, who also counted children's population of the area.6 diseases, anaesthesia, and local politics Dr. Louis V Lang (1902-1987) also among his specialties. Eyes, ear, nose and applied to join the medical staff at St. Mary's throat ailments were the specialty of Dr. Roy in early December 1926. He was a Kitchener H. Henderson (1889-1976). Another leading native and had graduated from the University surgeon when St. Mary's opened was of Toronto in 1925. Dr. Lang had already Dr. Frank R. Harvey, a man of firm opinions been the first intern at St. Mary's, a position who was impatient of opposition. Also firm he held for three months, during which time Dr. Harry M. in his opinions to the point of eccentricity he became well liked by Sister Bonaventure. lackner was Dr. Andrew L. Campbell (1884-1950). He also interned at the Ontario Hospital in (1883-1964 ) Although he did not visit his patients after Hamilton and at St. Michael's Hospital in Energetic and always perfectly groomed, surgery, nor send out accounts, he was some- Toronto, along with Dr. Shoniker, before Dl: Harry Lackner was how able to maintain his practice and a good beginning his Kitchener general practice in born in Berlin, Ontario, relationship with his patients. 1926 at the Weber Street home in which he in 1883 and received his medical degree from the Perhaps the most distinctive of the first grew up. Dr. Lang shared Dr. Shoniker's University of Toronto in doctors to walk St. Mary's hallways was Catholic faith and a strong attachment to 1907. His father had also former Berlin mayor, Dr. John E. Hett St. Mary's Hospital and the work of the graduated from the (1870-1956), who received his medical University of Toronto, Sisters. As Dr. Lang's wife Roxy later recalled, as did the next two degree from the University of Toronto in "Louie would do anything for St. Mary's." generations of Lackner 1891. Dr. Hett was a prolific writer, lecturer He cared for the Sisters when they were sick doctors, Allister (1938) and "original thinker." He was best known and advised them about better managing the andjohn (1963). This set a record for the University for his cancer serum "cure" that he had health care of patients when they asked.7 of Toronto Medical School. developed in 1931, but in 1937 he was After a year of further struck from the rolls of the College of The CoStS 0£ Caring study in Europe, and another as an intern at Physicians of Ontario for not revealing its St. Mary's annual report to the Provincial the Toronto General formula. He was also remembered for his Inspector of Prisons and Public Charities, Hospital, Dl: Harry controversial opinions on such topics as sex responsible for Ontario's public hospitals, Lackner went into practice with his father in 1909. education, socialized medicine and the cause provides a fascinating look at the hospital's Remembered as a of suicide. One of the means through which first year. It also reveals some of the chal- perfectionist in the he broadcast his contentious views was over lenges Sister Bonaventure faced in managing operating room, Dl: Lackner focused most the radio. Owner of one of the early radios in the new hospital. During the first year there of his considerable Berlin, Dr. Hett promoted its great potential was a total of 846 patients admitted, energies on surgery and in his newspaper column, "Radio News for 74 births, and 238 deaths. Of these patients, served as Chief of Surgery Common Folk." 595 were Roman Catholic, 317 Protestant and at K-WHospital and then also at St. Mary's soon At the end of 1926 there were two eight were classified as other denominations. after it opened. important additions to the medical staff of The average cost of care at St. Mary's was Source: Private Collection St. Mary's Hospital, both of whom quickly $3.90 per day, which was considerably less became loyal supporters of St. Mary's on than the $5.04 at the K-W Hospital. many levels throughout their medical The voluntary services of the Sisters living at careers. Dr. Harry J. Shoniker (1895-1964) St. Mary's were a major reason for this differ- graduated from the University of Toronto in ence. While the Sisters were not actually 1922 and after three years of post -graduate given a pay cheque, the provincial govern- work at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, ment required that a monetary value be moved to Kitchener in 1926, shortly before placed on their work. According to St. Mary's his marriage to Hilda Marie Wintermeyer, account books, the value given by the fifteen a Kitchener native. In early December 1926, to eighteen Sisters at St. Mary's grew from Dr. Shoniker applied to Sister Bonaventure to $13,128 in 1925-26 to $18,000 in 1931-32, join the hospital staff. He was attracted to the all of which was "donated" back to the hospi- Kitchener area, and to St. Mary's Hospital in tal. The work of the Sisters, along with that of particular, because of his strong Catholic the student nurses, meant that only a small 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 23 Financing the operations of St. Mary's Hospital during its first year was a major challenge. Other than income from private patients, which totalled just over $21,000 in 1924-25, the hospital survived its first year primarily on borrowed money; supplemented by donations from the Motherhouse, local individuals and the Catholic Women's Leagues of Kitchener and Waterloo. The hospital did not receive any government funding from the province until june 1925, and nothing from the City of Victor Traynor and paid support staff of twelve to twenty people Kitchener for local indigent patient care until Charles McCarville bring modern surgical was necessary Over the first decade, the daily almost two years after opening day. During techniques to Kitchener cost of care at St. Mary's actually fell, ranging its first five years St. Mary's reported annual -May 15,1931. between $3.59 in 1926-27 and $2.32 in losses of between $2,000 to $8,000. Source:Private Collection 1930-31. An increase of available beds in the As a public hospital, St. Mary's was hospital, from eighty-five to ninety-six during subject to the Ontario Hospitals and 1925-26, and then up to 137 by 1928-29, in Charitable Institutions Act of 1912. Of part accounts for the cost reduction. particular importance for a new hospital like During most of St. Mary's first decade of St. Mary's, the act provided "a Provincial operations, the two largest regular expenses grant. ..for all patients in a hospital during incurred by the hospital were for food and the first ten years of its existence at the rate for the interest charges on the hospital's of 50<1:per day, irrespective of what sum is substantial mortgage and bank loans. While contributed by the patients themselves." the loans totalled about $500,000 when the Though modest, these universal provincial hospital opened, they had fallen to about payments were limited to 120 days of $300,000 by 1930. Annual debt-servicing hospitalization. costs ranged between $9,000 and $20,000 When St. Mary's Hospital opened its over the first decade, although after 1928 doors, little had been done to take advantage they stabilized at about $15,000. The costs of of all the provincial funding to which it was drugs, surgical supplies and utilities were entitled. The Hamilton Sisters had not built a each considerably less than the costs of feed- new hospital since the 1912 legislation came . ing the patients and staff and servicing the into force and they may have been unaware of debt. Local markets supplied much of the its provisions. The timing of St. Mary's open- hospital's food and a significant amount of ing was also awkward. The provincial govern- the fruit and vegetables originated from mentS fiscal year ended on September 30 and nearby farms. Sister Hildegard Schill and her the Inspector of Hospitals published the 1924 small staff canned donated produce in the listing of public hospitals just before hospital's large basement kitchen.8 St. Marys opened; thus the hospital was not 24 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital included until after its first year had passed. that "We have fulfilled the requirements In early January 1925, when the federal which should entitle us to remuneration for Department of Health inquired about the care of such [indigent] persons and St. Mary's status, Sister Bonaventure had to would appreciate very much your considera- explain that St. Marys had been open since tion of the matter as to date no recompense October 1924. She also noted that "We have has been made." The first record of a city then not as yet received provincial or munici- cheque, for $365, does not appear in the pal grants but expect we shall as we are caring hospital's account book until July 1926; the for indigent patients from the city and the second, for $669, arrived in September, after municipality" Little changed until early which they came more regularly 10 February when, with the hospital's finances in The majority of patients treated at a precarious position, Sister Bonaventure St. Mary's during its first decade were resi- wrote directly to the provincial Inspector of dents of Kitchener. They accounted for 70 to Hospitals and Charities. Less than a week 84 per cent, while 12 to 21 per cent came later, the Ontario Provincial Secretary recom- from the towns, villages and townships of mended that St. Marys Hospital receive the Waterloo County and 3 to 9 per cent lived elsewhere in Ontario. According to The 1912

Act, St. Mary's was eligible to receive funds The presence of from the home municipal government of each student nurses brought indigent patient admitted to the hospital. a sense of vitality to Within Waterloo County, however, seeking St. Mary's Hospital. These photographs, funds from every small town, village and from the scrapbook of township individually was not practical. The Mrs. Roxy Lang. do c;ounty government assumed this responsibil- much to capture the flavour of student life ity on behalf of the smaller municipalities and in the late 19205 and then sought reimbursement from them early 19305. directly; or through the general taxes they Source: Private collection paid to the county government. Sister Bonaventure 50 cents per day grant, retroactive to October first approached 1, 1924. The first cheque for $1,469.80 the Waterloo arrived in june. Over the next three years, County Council provincial funding to St. Mary's ranged from about this issue about $5,000 to $7 ,000 a year, then rose to in early June between $10,000 and $12,000 annually for 1925 and asked the balance of St. Mary's first decade.9 for a grant to With provincial funding established, cover the costs Sister Bonaventure next turned her attention of indigent to the local governments. The relations patients. between St. Mary's and the City of Kitchener St. Mary's was got off to a poor start as the City Council was not the only not forthcoming in making payments to hospital seeking St. Mary's for indigent patient care. As Sister an indigent Bonaventure noted in a letter to the patient support grant from the county at this Inspector of Hospitals, the city had paid little time. Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital, the GaIt to St. Mary's by February 1925. According to Hospital Trust and the Toronto Hospital for the hospital's account books, no money was Sick Children were also applying for similar received from the city during the hospital's grants. The County Council agreed that first year. Sister Bonaventure wrote to the St. Mary's, K-W Hospital and GaIt Hospital Mayor and City Council in May 1925 to would each receive an equal annual grant protest the way St. Mary's indigent patient of $2,100. This arrangement was welcomed situation was being managed by the city. She by Sister Bonaventure and would continue wrote again in September, and emphasized unti11932.11

5t. Mary's General Hospital 'Q4!O'25 Consolidation of the H. Krug Furniture Company Ltd. , When St. Mary's Hospital opened, it was which had been founded by his father, governed by a Board of Directors made up of Hartman Krug. Edgar Bauer (1888-1959), Sisters from the Hamilton Motherhouse under the son of Alois Bauer, who had taken such the leadership of the Mother Superior, Mother an active interest in building St. Mary's, was M. Thecla Padden. As the hospital grew well known in the Twin Cities community. during its first years, the increasing complex- Edgar was also an active member of St. Louis ity of its operation, coupled with its distance Church in Waterloo, and ultimately knighted from the Motherhouse and a need to serve the by the Pope as Sir Edgar Bauer.12 residents of the Twin Cities and district better, At the first meeting of the St. Mary's prompted the formation of a local governing Hospital Advisory Board, Father Zinger body. The new board was to advise Sister outlined its sphere of activities. At this meet - Bonaventure on hospital policy and to help ing the members discussed how to collect raise local funds to manage the hospital's debt. outstanding accounts (the hospital was owed While the Board of Directors in Hamilton $2,600 by private patients), the appointment remained the ultimate authority, beginning in of a committee to collect arrears from February 1927, Sister Bonaventure had a local promised donations to the hospital's original Advisory Board to assist her with the growing building fund, and the possibility of securing demands of her work. a bus route that could bring patients, visitors Building on the extensive network of and staff to the hospital. 13The overriding community leaders and prominent Catholics issue, however, was the problem of indigent he had brought together to build St. Mary's patient payments by the City of Kitchener. Hospital, Father Zinger played a key role in Although the funding relationship between setting up the Advisory Board. William J . St. Mary's and the city had stabilized during Motz, Rudolph Krug and George Lang Jr. 1926, the issue re-emerged in 1927, when were appointed to represent the Kitchener new arrangements were discussed to manage community, while Louis f Dietrich and better the rising costs of indigent patient Edgar J. Bauer represented the interests of care, as well as the general costs of hospital the people of Waterloo. The City Council of care to the city. In March 1927, the City Kitchener, the Town Council of Waterloo and Council offered a grant of $4,500 to the County Council were each asked to St. Mary's instead of payments for indigent appoint a representative to sit on the patients on an individual case basis. The new board. Advisory Board rejected this idea, preferring WJ. Motz (1870-1946) was named the the old arrangement. 14An agreement was first Chairman of the Advisory Board. reached by October 1927, whereby the city Publisher of the Daily Record, Motz was a would continue payments on an individual strong Catholic and active in local church, case basis, but supplement this payment by a community and business affairs. Louis regular annual grant of $2,000. However, as Dietrich (1868-1947), appointed vice- the numbers of indigent patients rose, so did chairman, was a reeve of the town of the costs of their care, and by 1932 the city's Waterloo, and mayor in 1929-30. Dietrich contribution had risen to $11,300.15 was also a member of the St. Louis Catholic The Advisory Board also helped improve Church and one of the first automobile deal- relations between St. Mary's and the K-W ers in Waterloo. George Lang Jr. Hospital. St. Mary's was the larger hospital of (1896-1952), named secretary of the new the two until 1951, and had some extra beds board, was a life-long member of St. Mary's available for patients during the late 19205 Church and a vice-president of the Lang and early 19305. InJanuary 1929, in an Tanning Company, which his father, George effort to ease a serious shortage of beds at C.H. Lang, had founded. According to Father K-W Hospital, its chairman approached Zinger, George C.H. Lang was "the greatest St. Mary's and suggested a system of coopera- benefactor of the Hospital." Rudolph Krug tion between the two institutions. The board (1882-1954), also a Catholic, was a promi- agreed and twelve patients were transferred nent industrialist in Kitchener and President from K-W Hospital to St. Mary's. 26 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital Despite the cooperation that was evolv- since the first graduation ceremony in June ing between the two hospitals, there 1927. A new class of ten young women remained an undercurrent of competition entered the School and would become during the 1920s and 1930s that emerged known as the Class of 1933. Among this out of a high-profile effort among North group was Roxy Taylor Roche, who would American hospitals to become standardized, later marry Dr. Louis Lang. Roxy was about ! or accredited, by the American College of to turn seventeen when she started as a Surgeons. After detailed inspections of hospi- nursing student. She was in good hands at tals seeking accreditation, they were classi- St. Mary's and arrived at an interesting time fied as either approved, provisionally in the history of the School of Nursing. Roxy approved or not approved. Of particular made the trip to Kitchener from her home interest to the inspectors was whether or not town of Peterborough. Her father was an each hospital had a sufficient standard of optometrist and he had heard about the new medical staff organization, medical record hospital in Kitchener from a doctor friend of keeping and statistical analysis of patient his. Roxy had always wanted to go into care, as well as formal constitutions, by-laws medicine, but the size of the family made and staff rules and regulations. St. Mary's medical school difficult to afford. Nursing began the process of standardization in May was a good compromise and since St. Mary's 1926 and was declared a Class A standard- was not a big hospital in a big city, her father ized hospital in June 1927.16 The K-W allowed her to attend the School. The Hospital would not be able to fulfill all the Supervisor of Nurses since St. Mary's opened standardization requirements until 1943. was Sister M. Xavier Reding, an experienced Accreditation by the American College of and stimulating teacher who, according to Surgeons raised St. Mary's public profile in Roxy, "was one of the most intelligent and the Kitchener and Waterloo community and most charming persons I have ever met; it also gave a boost to St. Mary's fundraising a very gifted woman."19 efforts. The first such fundraising effort, The nursing students and staff were still known as "Tag Day;" took place in November living in a ward on the third floor and in the 1928 and raised $3,600. The success of this basement, but their presence was making it first Tag Day; also known as "Rose Day," difficult for the hospital to open up new because roses were sold to raise money, was very gratifying to Sister Bonaventure. "We Rose (Schmaltz) , Moody in her gradua- realize that we are no longer strangers and in tion picture (1924) the four years that we have laboured in this from St. Joseph's community we have made many friends."17 Hospital in Hamilton A second Rose Day took place in early June was one of the first nursing students. She 1929, raising $3,400. This campaign was was transferred to organized by the Advisory Board with the St. Mary's from help of several women from Kitchener, Hamilton just as the hospital was to open. Catherine Lobsinger and Annie Wellheiser, Source: Private collection along with Jessie Krohn, Theresa Arnold and Annie Dietrich from Waterloo. A third campaign had been planned for June 1930, but the worsening economy of the Depression intervened.18 There would be no more Rose Days until 1934, when the hospital's financial crisis forced the issue and the new Ladies' Auxiliary was in place to help organize a new campaign. The year 1930 would see changes in the St. Mary's School of Nursing. By the fall of that year, the School had graduated a total of forty-two nursing students from four classes The Nurses' Residence, opened on May 6, 1931, ushered in a new era for St. Mary's Hospital. As a 'home' to hundreds of student nurses throughout the hospital's history, this building played an important part in the development of the hospital as a community institution. Source: SSJ

beds. The provincial Inspector of Hospitals The plans for the new residence called was concerned about the suitability and for a three-storey red brick building designed safety of the staff accommodations in the to match the main hospital building in hospital, as well as an inevitable shortage of appearance and house forty-six nurses-the patient beds should the staff remain in the number living in the hospital at the time. hospital. At the same time, there was a grow- The Piggot Construction Company of ing movement to improve the quality of Hamilton was awarded the contract at a total nursing education in Ontario, in part cost of just over $83,000. Construction prompted by the American College of began in October 1930, rather than in the Surgeons' standardization program. This spring of 1931, "to provide some relief to the trend was reinforced by a variety of studies, present unemployment situation." All the surveys and reports on the state of nursing labour and supplies used in constructing the education. The hospital also had to take into new building came from the Kitchener- account the costs involved to house some of Waterloo area. The finished building offi- the nurses in rented apartments should a cially opened on May 6, 1931 and housed residence not be built. The only viable forty-five nurses in single rooms. Nursing option was to proceed with a new building students who had endured the crowded and somehow manage the increased debt quarters of the hospital must have welcomed burden that this decision would bring. the innovation.2o But the celebrations The awarding of contracts for the project surrounding the opening of the new resi- was left to the Sisters in Hamilton who dence were tinged with sadness. Sister financed the entire project. The Sisters Xavier, the beloved Superintendent of required the permission of the Bishop of Nurses, had died a few weeks earlier, on Hamilton to borrow the necessary $75,000, April 17, 1931. but they felt confident in telling him "that The new building was immensely popu- with this addition to the hospital we can be lar with the students. It had eighteen "invit - able to pay at least Ten Thousand Dollars a ing and cozy" bedrooms, complete with a year towards the wiping out of its debt, an large clothes closet, on each of the second amount which will increase as the years go and third floors, and ten rooms on the first. by." At the time, the hospital was still Modem classrooms, laundry, and recreation carrying an outstanding debt load of rooms were located in the basement, while some $300,000. the first floor contained a reception room 28 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital and a library. An added attraction of the Depression came in 1932. The crisis was "Stately New Home" was the roof garden and sparked by a sharp rise in the numbers of two sun porches, with panoramic views of indigent patients arriving at the hospital, and the surrounding countryside.21 the alarming increase in the costs of their As Sister Bonaventure emphasized in care. This situation was made worse by a her last annual statement as Superintendent, growing reluctance on the part of local the opening of the new residence was "the municipalities, especially the Waterloo outstanding event of the past year. St. Mary's County Council, to cover these costs to the Hospital is now able to take its full quota of level they were legally committed to under patients whenever the need for such accom- the new 1931 Public Hospitals Act. Already Sister Helen modation may arise."22The hospital's total bed serious, the situation was exacerbated by Harris capacity did not change with the opening of sharply lower private patient revenues, which (1864-1947) the residence; it was still set at 137, as it had were critical to subsidizing the costs of indi- Tall, soft-spokenand of Irish background,Sister been since 1929, but with space now avail- gent patients. On top of all this was the chal- Helen Harris was born in able, particularly on the third floor, for new lenge of managing the hospital's heavy debt Hamilton and enteredthe beds and equipment when patient demand load under a new superintendent. Congregationof the Sisters and financial resources made it necessary: The financial situation faced by St. Mary's of St. Josephin 1894. Like Sister Bonaventure,she When Sister Bonaventure retired as during this period was not unique. The had also beena school Superintendent in December 1931, at the local crisis was, however, more serious at teachel;and had received end of the normal six year term, the hospi- St. Mary's than at K-W Hospital, which had her TeachersPermanent Certificate in 1907, and tal's finances seemed relatively stable, with little space available to handle the growing then a Music Teachers operating revenues in excess of expenses. numbers of indigent patients in the Kitchener- Certificate in 1924. Si.xty- The grants reGeived by the hospital from the Waterloo area. St. Mary's, with a 137-bed eightyears of age when she was appointed provincial and local governments were just capacity, could take more patients, and had St. Mary's second enough to pay the required $15,424 in inter- been operating at a dailyaverage of just over Superintendent,she had est payments on the debt, the total amount 50 per cent occupancy since it opened. While the challengeof guiding of which had been increased by $70,000 to it was getting busier all the time, growing the hospital through one of the most difficult periods pay for the new building. Managing such a from admitting 846 patients during its first in its history. debt would be a major problem for Sister year, to 1,296 in 1926-27, and to 1,857 in Source:SSJ Bonaventure's successor, Sister M. Helen 1929-30, St. Mary's still had room to absorb Harris. It was a situation that Sister much of the extra indigent patient demand; it Bonaventure would not live to witness, as did not, however, have the financial resources she died suddenly on May 12, 1932, at the to pay for this extra load. age of sixty-five.23 The first signs of trouble emerged in 1931. In February, along with its normal Depression Crisis $3,000 grant from the City of Kitchener and Although the stock market crash that marked its regular indigent payments, St. Mary's also the start of the Great Depression happened secured a modest $300 grant from the in October 1929, 5t. Mary's Hospital and Waterloo Town Council. But in October, Kitchener in general were spared its full when a delegation from the Advisory Board effects until the years between 1931 and approached the County Council, seeking an 1934. Troubles began to emerge locally in increase, the County Finance Committee 1930 when construction activity declined denied the request. It recommended that sharply, followed by a dramatic drop in the "the heads of the various municipalities exer- city's extensive furniture business. By cise greater discretion in sending indigent December 1930 there were 582 unemployed patients to hospitals."24 For the hospitals, men in Kitchener, and twice as many a such advice was unacceptable and something month later. Those with jobs saw their wages had to be done. fall. By 1933, Kitchener's hardest year of the St. Mary's was compelled by law to Depression, a total of 4,500 men, women accept every patient, whether or not they and children were living on a meager $26 were able to pay. The previous two years, the monthly relief from the city costs associated with indigent patients from For 5t. Mary's, the lowest point of the Waterloo County was $1,700 more than the 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 29 County Council grant, and this shortfall had for 1932. St. Mary's and GaIt General to be made up from other essential hospital Hospital would each receive an extra $500 to revenues. The situation was getting desperate, help cover the cost of the larger number of and WJ. Motz, Chairman of the Advisory indigent patients they admitted in 1932.27 Board, told the County Council that its 1932 Shortly after the settlement with the grant of $2,100 would be accepted only on County Council, Sister Helen tabled her first the condition that the Council "assume full annual statement to the Advisory Board. responsibility for all expenses in connection Its tone underscored the seriousness of the with the care of county indigent patients over hospital's financial situation. "The exceptional and above the sum of $2,100."25 conditions existing during the past hospital Little changed until June 1932 when the year are evident from the fact that in the County Council struck a special committee to financial statement the receipts from paying deal with the St. Mary's grant situation. By patients are $11,000 lower than a year ago, late September 1932, the committee offered while payments for indigent patients are St. Mary's an extra $500 in 1933, in addition $4 ,000 higher. After allowing $23,000 for to the regular grant.26 St. Mary's flatly rejected depreciation, this year's operations show a this offer and responded by requesting an loss of nearly $7,000." At the same time, annual grant of $3,500. The Advisory Board St. Mary's managed to reduce its debt further Medicine jars and a had support from the Deputy Minister of by $17,500 and pay $13,000 in interest, mortar and pestle from the collection of Health, who cited the recently enacted Public thanks to the ten-year provincial grant to Cleo Heimler, Hospitals Act. The Ontario Department of new hospitals.28 However, a year later, paying St. Mary's Pharmacist Health, which had assumed all responsibili- patient revenues were still down, while indi- from 1948-1961. ties for public hospitals under the 1931 act, gent costs were up sharply, tripling from "would refuse to ratify an agree- $7,448 in 1930-31, to $22,270 in 1932-33. ment to accept an insuffi- As Sister Helen noted in her 1933 report, cient grant from the "The situation is not a favourable one for any County" St. Mary's also hospital, since the legally fixed daily payment received support from for indigents does not allow anything for the Kitchener City extra outlay which the hospital must incur Council. As was frequently for special treatment, medicines reported by the Daily and X-ray"29 Record, Kitchener By 1934, Advisory Board members were Alderman J .A. preparing for the ending of the provincial ten- Smith regarded year universal grant of 50 cents per patient St. Mary's as a per day This potential loss of income to the public institution hospital prompted the rebirth of the St. Mary's that over the previ- Rose Day campaign. In December 1931, the ous year had treated Advisory Board asked Father Hinsperger of more Protestant St. Mary's Church to look into what could be than Catholic done "with the various Ladies' Committees in patients. Moreover, view of helping the hospital."3° found Sister M. Assumption Kehoe, Sister Xavier's successor as Superintendent of Nurses, initiated the formal establishment of the Ladies' Auxiliary by inviting eighteen women to a meeting on December 7,1932. This group consisted largely of the wives of Advisory Board members and the medical staff, who were also interested in supporting .Mary's, the work of St. Mary's. A second meeting was Hospital be called a week later, at which a total of sixty- paid for county indigent patients on a per two women became charter members and diem basis, in addition to their $2,100 grants elected the first executive. The leadership of 30 ~ St. Mary'sGeneral Hospital

~ the Auxiliary mirrored that of the Advisory In April 1934, the Auxiliary was asked Board: Catherine Lang was elected president, to undertake another tag day to help reduce Rita Dietrich, Angela Lang and Mabel Krug the hospital debt. Between May 14 and May named first, second and third vice-presidents, 19, the 1934 Rose Day campaign collected a and Margaret Sargeant, elected secretary- total of $4,700, which was considerably treasurer. Also elected to the executive as more than the objective. Just over $3,300 convenors were Hilda Shoniker (surgical was raised in Kitchener, while $1,100 came dressings), Louisa Zinger (sewing), Mabel from Waterloo residents and $115 was Krug (social) and Mary Motz (publicity). collected outside of the Twin Cities. Similar Shortly after its birth, the Ladies' to St. Mary's original 1923 building Auxiliary held a card party at the nurses' campaign, and reflecting the leadership and residence and raised $124 for the hospital, business connections of the Advisory Board, followed by a sacred music concert the largest donors were insurance companies, performed by the Kitchener Musical Society manufacturers and merchants in Kitchener that brought in $23.91. Additional money and Waterloo, as well as professional men was raised through teas, bake sales, bridge and private individuals.32 parties and raffles, and also by instituting a Newspaper reports on the results of the 25 cent membership fee. The Ladies' campaign highlighted its outstanding success Auxiliary raised $464 during its first year. Of and the vital work of the Ladies' Auxiliary, to these proceeds, $317 were used to buy such whom Sister Helen paid special tribute. items as a new sewing machine, repair an old The press also stressed the financial chal- one, and to purchase furniture for the nurses' lenges that the ending of the provincial grant library and new curtains and lampshades for would pose for St. Mary's, and the impor- the private rooms and wards of the hospital. tance such funds had been to managing the Throughout its first year, Auxiliary members hospital's debt. However, the Rose Day also spent many hours mending and making triumph prompted a refreshing and new sheets and surgical dressings, and optimistic perspective in the Daily Record on sewing such items as pneumonia jackets, the growth of the hospital and the impor- breast binders, baby booties, children's tance of its fundamental mission: "During the bedgowns, gauze masks and covers for oper- ten years of operation, 15,000 patients ating room instrument tables. The sewing without regard to race or creed, have committee contributed more than one thou- received a kind welcome at St. Mary's sand hours of work that first year, while the Hospital." Maintaining this caring mission surgical dressings committee made over was the challenge Sister Helen faced as twenty-four thousand dressings.31 St. Mary's entered its second decade.~

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 31 Kitchener circa 1930, from the fourth floor of St. Mary's. Source:SMGH CHAPTER 3

The M iddle

The hearty responseto the not arrive at St. Mary's until after the Second appealfor funds is definite World War. The first paediatrician in the evidencethat the people of Kitchener-Waterloo area had opened his Kitchene1;Waterloo and district practice in 1931. Dr. David Whaley gradu- fully appreciate the splendid ated from the University of Toronto in 1926 work of the Sistersand those and after further study in Detroit and associatedwith them in the Germany set up his first practice, initially in managementof the St. Mary's Windsor, then in Kitchener a year later.2 Hospital. During 1934 St. Mary's treated an aver- FinancialStatement, St. Mary's age of sixty-three patients a day By June 1935 the number had risen to seventy-eight. HospitalCampaign, August 20, 1937. On July 17 the total number of patients reached 111, at the time the highest in the history of the hospital. This growth in Recovery and Growth St. Mary's patient population prompted the A routine of care was well established and Advisory Board to discuss the idea of open- growing as St. Mary's Hospital entered its ing the western portion of the hospital's third second decade. According to the hospital's floor. This would provide accommodation patient register the majority of patients were for an additional twenty-five to thirty women in need of prenatal care, whose patients and bring the hospital's capacity to babies were then delivered at St. Mary's, 130 adult beds. Reinforcing such expansion children who were getting their tonsils plans, Sister Helen Harris in 1935 reported and/or adenoids removed, or individuals the substantial increases in the hospital's suffering from appendicitis. Most patients revenue over the first year of her term. admitted to St. Mary's would have been Paying patient income had risen by $15,000, treated by the same group of physicians who while the costs of indigent patients had had served the hospital from its opening: declined by $4,500. It seemed as if the worst Drs. Harry Lackner, Louis Lang, Charles of the Depression was over.3 McCarville, Harry Shoniker, Harold St. Mary's was not the only beneficiary of Hamilton, Neil Morrison, W Sehl, or Victor the improved economic conditions in the Traynor. If they needed surgery, they may Twin Cities area. Just as St. Mary's was have been operated on by several of these preparing to open up the third floor to doctors working together. It was still the era patient care, the K-W Hospital announced its of general practitioners: most specialists did plans to build a three-storey addition, which 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 33 and Sister M. Augustine Campbell were members of the Class of 1929, while Sister M. Chrysostom Sell had graduated in the Class of 1930. Remembered as "a great gal," the "angelic" Sister Augustine served St. Mary's as Instructress of Nurses, Superintendent of Nurses, and then as Superintendent of St. Mary's Hospital from 1948 to 1954. Sister Augustine had joined the Hamilton Sisters of St. Joseph Congregation in 1921. Before entering the St. Mary's School of Nursing, she had served at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, the Dundas House of Providence and at the Mount Carmellnfant's Home in Hamilton. The St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in Hamilton also provided St. Mary's with several important staff through the years. Sister M. St. Edward Duffy, the Superintendent of the St. Mary's School of Nursing during the mid-1930s, had gradu- Although the fees would open in Apri11936. The St. Mary's ated from the Hamilton School in 1932 and charged for hospital Advisory Board congratulated its sister began her position in Kitchener in early services in 1941 would 1934. Other Hamilton graduates were Sister be considered a institution when news of the addition was M. Leone Martin, and Sister M. Consilli bargain by today's announced, noting that the expanded K- standards, St. Mary's W Hospital would provide "the Twin City Schmidt. Sister Gabriel Buckley was a 1934 had continuing prob- graduate of the St. Joseph Hospital School of \ems in trying to meet with a total hospital accommodation of its operating costs. about 250 beds and covering future needs Nursing in Guelph. Another St. Mary's Sister Source: SMGH for some time."4 Supervisor among the Hamilton nursing The two hospitals combined efforts in a graduates was Sister M. Mercedes Gallagher, number of ways through the decade. For "a little lady" who, like Sister Augustine, example, K-W Hospital had established one served St. Mary's in many capacities. Since of the first ambulance services in the joining the Order in 1912, Sister Mercedes province in 1901, and St. Mary's had also had spent most of her life caring for the sick used this service since 1927. Beginning in in hospitals, culminating in her brief 1926, the X-ray departments of the two appointment as St. Mary's Superintendent hospitals also shared a staff radiologist, in 1947-48. Dr. Frederick R. Pollock, whose services were By now, the lay staff of St. Mary's had also used by hospitals in GaIt and Stratford. grown to include three people working in In 1935, when St. Mary's established a new the kitchen under the direction of Sister M. pathology laboratory, Dr. Laverne C. Fischer St. James Culleton. Sister St. James was was appointed staff pathologist and Director trained as a dietitian at the Ontario of Laboratories. When the K-W Hospital Agricultural College, and then joined the added a new pathology laboratory in 1936, nursing Class of 1936 at St. Mary's. Ann Dr. Fischer was given a similar appointment Buhlman, a graduate of St. Mary's first class, there. Almost every day for most of the next was hired as Night Supervisor of Nurses, decade, Dr. Fischer could be seen making the while Mrs. H. Lavelle and Miss Mary trip between the two hospitals on his bicycle. Marcella Cronin worked as graduate nurses As St. Mary's second decade began, Sister on floor duty Miss Cronin had graduated Helen oversaw the work of several new from the St. Mary's School in 1931 before departmental Sister supervisors, several of being hired as a full-time nurse. Mrs. Lavelle whom were recent graduates of the St. Mary's affectionately known as "Ma Lavelle," had School of Nursing. Sister M. Lioba O'Dwyer been trained at St. Michael's Hospital School 34 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital of Nursing in Toronto and after her gradua- when their employment prospects were Mildred M. Ahrens, Olive tion in 1929 had joined the St. Mary's staff in declining. There were simply too many G.M. (Bennett) Boltz, the Obstetrics Department. Ma lavelle "loved nurses competing for fewer potential private Jessie Buchan, Ila Sarah (Buck) Eidt, Margaret L her babies," was meticulous in her nursing patients, growing numbers of whom were (Halloren) Gilmoul; Mary work, and kept the nursing students on their seeking their health care in hospitals. Margaret Hillsdon, A. toes all the time. Other members of Sister The onset of the Depression forced many Ruth (shipley) Kaufman, Helen's support staff included four clerical nursing graduates to abandon the profession Phyllis Marie McKersie, Melinda (Voege) Nuha, workers, seven helpers in the laundry, one altogether. Nursing school enrolment Irene I. (Young) O'Rourke, orderly, and nine women and two men who declined, leaving hospitals like St. Mary's Marjorie J. (Hause) supplied domestic help to the hospital. scrambling to recruit new students to care Peterson, Audrey 0. (Chamney) Pickard,Jean for the growing numbers of patients. The M. (Keenan) Pickard, Life of a Nursing Student in the 19305 dependence on nursing students to provide a Annis (Aston) Smith During St. Mary's first decade, very few grad- variety of services-both nursing and Source: SMGH uates of the School were employed by St. non-nursing domestic services-took Mary's or any other hospital. Most found considerable time away from classroom work as private duty nurses or as public instruction and had the effect of weakening health nurses for the local or provincial the educational work of nursing schools departments of public health. This situation during the 1930s.5 began to change in the late 19205 as nursing A young woman who entering the schools graduated larger classes at a time St. Mary's School of Nursing during the 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 35 until 1946. Nevertheless, students were "to make good any damage or breakage, caused by themselves." New students were asked to bring a moderate amount of clothing, two pairs of black Oxford shoes, a watch with a second hand, black stockings, $30 to cover the cost of textbooks, and their nursing uniforms and aprons.6 For Patricia Farrell, nursing training

Sister Mary began on September 8, 1932, as a probation- Grace Stevens ary student, or "probie," along with eighteen Stern but fail; Sister Mary other young women who would make up Grace had been Surgical the Class of 1935. The residence was Supervisor and then Instructress of Nurses at crowded when she arrived. Normally, first- St. joseph's Hospital in year students were given private rooms on Hamilton until her move the third floor and then progressed down to to Kitchenel: Though a "tiny" woman, she had the first floor by their senior year. Patricia become a Sister at an could not get a private room until some of older age than most and the recent graduates moved out. In the brought to St. Mary:S meantime, she and three other "probies" broad, worldly knowledge and experience as a nurse temporarily bedded down in the third floor and as a well-travelled sunroom. Their probationary status lasted working woman. After her for four months, after which their monthly years at St. Mary:S, she would return to Hamilton Nurses' uniforms have changed dramatically over allowance began and they were given their as Superintendent of the years. The rules, however, have always caps and starched bibs, which they "added emphasized a sense of proper decorum. St. joseph's Hospital. She to the blue uniform and white, starched had a genteel mannel; yet Source: SMGH all who worked with her (but not too stiffly) apron. ..if all require- remember her as a sharp mid-1930s had to be ments were met."7 and very clever woman between eighteen and The probationary and an innovator in thirty years of age, period was largely nursing and hospital at least five feet four spent in the class- management. Source: SSJ inches in height and of room, with limited average weight and morning and late physique. Her applica- afternoon hospital tion had to be supple- duties starting after mented by a letter from the first three "a clergyman testifying weeks. Most of the as to moral character," class time was spent and health and vaccina- studying nursing tion certificates from a principles and physician. A monthly methods, in addi- allowance of $5 for first- tion to lectures in year students, $6 for anatomy and physi- second-year students ology, materia and $7 for third-year medica, history of students was given until nursing and ethics, the mid-1930s, which bacteriology, hospi- was a $1 reduction from tal housekeeping, the pre-Depression rate. dietetics, hygiene In 1936 this allowance and sanitation. was reduced further to When not in class, $3, $4 and $5, and first-year students remained at these levels spent the balance of 36 ~ 5t. Marys GeneralHospital their time doing general nursing, rotating allowed each year, but "at the time most between all floors. convenient to the Institution." During the second year, several subjects For Patricia Farrell, the reality of the were added, including communicable workload was somewhat different. diseases, general medicine, obstetrics, paediatrics, and venereal diseases. Outside of the The monthswe servedin O.R. were stressful& classroom, second-year students worked in our hours were long-7:30 a.m. until 7:30 the diet kitchen, the nursery of the obstet- p.m. We did have (if we weren't "snowed rics department, the children's ward, general under") 2 hrs. off during the day, but from wards, and the operating room. Second-year Sept.until june, thosehours were devotedto students took all temperatures, did certain Lectures.The 7'30 p.m. "end of hours" was treatments and generally cared for the sick- never a sure thing, eithel;-we stayeduntil the est patients in the wards. The course work last glove was patched (yes,we did that, too!) of the third year continued many of the & last instrument cleaned,sterilized & second-year courses, and introduced courses wrapped....The nursesmopped floors, washed in dermatology, eye, ear, nose and throat, walls-& if we had a "dirty" case-washed all gynaecology, mental diseases, tuberculosis the linens, drapesetc. in cold water beforethey nursing, orthopaedic surgery, general were sent to the laundry!! And we were on call surgery and public health. Hospital service for all surgeries(emergencies) between 7:30 for third-year students included work in the p.m. & 7:30 a.m.

Class of 1934 in the grotto behind the original hospital: ( clockwise from lower left) Loretta Bogman, Mickey McDermott, Margaret Toman. Estelle Knipfel, Margaret Finkbeiner, Pat Farrell, Kay Sweitzer, Irene Steel Source:SMGH

operating room, assisting with deliveries in Yet the life of a St. Mary's nursing obstetrics, and senior duties throughout student was not all work. As Patricia the hospital. recalled, "when we did have a rare During the mid-1930s, nursing students time off with nothing much to do, we were on duty for some fifty-eight hours a felt the urge to 'clown' a bit [in the week while on day shifts, and when on operating room]-with caps on back- nights they worked for about seventy-one wards, masks upside-down, huge glasses & a hours. Students were given two hours each wild assortment of instruments. "8 Every class day for relaxation, in addition to one after- of nurses seemed to take advantage of any noon a week, as well as some time off on opportunity to let off steam and have some alternate Sundays. These breaks, however, creative fun. Roxy Roche remembers one were "subject to the requirements of the trick often played in the hospital before the work." A two-week vacation was also nurses moved into the new residence: 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 37 Class They loved to pull a nursein a sheetover to the rules were meant to be bent. Sister Raphael (Top to bottom, left to elevatorwhen they heardit comingup, andjust was largely responsible for encouraging the right) drop her therebecause they felt that a doctor courtship of Roxy and Dr. Lang.9 Virginia Mary Winterhalt, would be comingin in the evening,and the Other memories of the time were tinged Dorothy Eileen Vonhatten, nursewould be caughtthere wrapped in the with tragedy. One member of Patricia Farrell's Shirley Darroch, Margaret Mary Kroetsch, Mary sheet;that was one they really pulled. They Class of 1935, Margaret Patricia McDermott, Alma Sehl, Geraldine pulled it on me, I know.I think I got up very also known as "Mickey," was looking forward Dillon, hurriedly,grabbing my sheet,and madeit back. to graduating when a bout of influenza Leona M. Drual; Gertrude M. Zettel, Mary Alice became complicated by tuberculosis and Connors, Kathleen H. A certain amount of levity among the meningitis. She died on May 14, a few days Beaudoin, Beulah Anne students seemed to be acceptable to the before graduation, leaving her close friend Litschgy, Patricia Alice Schnurl; Mary joan Sisters. Discipline was generally quite strict, Patricia and the rest of the class heartbroken. Kuntz, Catharine but the Sisters acted more like mothers, "She was buried the day before our Margaret Young, particularly towards the younger students and Graduation, wearing her uniform, and with Audrey Cornish, Rita Anne Sehl, Margaret Alice those from outside of the Twin Cities. The her cap, pin, diploma, and red roses on the Holle, Mary A. Dietrich, nurses had a great deal of respect for the casket."lo Her death underscores the health Elaine Marjorie Wildfang, Sisters and understood the genuine interest risks that nursing students have always faced Anita M. Kane, Doreen R. they took in the students' professional and while working in hospitals, especially during Wingfeldel; Shirley E. Maxwell. personal happiness. Sister Raphael Sweeny, a the pre-penicillin era. Source: SMGH graduate of the St. ]osephs Hospital School of Nevertheless, a 1936 provincial inspec- Nursing in Hamilton in 1931, and who later tion of the School noted that, "There seems served as Surgical Supervisor at St. Marys, to be comparatively little illness among the was remembered particularly fondly by Roxy students. Last year there were 3 1/2 days of Roche. Sister Raphael felt that sometimes illness per student." Such government 38 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital inspections of hospital nursing schools, of the health of nurses and staff, reflected the continuing trend towards higher levels of standardization in North American hospitals during the 1930s. Standardization was a central theme of a special Bulletin published by St. Mary's Hospital in April 193 7 as part of a major fundraising campaign. The book- let reflected St. Mary's efforts to portray itself as a modem, scientific hospital. It included reports on nurses records, medical records and staff conferences, and described the equipment acquired by the hospital over the past year through the fundraising work of the Ladies' Auxiliary.ll The Bulletin also spotlighted the hospitals modest new medical library, which opened in July 1936 when the widow of Dr. Claude 0. Reist donated her husbands medical library to the hospital. Dr. Reist had set up his practice in Preston in 1919 and had quickly become one of the leading physicians of the area, culminating with his appointment as coroner in early 1935. To accommodate Dr. Reist's donation a room known as the private parlour for the medical Although x-ray technology had been developed staff was converted into a doctor's library 12 at the time of the opening of St. Mary's, the safeguards which have become commonplace were still not clearly understood as an x-ray is Volunteers and Roses taken of student nurse Amelia (Kontura) Senek. Since its founding in 1932, the St. Mary's Source: UW/KWR Hospital Ladies' Auxiliary had grown

Student nurses in the Class of '48 posing during rounds. Both the patient and the nurses seem to be enjoying a moment of respite from their more formal duties. From left to right the students are: M. Herman, P. Mat thews, J. Zettel, E. Braniff; the Registered Nurses are M. Paddin and A. Janowski. Source: SMGH

St. Mary's General Hospital ~ 39 Dr. Stanley leavine's managing the central King Street headquar- prescription pad for ters for the campaign. those on municipal welfare or 'relier During the months before the campaign, specifies that this a sharp rise in the number of patients admit- applies only to patients ted to St. Mary's forced the Advisory Board to who were residents of Kitchener or reconsider its plans for the Rose Day Waterloo -no resi- proceeds. March 1937 was the busiest month dents from 'outside in the history of St. Mary's to date, with a municipalities" may total of 282 patients admitted to the hospital, apply. Source:SMGH including thirty-one births. During six days in March there were more than one hundred patients in the hospital. This situation renewed plans for opening up the unused wing of the third floor and equipping it to substantially. The Auxiliary's fundraising accommodate about nineteen patients.13 activities were dedicated to providing a wide The Rose Day campaign took place range of equipment to the hospital. Through during the first week of June and volunteers card parties, teas, bake sales, recitals, collected just over $10,400. The Kitchener concerts and raffles, the Auxiliary raised a community contributed $7,000, Waterloo total of just over $1,500 through its first four citizens gave $2,000. Contributions from the years. Late in 1936 the Auxiliary provided smaller communities of Waterloo County $175 towards the cost of a new portable included $265 from New Hamburg and X-ray machine. The Auxiliary also provided $230 from Preston. Individuals from outside subscriptions to various magazines and a Waterloo County donated $382. As was German newspaper for the patients. Perhaps stressed by the Advisory Board, "The hearty of more value was the time that members of response to the appeal for funds is definite the Auxiliary's Sewing Committee volun- evidence that the people of Kitchener, teered to the hospital. Waterloo and district fully appreciate the The Auxiliary was particularly active splendid work of the Sisters and those asso- during 1936 when a membership drive ciated with them in the management of the brought its roster of volunteers from seventy- St. Mary's Hospital."14 two at the end of 1935 up to 266. The Rather than paying down the hospital's important work of the Auxiliary was debt, Sister Helen and WJ. Motz recom- displayed in many ways during the year, mended spending the new funds on building including a public exhibition in the nurses repairs and furnishing the third floor, as well residence of all the various supplies made by as on moving the laboratory, extending the the Auxiliary since its founding. The bout of X-Ray Department, and buying urgently activity in 1936 was generated by the enthu- needed hospital equipment. The sharp siasm of the Auxiliary executive, led by its increase in the numbers of patients and second president, Rita Dietrich. paying patient revenues, and a decline in When plans for another Rose Day the indigent patient population, placed campaign were initiated in October 1936, St. Mary's in a better financial situation by the proceeds were to be directed to reducing the fall of 1937. the hospita1's debt load. By January 1937 While the hospital's debt burden may I other service clubs and church organizations have eased, the problem of recovering the had also accepted the invitation to join the cost of extras provided to indigent patients fundraising effort. A new Auxiliary executive, re-emerged in 1938, especially for patients elected in January 1937, took a strong inter- whose hospitalization was the legal responsi- est in preparing for Rose Day under the lead- bility of the Waterloo County government. ership of its new president, Mary Motz. Of the three general hospitals in Waterloo Other volunteers served as convenors for the County, St. Mary's shouldered the majority of Rose Day campaign, supervising the the county's indigent patient load and fundraising efforts across the Twin Cities, and incurred significant deficits in treating them. 40 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital However, county payments did not cover the area to ease their deficits. St. Mary's received costs of such extras as X-ray diagnosis, new $500 and K-W Hospital and GaIt General drugs, and other specific treatments or surgi- split the balance equally.16 cal procedures. Hospitals were not legally The year 1938 saw several new faces at obliged to provide such services, but such St. Mary's who would assume leadership of extras led to earlier discharges, which cut the the hospital through most of the war years. cost of maintaining indigent patients in the WJ. Motz was succeeded as chairman of the hospital. Reflecting the changes in hospitals, Advisory Board by E. Russell Purtle, a medicine and technology during the 1930s, Kitchener businessman with Snyder's furni- Francis Maurice Hearn, a banker and former ture store. He had joined the Board in 1929 Kitchener alderman who had recently joined after serving as secretary for the 1929 Rose the St. Mary's Advisory Board, pointed out to Day campaign. WJ. Motz's son, John, now the the County Council that "hospitalization managing editor of the Daily Record,also today is not merely for nursing treatment," joined the Board in April 1938 and was and it was time that government funding for elected secretary Another recent addition was hospitals recognized this reality 15In October Colonel William M.O. Lochead, an active The nursery has always been a popular 1938, the County Council reluctantly member of the Knox Presbyterian Church of place in the hospital, decided to give a modest one-time grant of Waterloo who had commanded the 118th even without great $1,000 in total to the three hospitals in the Battalion during the First World War, and was grammar. Source: SMGH well known for his diverse community work. Ambulance, which was the only military unit Staning in 1937, the Board appointed raised from Kitchener during the war; Dr. Frank Harvey as its first representative of Dr. Frank Zwick, who also joined the 24th the medical staff. He was followed by his Field Ambulance; and Dr. Aeneas M. brother, Dr. Milne Harvey, between 1938 and Urquhart, who joined the Highland Light 1940, Dr. Victor Traynor in 1941-42, Infantry and was attached to the Canadian Dr. Louis Lang during 1942-43 and Dr. Forestry Corps in Scotland. Dr. Frank Harvey Harry Shoniker between 1944 and 1946. did not enlist, but the tragedy of the war In September 1938, Sister M. Gerard touched him personally in 1942 when his Moran (1882-1963) succeeded Sister Helen eldest son was killed in action. as the third Superintendent of St. Mary's Under Russell Purtle's leadership, the Hospital. Characterized as a perfectionist, Advisory Board focused on improving the Walter J. Sister Gerard had graduated in 1923 from financial health of the hospital during the McGibbon St. joseph's Hospital School of Nursing in war years. In concluding the 1939-40 (1902-1979) Hamilton. She was then placed in charge of annual meeting, he had predicted that the Walter McGibbon graduated from the the operating room in Hamilton until assum- hospital would soon eliminate its operating Osgoode Law School in ing the leadership of St. Mary's. Although losses. One of Purtle's successesin this effort Toronto in 1926 and set Sister Gerard inherited a more stable envi- was to obtain a reduction in the interest rates up his law practice in Kitchener the following ronment than Sister Helen, the war would being charged on the substantial mortgages yeal: His first office was at bring a different set of trials. the hospital held from the Mutual Life King and Queen Streets, Assurance Companyl7 where he worked alone. War Years Six months later he joined A number of important gifts from local A.B. McBride in a During the anxious months leading up to the groups helped to supplement the support Waterloo law firm, and start of the Second World War in September provided to St. Mary's by the Ladies' after McBride's death in 1939, St. Mary's seemed strangely quiet. The Auxiliary during the war. Following another 1932, McGibbon ran the practice himself until Kitchener community was concerned that successful membership drive early in 1939, 1948. McGibbon was another war with Germany would bring the Auxiliary's membership rose to over five named town solicitor for again the turmoil seen a generation before. hundred-an increase helped by an offer Waterloo in 1928 and played a key role in The onset of war affected St. Mary's and the from Mary Motz of a prize to the lady bring- changing its municipal Twin Cities in many ways. Economically, the ing in the most members. The onset of the status from town to city in war created considerable work for the manu- war, however, made keeping members diffi- 1948. In 1945 he began a facturers of Kitchener and Waterloo and long association with the cult. By 1943 the numbers had declined to Waterloo Mutual officially put an end to any lingering unem- only 155 members. Despite the unstable Insurance Co.,forwhich ployment. As war clouds gathered in Europe, membership, those involved continued to he would serve as directol; the busy activities at St. Mary's of fundraising raise money and supply important items to vice-president and chairman. and renovations were replaced by a more St. Mary's, including an incubator, heaters, Source: SMGH focused attention on the mission of caring for bed linens and other items, even providing the sick. Indeed, 1939 recorded the highest Christmas gifts for indigent patients. annual number of patients admitted to By March 1941 it was clear that the hospital St. Mary's to date, a total of 2,450. needed a new X-ray machine. The original Many members of the St. Mary's medical machine had served St. Mary's well, but staff joined the military Among this group progress in radiology demanded that the was Dr. Harold Hamilton, who served over- hospital offer its patients the latest medical seas in command of the Number 10 General technology. This was just too big a piece of Field Hospital. The third member of the equipment for the Auxiliary to purchase. Lackner family of physicians, Dr. Allister Financing ideas were needed. Lackner, joined the Canadian Army Medical Just such a new idea was at hand. The Corps in 1940 and served for five years. Kitchener-Waterloo Federated Charities was He had graduated from the University of created in 1940 in an effort to combat donor Toronto in 1938 and then joined his father's fatigue caused by too many simultaneous practice. Other popular doctors to serve in appeals competing for the public's attention the military included Dr. Dick Ratz, who and dollars. Its mandate was to include commanded the 24th Light Field "all deserving charitable and humanitarian 42 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital institutions operating within the two munici- In the fall of 1938, only eight students palities which depend for support upon local entered the School and then graduated as the citizens."18Those associated with the Class of 1941. Yet by 1942, the rising Federated Charities would benefit from the demands for nurses and some relaxation in proceeds generated by a single fundraising the admission requirements helped to attract campaign conducted on their collective a class of thirty-one students, the largest ever behalf. In October 1941 St. Marys was invited enrolled prior to the Class of 1957. to join the Federated Charities, eliminating Sister Mary Grace Stevens' appointment the need for conducting its own fundraising as Superintendent of Nurses at St. Mary's drive. In joining the Federated Charities, School of Nursing coincided with the start of St. Mary's applied for four years of funding the war. She guided the School through the that totaled $10,000. Sister Gerard received first and last years of the war, while Sister the first installment of $2,500 in November, Geraldine Campbell, a St. Mary's Class of which was directed to the X-ray equipment 1929 graduate, held the position between fund. By April 1942 the medical staff reported 1940 and 1945. to the Advisory Board that the new X-ray Members of the St. Mary's School Class : equipment was a great improvement.19 of 1947 remember that Sister Mary Grace had to be strict, aloof, and keep a close eye "There's always something on every student. It was Sister Mary Grace's you can do for a patient": business-like manner that was particularly life of a Nursing Student in the 19405 memorable, and probably attributable to her The war brought a number of changes and background as a buyer for a department Hospital food has challenges to St. Mary's School of Nursing. store before becoming a Sister. While she always had a certain As well as the traditional jobs for graduate never minced words, sometimes she showed mystique. In this photo, nurses in hospitals, private-duty nursing and a less stem position. Anita Kane recalled staff are preparing meals for St. Mary's public health departments, the war brought when Sister Mary Grace caught her smoking patients. opportunities to serve in the military and in her room after a long night of being on Source:SMGH related civilian sectors. and military demands for graduate nurses accelerated until about

reports of serious nursing shortages began to be heard. By 1944, hospitals in all parts of

ing difficulty in - uate nursing staff. This changing employment was also felt at St. Mary's, particularly in the wide fluctuations in the

entering and ating from the School of Nursing.

~ call in the operating room. Anita could have formal affiliations with other institutions. been suspended for smoking, but Sister Mary In 194 3 an affiliation with the Hospital for Grace ignored the infraction and let her get Sick Children in Toronto focused on paedi- some much-needed rest. Beulah Litschgy atric nursing. In the same year an affiliation recalled some important nursing lessons with the Victorian Order of Nurses of from Sister Mary Grace: never stand around Kitchener facilitated practical training in because "There's always something you can community nursing training. The nursing do for a patient," and always "Make your program was also broadened to include expe- head save your feet."2o rience in psychiatric nursing through affilia- The changes at the School during the tions with the Ontario Hospital in London in war years reflected the growing importance 1946 and the Homewood Sanitarium in of the educational standards of nursing. Now Guelph in 1951. more time was spent in the classroom and less time performing services in the hospital Chronic Growth that did not support the educational The war may have opened up other career program. The structure and subjects of the opportunities for nurses, but at St. Mary's, course of study did not change significantly, the number of patients continued to grow, but there were more teachers involved. The and an increasing proportion of them were beginnings of clinical instruction appeared staying in the hospital for longer periods of by 1946. There was, however, considerable time. In 1943, the number of cases admitted turnover in the teaching staff during this to St. Mary's increased by 14 per cent; that period. Sister Dominica and then Sister year, close to 3,600 patients were treated at Ursula were full-time instructors in the an average of 118 patients a day:21This School during the early 1940s. After her growing patient population continued graduation in 1933 from St. joseph's School through 1944 and was complicated by an of Nursing in Hamilton, Sister Ursula increasing number of chronically ill patients completed a nursing instructor's course at taking up beds. The province did not as yet the University of Toronto. Sister Mary operate a network of hospitals for long-term Bonaventure Fagan, a graduate of the care, so general hospitals such as St. Mary's St. Mary's School Class of 1941, also took the had to assume responsibility for the chroni- instructor's course in Toronto and then cally ill. K-W Hospital was not in a position taught during the last part of the war, and for to help as it had been facing the same many years afterwards. problem since 1941. Another significant development during Dr. Harry Shoniker first brought the the war years was an increase in the numbers issue of chronic patient management to the of non-Sister graduate nurses employed at Advisory Board in September 1944. He St. Mary's. During the first part of the war asked the Board "to bring pressure to bear on there were five or six graduate nurses on the Ontario Government and ascertain if staff, but by early 1946 there were ten, as anything can be done regarding the care of well as eight recent St. Mary's graduates these patients, in order that more beds may about to start. By the end of 1948 the nurs- be made available for acute cases." There had ing staff consisted of ten Sisters and twenty- been a shortage of beds all summer "and as two graduate nurses, in addition to a total of winter approaches, this condition will become worse instead of better. " A tempo- fifty-four nursing students. Tuberculosis management was a major rary solution suggested by the medical staff part of the training program for St. Mary's was to move the chronic patients to a room nursing students during the early 1940s. in the basement of the hospital. This part of Nurses received practical experience with TB the basement was three-quarters above treatment through an affiliation between ground and would likely accommodate eight St. Mary's and the Freeport Sanatorium. This to ten patients and "has adequate lighting was the first affiliation program set up in the with six windows." The provincial Medical School, but it was soon followed by a more Inspector of Hospitals initially thought this demanding educational structure and more plan would be acceptable, although the 44 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital Department of Health disapproved in princi- local contracting firm "on the advisability of ple to putting patients in the basement of adding another floor to the hospital or erect- any hospital.22 Sister Magdalen, who had ing a new wing." The press picked up the taken over from Sister Gerard as story, emphasizing the seriously overcrowded Superintendent in early September 1944, conditions and the fact that partitions had also did not like the idea any more than the recently been removed from the wards and Medical Inspector, but it would not be until beds were in the corridors to accommodate the late 1940s with the establishment of the the overflow of patients.24 shared Federal-Provincial Health Grants program, that some progress was finally Postwar Frustrations made on the thorny issue of chronic care. A key reason for St. Mary's long struggle to In the meantime St. Mary's was over- expand was provincial government resistance crowded and near to capacity. By January to the idea. The K-W Hospital had already 1945 there were 153 patients, including won approval for a major expansion project, twenty-four newborns, in the hospital out of which was set to open in 1951, so all St. a total of 165 beds, cots and bassinets. The Mary's could do was endorse its sister hospi- annual report of 1943, stating that the bed tal's expansion plans and wait for its turn. occupancy of St. Mary's was 87 per cent, Another factor in slowing down St. Mary's prompted the Advisory Board to consider plans may have been the many changes in building a small addition to the hospital. superintendents from 1945 to 1948. After This was an issue that dominated the first only one year in office, Sister Magdalen was years of long service given by St. Mary's third replaced in 1945 by Sister M. Alfonsa chairman of the Advisory Board, Walter J . Meegan (1880-1954). Sister Magdalen was McGibbon, who had assumed the post in assigned to St. joseph's Convent in Brantford, May 1943 after the untimely death of where she died in 1948. Sister Alfonsa's term Russell Purtle.23 as Superintendent was also short-lived. With The death of Russell Purtle provided an considerable experience with nursing and opportunity for the Sisters to fill a number of hospital administration, she had served as vacancies on the Advisory Board. Leonard Superintendent at St. josephs Hospital in Ruby and Colonel HughJ. Heasley joined Hamilton from 1917 until her appointment the Board in May 1943, while Albert J . to St. Mary's. After less than two years, Cundick and Dr. Louis Lang became perma- however, illness forced her to leave the nent members in 1944. Leonard Ruby would Superintendent's job to Sister M. Mercedes serve on the Board unti11952, while Colonel Gallagher in May 1947, who in turn was Heasley remained closely involved with replaced in September 1948 by Sister M. St. Mary's unti11972. Heasley, a Presbyterian, Augustine Campbell. Sister Mercedes was had served in the Canadian Army Service reassigned to St. joseph's Hospital in Guelph Corps during the First World War and had unti11950, when she returned to St. Mary's worked as an industrial engineering and for service unti11958. Some stability in the management consultant in various parts of St. Mary's administration was provided by Canada and the United States before moving Sister Augustine, who remained as to the Twin Cities in 1939 to manage Carling Superintendent unti11954. It was under her Breweries in Waterloo. Albert J. Cundick, an tenure that the expansion proposal was Anglican and local politician, would serve on finally revived in 1948. the Board unti11957. In spite of the many changes in leader- The year 1944 saw another change in ship at St. Mary's, the financial support in the the management of St. Mary's. Sister Twin Cities was strong in the early postwar Magdalen McFadden (1881-1948) assumed era. The healthy economy, and the housing the position of Superintendent following an construction boom of the 1940s and early extensive teaching career. She immediately 1950s, particularly in the immediate neigh- took the lead in advocating an addition to bourhood around St. Mary's, also had a major the hospital. At her first Board meeting in impact on the number of patients at the October 1944 she proposed to consult with a hospital. Between 1944 and 1945 admissions 5t. Mary:SGeneral Hospital ~ 45 to St. Mary's grew by 30 per cent, which was October 1947 by the arrival of fifteen the highest growth rate prior to 1961-62. "displaced persons" who had escaped the Much of this increased patient load was due ravages of the war in Europe. They were to the greater number of babies born at the young women from various parts of Ukraine hospital, an inevitable result of such a vibrant who had lost their homes and families during economy and many young families moving the war. In an effort to offer a future to these into the area. This situation was not unique women, the Canadian government arranged to St. Mary's, although its effects on an to offer employment to them in various insti- already overcrowded hospital were difficult to tutions. St. Mary's responded by providing manage, especially in the Maternity positions to the women as nurses' aides.25 Department. By April 1948, the idea of a new staff The Obstetrical Unit was under the building was once again before the Advisory supervision of Sister St. Joseph, who had Board. In November, shortly after Sister graduated in 1937 from the St. Joseph's Augustine assumed her position as School of Nursing in Hamilton. Working Superintendent, she suggested that the east with Sister St. Joseph as Supervisor of the wing of the hospital should be extended in Nursery was Gertrude McCue, a 1923 gradu- order to enlarge the Maternity Department. ate of the Hamilton school. The obstetrical Renewed efforts to expand St. Mary's had patients were accommodated in a separate been jump-started by the introduction of a wing of the second floor in rooms that were major new program of federal-provincial bright in colour and in natural sunlight and health grants in 1948, which offered capital nicely furnished. The department was grants to hospitals. Sensing a better opportu- divided into two rooms with four beds and nity for expansion, in March 1949, three rooms with two beds. The rest were McGibbon wrote directly to the Minister of private rooms. The nursery had twenty-seven Health, Russell T. Kelley, to expand the bassinets. Limited space did not allow for a Maternity Department by fifty beds and sixty separate room for premature babies, nor for bassinets. McGibbon was fully aware that the an isolation room. There was only one deliv- new hospital building at K-W Hospital ery room, which was not isolated from the would relieve some of the overcrowding at As the hospital patients' rooms and nursery: Nevertheless, the St. Mary's, but he told the minister that became busier, every department accommodated a total of 651 "there is a great tendency on the part of available space was used. Here, a new obstetrical patients in 1945. many people to choose what might be mother tries to nap in Some relief for St. Mary's overtaxed nurs- termed a semi-private hospital for maternity a crowded corridor. ing and support staff was made possible in purposes and we intend to cater to this Source: SMGH business which we believe will increase notwithstanding the erection of another hospital building."26 The minister seemed sympathetic, but the Inspector of Hospitals, C.J. Telfer, was less so. Based on an estimate of Kitchener's population and a standard beds-per-capita formula, Telfer suggested that the Twin Cities only needed 433 active beds. The K-W Hospital addition, together with St. Mary's, would provide "exactly the number of beds required by the area." Thus, "under existing regulations, any extension to St. Mary's could not be approved." Despite Telfer's advice, the minister felt that the Cabinet might feel otherwise and told McGibbon to wait for a few months to see what happened.27 By October 1949, McGibbon and the Board were anxious to submit an application

46 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital for government funding and McGibbon hoped to meet with minister. Meanwhile, McGibbon ran in the Waterloo North seat for the governing Conservatives in the 1948 provincial election for the minister's Conservative party: He lost the election, but hoped to utilize his political links on behalf of St. Mary's.28Health Minister Kelley once again sought advice from Telfer, who seemed less patient with the issue. Despite his advisor's position, Kelley continued to assist McGibbon as much as possible. He arranged for McGibbon to submit a capital complication into the government's evalua- these grant application under the Ontario tion of the requirements of the community young women from various parts of the Hospitals Aid Act of 1948. The expansion and made a reassessment of the St. Mary's Ukraine had lost their plans the Board presented called for a base- building proposal necessary.The health homes and families ment and three floors above it at an esti- committee was at a loss to know how to deal during the war. mated cost of $500,000.29 with this second application from St. Mary's responded to their needs in In February 1950, St. Mary's application Kitchener.3o Telfer's calculations (on the basis October 1947 by was passed to a special committee within the of 5.5 beds per thousand of population) that offering them positions Department of Health for closer review. By he had used against St. Mary's plans had as nurses' aides in the come back to haunt him. Unfortunately, this hospital. June it became clear that K-W Hospital Source:SMGH would only complete 203 active beds out of frustrating conundrum resulted in the rejec- the proposed 313, leaving the eighth and tion of St. Mary's grant proposal and the ninth stories of the new building unfinished. effective end of any further expansion plans This development threw a significant until the late 1950s.'Qc..

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 47 A young boy recovers from a broken arm in a very busy Pediatrics Department. Source: SMGH 5t. Mary's doors of mercy are year the hospital reported a net loss of just always open. No one is turned under $40,000, a figure more than double away because of race, creed or the loss the previous year. The average cost lack of funds. per patient day was rising, but without an equivalent increase in financial resources. K-W Record, February 21,1956. To add to these pressures, the post -war I n the twenty-five years since the opening baby boom hit St. Mary's with a vengeance. of St. Mary's Hospital, the neighbourhood The number of deliveries for 1950 was surrounding it had changed almost 1,095, which was seventy-seven more than beyond recognition. The area had now in 1949. In 1951, a total of 1,224 babies become one of the most popular in were born in the St. Mary's Maternity Kitchener. Where once there were farmers' Department. Late in the year and symbolic of fields, now ranch-style and split-level homes the baby boom at St. Mary's, three sets of sprouted up to the south. To the north, twins were born within a forty-eight-hour where a simple dirt road once led to the period. They were among a record total of hospital's front door, a paved Queen's eighteen new arrivals during those same busy Boulevard lined with new homes, trees and two days. As the K-W Record described it, street lights encircled the hospital and linked it with downtown Kitchener. Many young With the nursery boasting a record popula- families moving into the area would put tion, the rustle of wings overhead is beginning increasing pressure on St. Mary's to adapt to to be a near-ominous sound for nurses at their health care needs in the years to come. St. Mary's Hospital. Not that they mind the The physical world around St. Mary's intermittent visits of MI: Stork but for the past had changed considerably over the previous few days the wily old bird has been almost twenty-five years. What had not changed was camping in the roof how its patients and the Twin Cities' community felt about the hospital and the Moreover, "while Mr. Stork has always been care that they received from the St. Mary's erratic in his labors, the latest show of activ- family Regardless of their faith, patients ity has been about all the nursery can readily placed a great deal of trust in the Sisters and handle."l appreciated the personalized care under InJanuary 1952, not long after the new their leadership. records had been set in the Maternity As the 1950s began, St. Mary's found Department, another review by a provincial itself in a difficult financial position. That Inspector of Obstetrical Nursing Services 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 49 Meehan, a professor of philosophy at St. Alphonse's Seminary in Woodstock, Ontario, and a pioneer in the Catholic media, emphasized the value of resisting the "tendency to give into the professional touch of being cold, impersonal and smooth." It was essential that nurses remember "that the patient is a human being." The government and medical associations were stressing that nurse's training include more psychology and psychiatry, but all great nurses since Florence Nightingale, he said, saw their work more as a "crusade of mercy" than a profession.3 Through the 1950s, St. Mary's nursing graduates received similar advice but the pace of change increased nonetheless. Such leadership in the School was provided by Sister Paula Schnurr, who became Superintendent of the School of The return of soldiers Nursing and Director of Nursing at St. Mary's from service overseas highlighted the chronic lack of space in the in 1950. She was a graduate of the school's led to a significant department and the need for a major expan- increase in the birth Class of 1935 and later served in the School rate and a need to sion of the hospital. A more serious issue was as an instructress and then as Associate provide new housing the lack of a graduate nurse in the depart - Director of Nursing Education between 1947 for their families. ment; none of the nursing staff in the hospi- and 1950. Under her leadership the School New residential areas sprang up around tal had any post -graduate training.2 and the hospital's nursing service underwent St. Mary's, and the The lack of graduate nurses reflected the many important changes, including improve- hospital soon found serious shortage of professional nurses across ments in its living and learning conditions. itself surrounded by Canada from the late 1940s through the For example, students' council held monthly housing developments. Source: UW/KWR 1960s. As older hospitals expanded and new meetings and discussed current problems of ones were built to meet the growing the nursing service and also developed more demands for health services, there were relaxed rules for living in residence. The increased needs for graduate nurses. students were given more free time, part of Ironically, nursing schools had difficulty which was devoted to social activities, attracting new students in the face of grow- including raising money to purchase hospital ing employment opportunities for young equipment and improving their residence. women outside the profession. As a result, Of particular importance to Sister Paula nursing schools such as St. Mary's had to was updating the curriculum of the School, work harder to recruit new students. In this especially the level of clinical instruction the hospital had some success. Enrolment given to the nursing students. Clinical teach- into the School of Nursing continued to ing had been emphasized in recent years, increase during the early 1950s, reaching a but the newly appointed Inspector of peak of thirty-seven students in 1957. Training Schools for Nurses felt it needed a Nursing education was going through a firmer basis. "This cannot be done regardless period of change and re-evaluation. There of how conscientious the Instructors are, was increased tension between traditional without the employment of clinical instruc- nursing, characterized as a religious calling to tors on the wards." Such clinical instruction care for the sick, and the growing forces of would reduce the amount of classroom time nursing professionalization and government and also improve the quality of nursing care. regulation. Catholic hospitals and their nurs- It was apparent that the classroom and other ing schools were particularly sensitive to teaching facilities in the School were also such new ideas. In his address to St. Mary's unable to meet the rising medical, Class of 1952 graduation, Reverend Matthew scientific and technological demands of 50 'QiI;;'5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital hospital care. The inspector recommended the hospital within its physical and establishing new science and dietetic labora- financial limits. tories, purchasing microscopes and expand- One clear sign of this renewed attitude ing the demonstration room. Her report also was a motion by the Chief of Staff, echoed previous criticisms of the low Dr. Willard A. Sehl, to schedule regular numbers of graduate nurses employed at formal meetings of the Board on the second Class of 1957 (front to back, left to St. Mary's. Student nurses still provided Wednesday of February, May, September and right) about 58 per cent of the nursing service, a December. This was in sharp contrast to the ! Sheila McFarlane, higher percentage than in many other hospi- irregular pattern of meetings over the previ- Gertrude Elis, Marie tals in the province.4 ous few years. Regular meetings served as a Dalton, Joan Carey, Hilara Waechtel; Celiste The need for more space was the major catalyst for the Board to generate a more schnan; Patricia problem for the School during the 1950s. aggressive approach to fundraising and Brohman, Barbara The nurses' residence had been built to house efforts to upgrade the hospital. Indicative of Braniff, Helen Ruczek, fifty-four students, and thus was too small to this new energy; the Board asked for and Louann Fackoury, Pauline Cormiel; Joan Monaghan, accommodate the total 1952-53 enrolment of received a $6,000 grant from the K-W Patrica Durham, Audrey eighty students. Some had to live at home to Federated Charities, although the Board felt Schmidt, Mary Jane ease the pressure on the School. To alleviate that an independent campaign might be Hurlbut, Arlene L£ Boeuf, the crowding pressures of the hospital, the necessary to raise additional funds.6 Angela Belletti, June Livingstone, Shirley provincial inspector suggested that "the phar - The most significant source of new fund- Hergott, Rosemary Mahel; macy be moved to the basement and that the ing for St. Mary's, as well as for all hospitals Adel Flannigan, maids who now live in the ground floor. ..be in Ontario and Canada generally; was a Marcella Meyel; Jeanette required to move out."5 program of Federal Health Grants that began Eales, Phyllis Hopkins, Eileen Emewein, Sheila Provincial inspection reports, though in I948 and was expanded in 1953. The first Beitz, Noreen Comerford, tough, did not suggest that patient care at set of grants, worth $30 million from Margaret Butlel; Nancy St. Mary's was below standard, or that the Ottawa, were matched and administered by Kidnel; staffing problems it faced were unique in the the provinces, and focused on general public Margaret Zlak, Marlene Batte, Marlene Jurell, Joy province. Nevertheless, beginning in 1953, health and research, tuberculosis control, Hall, Leone Tracey, Mary Sister Augustine, the Advisory Board, and mental health, venereal disease control, Ann Woe!fIe, Frances the entire staff seemed to rally to improve crippled children, professional training and Scott, Charlotte Martin Source: SMGH

~ cancer control. Also part of this program new federal funds brought a series of were hospital construction grants worth substantial investments in St. Mary's through $13 million. While the hospital grants were the balance of the 1950s. crucial to K-W Hospital's 1951 expansion, Sister Augustine first received news of St. Mary's did not benefit from them directly the new hospital grants in May i 953 and until its own expansion project proceeded at was much relieved to hear that St. Mary's was Overcrowded condi- the end of the 19505. Of more immediate eligible for a grant of $48,000. The bulk of tions at St. Mary's led to creativity and inno- relevance to St. Mary's were new federal the money was spent on modernizing the vation as every nook grants launched in May 1953, part of which paediatric ward, with the balance used for and cranny was used. were for maternal and child health services, buying new equipment for the obstetric Dr. Jack Nichols 'scrubs up' in a scrub station including new equipment for hospital mater- department, X-Ray Department, operating located in a former nity wards. Coupled with an existing provin- rooms and the kitchen.7 Even so, the provin- closet. cial program of special hospital grants, the cial grants did nothing to ease St. Mary's Source: SMGH rapidly rising operating deficit. Recent changes within the broader Waterloo County hospital situation also had implications for the future evolution of St. Mary's. Chronic patients continued to be a serious problem for general hospitals such as St. Mary's. The recently expanded K-W Hospital provided some relief, but in September 1953, Dr. Willard Sehl suggested that one answer for St. Mary's might be to build a chronic patient hospital in this area in order to release beds for active cases. However, the Board chairman, Walter McGibbon, felt that any such efforts should be delayed until the impact of the newly opened South Waterloo Hospital was known. In any event, it was clear by the following year that the new hospital had had little effect on St. Mary's patient load.

Upgrading Spirits were raised in January 1954 by the welcome news that St. Mary's had once again been given full accreditation by the Joint Commission on Hospital Accreditation. Shortlyafter, the Advisory Board received word that the K-W Federated Charities had voted to increase its grant to St. Mary's from $6,000 to $10,000 for 1954.8 Nevertheless, St. Mary's rapidly rising deficit from $58,400 in 1953 to just under $100,000 in 1954 prompted a reluctant letter to the Federated Charities from McGibbon in January 1956, requesting an increased grant. The dramatic rise in St. Mary's deficit was a result of high labour costs, which had "increased very extensively to such a degree that hospital room rates cannot be increased in the same proportion." The total cost per patient per day now exceeded the highest-priced Sister Mary private room in the hospital, Clotilde Dales while at the same (1900-1989) received for indigent patients A tall, woman remembered fondly as were only a fraction of the cost "perfect in every way, " their care. It seemed that the Sister Clotilde joined the busier St. Mary's became, the Hamilton Sisters of St. larger the deficit grew. The 1956 Joseph in 1920 and devoted her life to hospital increase was given despite a service. Her first hospital request to grant recipients to work was in the kitchen of "endeavour to keep your St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton between 1923 within last year's limit."9 and 1927. She graduated The level of patient care at from the School of St. Mary's was boosted through Nursing at St. Joseph's Hospital in Guelph in the mid-I950s as the substantial 1931 and would supervise the X-Ray Department at grants materialized. In addition St. Marys between 1931 to the $48,000 received in 1953 and 1936, and again between 1948 and 1949 St. Mary's received another before assuming the $36,300 in 1954, and $24,000 leadership of St. Marys in in both 1955 and 1954 for the first of two full six-year terms. Sister provincial capital grants, which Clotilde was known as a reshaped much of the hospital's good listener who carried interior. With the additional out her duties with gentleness, patience and money, substantial upgrades in cheerfulness. She was also the X-Ray and Maternity a fine lady who frequently Departments were made. In took the time to addition to the large cheques acknowledge the accomplishments of received from the province and members of the staff with Charities, new equipment purchases for the bed accommodation, or floor space for out- a thoughtful gift. hospital were also made possible by more patient services, and could not be used for Here, Sister Clotilde is monitoring an incubator modest, but equally important, cheques from hospital repairs or operations.12 Sister in a special isolation room such local organizations as the Waterloo Clotilde proceeded with the project confident designed to reduce the County Shriners Club.lo of securing funding from other sources. danger of infection in the Spearheading the many changes within The largest upgrade project at St. Mary's new nursery (circa 1955). Source: SMGH St. Mary's during the last half of the 1950s during this period, and one close to Sister was Sister Mary Clotilde Dales, who took Clotilde's heart, focused on the X-Ray over from Sister Augustine as the new Department. A new chief radiologist, Superintendent of St. Mary's Hospital in Dr. WA. Farrell, had been hired in August September 1954. Sister Clotilde soon revived 1953, and under his supervision the X-Ray the idea of expanding St. Mary'sll and in Department was expanded and upgraded December 1954, a special committee was substantially during 1954. The enlarged radi- struck to discuss the financing of an addition ology department, with its new equipment, to the hospital. In February 1955, the Board was touted as "the most modern diagnostic agreed to seek approval from the unit available in Canada," and more than Motherhouse to make preliminary steps doubled its patient care capacity:13 towards planning an addition to the hospital. This spirit of renewal and modernization In the meantime, Sister Clotilde authorized also extended to the Maternity Department. plans to revamp the hospital's electrical The nursery was the focus of the first phase service and to install an emergency power of upgrades in February 1955 with the plant. This work, along with adding auxiliary installation of twenty new bassinets," which, lighting to the hospital, required an addi- according to reports, provided "greater safety tional grant from the province. Unfortunately, for the babies and improved convenience in 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 53 Monaghan (Class of 1951), Irene Nowak (Class of 1952) and Theresa Petroski ( Class of 1954). Expansion in the hospital's clinical facilities in 1954 allowed for significant changes in the School's curriculum. Such modifications included the establishment of a three-week block of lectures and the gradual introduction of the clinical program in the third year. The new block system of teaching allowed for three eight -hour shifts of duty for student nurses, By 1953 the nursery their care."14The new bassinets were made which was a welcome change from the long suffered from severe possible by the Ladies' Auxiliary, which twelve-hours shifts. Additional instructors overcrowding as nurses and doctors alike pledged to pay for them over the next two and new teaching methods were now being struggled to keep pace years. Other improvements in the maternity used, particularly with the junior students. with a baby boom that department included an isolation unit to Small group discussions of common nursing was world-wide. Source: SMGH reduce the danger of infection in the nursery. problems covered the scientific dimensions However, one of the major recommenda- and the emotional, physical, social and spiri- tions, the installation of a separate formula tual needs of patients. Students were intro- room, required additional funding from the duced to aspects of community health province. However, physicians such as through visits to local community agencies, Dr. Louis Lang and Dr. Willard Sehl encour- group projects and guest speakers. aged new mothers to In one forty-eight hour breast-feed and helped period, three sets of the process along by twins were born at St. Mary's. straining an providing beer to nurs- already overcrowded ing mothers to promote nursery. Left to right, milk production.ls It is Joan Sobczak holding the twin girls of Mr & not recorded how popu- Mrs Peddle, Lois lar or successful this Schmiedendorf with supplement was. the twin sons of Mr & Improvements also Mrs Payne, and Colleen Huras holding the twin continued in the School girls of Mr & Mrs of Nursing. In 1954 a Williams. second classroom was Source:SMGH established and

teaching aids. New instructors joined the faculty in 1954, and several were recent graduates of St. Mary's, including Rosemary 54 ~ 5t. Mary:SGeneral Hospital Educational films were also used regularly. The role of the Sisters as teachers in the increase in the number While the educational experience of School declined during the 1950s, but their of patients choosing St. Mary's nursing students rapidly changed influence on the lives and work of St. Mary's $t. Mary's, nurses and during the 19505, the personal and social nursing students remained strong. Indeed, doctors struggled to maintain a sense of experience they shared remained. They lived they somehow knew what was going on on privacy in a twelve- together as a family with a tremendous every floor, "and we could never figure out bed ward (circa 1955). amount of personal interaction and cama- how." Their supervisory and practical spiritual Source:SMGH raderie. The students were always looking skills were the most memorable. As one nurse out for each other. There was a nurses' choir recalled, "It was nice during those days seeing and a religious group called Sodality; through the Sisters in the hospital. Those were the which spiritual retreats were organized. Most days the Sisters fed the hungry and homeless, of the students were Catholic, but there was and students, under the stairs." Nevertheless, usually a small group of Protestant students the Sisters put considerable pressure on the who took part in most social activities, but students in the hospital and closely oversaw who did not have to get up early to attend them in the residence. "When the Sisters were mass. On most mornings after breakfast in charge you always had to be busy and if "we would open all the patient doors and we you weren't busy you would have to fold would kneel up and down the halls as the newspaper bags in the utility room which no prayers were broadcast. If Maternity was not one wanted to do, especially with clean white busy; Sister Paula had us in the chapel uniforms." Most could handle such pressures, praying for business." but others had more difficulty: One student 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 55 laboratory was in community for the Sisters, nurses, doctors short supply as the stall and read until 1:00 a.m. She put her legs and entire staff of St. Mary's and for the high staff sought to keep up when Sister Mary Grace went to check on level of care that they provided. This good- pace with the the students, as they were supposed to be in will was particularly important as more and advances in modern medicine, diagnosis and bed by 10:00 p.m.16 more people, including many immigrants, prevention. Left to The School enrolled its largest class to settled in the Twin Cities. The 1956 right: Marjorie date in 1954-55. The residence was still Federated Charities fundraising campaign Morrison. Joan Baxendale, Ruth crowded, however, and when a new program emphasized this new reality Much of the Mittleholtz and Noel of paediatric nursing started at St. Mary's in press coverage of the campaign was aimed at Geffros 1955, the need to send students to The the "numerous strangers in the Twin Cities" Source: SMGH Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto for this in an effort to educate them about the part of their training ended and the crowded Federated Charities' mission and how it situation increased. It was the same story related to St. Mary's. Numerous articles throughout the hospital. pointed out that St. Mary's "doors of mercy are always open. No one is turned away The Quest for Expansion because of race, creed or lack of funds." Support for the hospital reflected a genuine In 1955, at least 40 per cent of the 6,518 affection among the Kitchener-Waterloo patients admitted were other than Roman 56 "Q6;'5t. Mary's General Hospital Catholics and all of whom "usually leave the this case is that the hospital is located on an hospital praising its service."17 oval-shaped site, which is restricted by the It was becoming more and more urgent street allowance, which extends completely that a large addition to the hospital be built. around it."20 This potential problem had Financing such a project, however, remained been apparent since St. Mary's opened. a serious problem, as government grants Now, with the continued growth of the Rabbits would pay only a small portion of the actual hospital's patient population, plans were The maternity ward was cost. By this time the groundwork for a made to buy Hydro property adjacent to literally hopping. In the universal hospital and diagnostic insurance St. Mary's for parking, or perhaps for the 19505, rabbits used to confirm pregnancywere plan across Canada had been agreed to by hospital's expansion. housedin the laboratory the federal and provincial governments. These initial practical issues were where they enjoyed the It would take another three years before the discussed in mid-May, along with several best carrotsfrom the hospitals kitchen. Today, Hospital Insurance and Diagnostic Services alternative plans for expansion. Within a early pregnancy teststhat Act came into force and Ontario had put its week, the Sisters and the hospital administra- give resultswithin minutes plan into motion. However, in anticipation of tion had fixed on "Scheme D," which are available in such an act, in 1956 the Ontario Department involved building a new seven-floor vertical pharmacies. of Health transferred the administration of structure just north of the existing hospital. hospitals to a new semi-independent body Other ideas included building an entirely known as the Ontario Hospital Services new hospital near the St. jerome's College Commission (OHSC). Walter McGibbon met campus at Kingsdale on Kitchener's southern with the new commission chairman in late limits. The Board's initial preference was to September 1956 and shonly after was build a separate building across Queen's informed that "the Commission would be Boulevard, north-west of the existing hospital prepared to recognize an extension to and connect the new and old buildings with St. Mary's Hospital, not to exceed 150 beds a tunnel.21 It is unclear why Scheme D was which, I believe, is approximately what you chosen, although the higher cost of the other and your group have in mind."18 schemes was clearly a factor. There were a Walter McGibbon was the leader of the number of faults with Scheme D, which the St. Mary's expansion effort, after having architects felt they had to record. For exam- played a similar role in 1949. By january ple, any further expansion could only be 1957 the Toronto architectural firm of upward, and "the appearance of the joining Somerville, McMurrich and Oxley had been of the old and new will not compare too hired to design the new addition and its first favorably with an all new unit."22 task was to survey the present hospital site. Once the Sisters had decided on Scheme The Kitchener- Waterloo community first D, with the addition built directly on the heard about St. Mary's renewed expansion front of the existing hospital, the architects plans in March 1957 when McGibbon wrote focused on developing this plan in more to Waterloo City Council requesting an detail. The eventual plan, unveiled in annual grant for St. Mary's. Included in his October 1957, called for a nine-storey build- letter were preliminary details about the addi- ing, the extra two storeys providing an tion. His letter, released to the press, empha- opportunity for future growth by leaving the sized the serious overcrowding: "Beds are two top floors unfinished. The new plan now being placed in the halls and every allowed for an increase of 150 beds and available inch of space is being utilized. " The would bring the hospital's accommodation to project was estimated to cost $3 million, and a total of 270 beds.23The estimated cost of it "could not be undenaken without the the new building was just under $2 million, financial assistance of the cities of Kitchener while the renovations of the original and Waterloo and Waterloo County"19 hospital brought the total cost of the project Financing the project was of less imme- to $2,526,800.24 diate importance than solving the practical The challenges of financing the expan- problems of the location and design of the sion plans delayed any real progress until the new addition. According to C.j. Teller, now a middle of 1958. The main problem was director of the OHSC, "The main difficulty in arriving at a level of support from the local 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 57 governments that was acceptable to them towards any religious institution." Part of that and to the Sisters. Missing from this plan was tax money, they argued, was from the Baptist capital funding from the provincial and community of Kitchener "and we protest the federal governments, the amounts of which use of that money." St. Mary's could ask for were still to be determined. Indeed, the voluntary donations, but they felt that it was possibility of substantial provincial and "wrong in principle and practice for federal funding was not even considered Protestants in general and Baptists in until September 1958 when the Commission particular to be forced to give contrary to gave final approval of the addition and then their conscience."27 suggested that a grant of at least $1,000,000 Others remained split in their views, was likely from the Ontario and federal as was clear from the popular "Looking governments. By this time the final Around" column in the K- W Recordby Sandy estimates from the architects had risen to Baird, who was a Presbyterian. A sentence in just under $4.4 million.25 a letter summed up the opposition to It was not until October 11, 1958 that St. Mary's plans: "My humanitarian instinct the public first saw the architect's sketch says quickly, 'yes, by all means.' Meanwhile, published in the local press. By this time the in the background, my religious beliefs hold City of Kitchener was asked to contribute a me back. They say 'no. How can you support grant of $900,000, while $200,000 was a project whose administrators are pledged to sought from Waterloo, and $300,000 from convert everyone to the Roman Catholic the county A total of $1,700,000 was faith?"' In defence of St. Mary's, several letters expected from the provincial and federal and comments were published in Baird's governments, while the Sisters of St. Joseph column and elsewhere in the Record stressing would finance a $600,000 contribution. that "St. Mary's is a public hospital, not a Press coverage of the unveiling emphasized church."28 By the end of the campaign, many the clear necessity of the expansion, espe- felt shocked and embarrassed by the contro- cially in light of the expected introduction of versy over the plebiscite, especially because it the provincial hospital insurance plan on had come from other churches. It was clear January 1, 1959. Thus, with the substantial that there were strong feelings about the financial backing of the Sisters, along with work of St. Mary's. One letter to the editor of the government grants, the K- W Record the Record from Irvin Erb, will-known stressed that "Kitchener can get 238 hospital community activist, summed them up nicely: beds for $900,000 which otherwise would cost [City taxpayers] $2,000,000."26 Whether you be jew, Protestant or Catholic, or

The size of the contribution from doctol; or sometime in the past or sometime in

Kitchener needed approval from the commu- the future it has been or may be your good nity. Accordingly, the municipal election to fortune to appreciate with your heart and be held on December 1 also included a prayer the unsurpassed nursing of the sisters plebiscite on the proposed grant. The and staff of 5t. Mary's Hospital-may God campaign turned out to be more dramatic bless them.29 than expected and provided an important opportunity for community leaders and the Until this campaign, St. Mary's, and public to express their support for the work especially the Sisters, had maintained a rela- of St.Mary's. Some criticism against tively low public profile. The debate over the St. Mary's surfaced, based mainly on religious plebiscite provided a necessary opportunity concerns and some taxpayer resistance from for St. Mary's to showcase its overcrowded the more distant rural communities in conditions and the great need for expansion, Waterloo County Religious opposition was while offering a rare public glimpse into the heard from the Benton Street Baptist Church. life and work of the Sisters and staff at Its members passed a resolution stating that the hospital. "St. Mary's is a sectarian Roman Catholic An article highlighting the acute, persis- institution and we affirm it is entirely wrong tent lack of space at St. Mary's was vividly for any public tax money to be contributed presented in the K- W Recordin November. 58 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital summer cottage owned Concomitant with the baby boom, the hospi- by the Sisters of St. Joseph tal's pediatric depart- in Muskoka. One week ment soon experienced out of the year was also an increase in a young spent in retreat at the clientele with broken limbs and childhood Hamilton Motherhouse. diseases. Sister Clotilde ruled Source:SMGH St. Mary's "firmly but sympathetically." She believed that patients were often reassured by the appearance of the Sisters and she made sure that regular visits were arranged by them. Sister Clotilde received a report on every patient each morning, and she tried to It described the Radiology Department with visit as many in person as possible. While the "Secretary's desk crammed into a nook in she had many ideas about how all the beds the control panel of an X-Ray machine;" and new space could be used in the addition, the Maternity Department, where crowding she described her role at this stage as "sitting reached the ultimate as a former linen closet behind the scenes and praying."31 was converted to accommodate the incubators During the month-long campaign the used for premature babies, and a closet in a Record published testimonials from a broad hallway, after the door was re):Iloved, cross-section of community leaders, asking converted into a scrubbing station for doctors. the public to vote yes to the plebiscite. All that could be said about the Paediatrics Among the more prominent supporters were Department was "crowded, crowded, Kieth Hymmen, the Mayor of Kitchener, and crowded." Storage space was "hopelessly inad- a candidate for mayor, Fred Breithaupt, as equate," and to cut costs laboratory tables had well asJohnJ. Wintermeyer, the Leader of been made from surplus doors?O the Opposition in the Ontario Legislature, Despite these difficult conditions, nine- the local M.P., Mike Weichel from Elmira, teen Sisters worked tirelessly to care for the along with business leaders and leaders of sick at St. Mary's Hospital. Indeed, this was the carpenters union. Of this group, only more than a profession; it was "a way of life." Wintermeyer was a Catholic. The chairman They all rose at 5: 15 a.m. and visited the of the K-W Hospital Commission, hospital chapel "to pray for the strength to M.] .Smith, also strongly supported the face the day" If they had any spare time St. Mary's expansion project. He argued that during the day they would also visit the "from a community standpoint the St. Mary's chapel in the middle of the afternoon. addition would mean that any building However, their lives were not all filled with program at K-W Hospital would be deferred working and praying. They all enjoyed for some period at least."32 "relaxing in their recreation room with folk The results of the plebiscite vote dancing, a variety of games, singing and confirmed the public's strong support for the favorite music on their hi-fi." Each year the hospital. A total of 9,319 Kitchener citizens Sisters were given a two-week holiday to voted in favour of the grant, while only spend with their familie$ at home, or at the 3,209 voted against it.~

St. Mary's General Hospital ~ 59 Sister Zita and Her Butter Tarts Sister Zita McQueen's butter tarts werefamous in the Kitchener-Waterloo area, as were the many other bakedgoodies she made while she worked at St. Mary's between1946 and 1964. Her baking reputation remained long after she left St. Mary's well-stockedkitchen. She learned the most important things in her mothers kitchen and baked her first cake at age eleven.Remembered also for her big, deliberate steps,Sister Zita was a very quiet, hard working woman who somehow managedto remain slim and modestabout her considerable accomplishmentsas St. Mary's master baker: Source:UW /KWR

60 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital CHAPTER 5

The move spanned an era, with needed for the expansion was $2,500,000; the patients moving from an on the basis of hospital visits, the County's overcrowded hospital typical of share would have been $456,000. St. Mary's hundreds in Canada into the request for $300,000, Dr. Lang suggested, most up-to-date in the country. was therefore "very reasonable," and, if paid over fifteen years, would cost each county K-W Record, January 16,1962 resident one-eighth of a cent per day.l T he overwhelming support of the The request for a grant quickly ran into public in the plebiscite was very much significant political resistance from Council celebrated at St. Mary's and was the members from the southern communities of first step towards securing the necessary local the county, especially Preston, Hespeler and funding for the addition. The City of North Dumfries Townships, which had Waterloo and the Waterloo County Council entered into an agreement with the City of now had to be brought on side. Successful GaIt in support of the South Waterloo grants would depend on lobbying the two Memorial Hospital. Deputy Reeve Gordon councils directly. Shortly after the Kitchener Bolender of Preston suggested that the vote, the City of Waterloo demonstrated people from the south using St. Mary's "were strong support for St. Mary's, pledging all Catholics. Shouldn't the Catholic Church $200,000 towards the expansion project. pay the cost?" Fred Howard, the Deputy Securing a similar level of support from the Reeve from Elmira, "asked that the religious County Council, however, would be consid- question be left out of the issue," particularly erably more difficult. since "Catholic taxpayers more than likely In early january 1959, Dr. Louis Lang had contributed to the cost of the Galt hospi- led a delegation from the St. Mary's Advisory tal." Beyond the political disagreements Board to the County Council and asked for a between north and south, there were legiti- $300,000 grant. This figure was based on the mate concerns that a $300,000 grant would patronage of St. Mary's by the people of be unaffordable, although Elmira Reeve Waterloo County outside the cities of Robert Cousineau felt that "the question of Kitchener, Waterloo and Galt. Admissions having enough beds to look after the sick from the whole county had accounted for should be considered ahead of costS."2 one-quarter of hospital days at St. Mary's Preston politicians resisted a suggestion over the 1954-58 period, which was more in March by the County Council Finance than those admitted from the City of Committee to make a lesser grant of Waterloo. The total community contribution $200,000 to St. Mary's. They were not 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 61 As part of the interested in "paying community campaign, double" for hospitals. in March 1960 Col. When it was revealed Hugh J. Heasley received cheques from that the people of Dominion Stores and Preston actually used from the Bank of Montreal to support 5t. Mary's more in 1958 the purchase of an than the rest of Waterloo Anaesthetic Gas County's population, Machine. except for the Twin Source: UW/KWR

spent 1,881 days at St. Mary's, Preston James Sanderson admitted that Preston undoubtedly had an obligation to St. Mary's; at least a token payment would have to On March 25, after considerable debate, Waterloo County Council offered $15,000 to St. Mary's instead of the $200,000 recommended by the Finance Committee. During the debate, Dr. Lang warned those opposed to the larger grant, "that they should be prepared to look elsewhere for hospital beds other than in St. Mary's."4 building project through. The more complex The $15,000 token grant was rejected by administrative demands associated with rais- St. Mary's Advisory Board in early April ing money and caring for record numbers of 1959. As the Board secretary, John Motz, patients, while also planning the expansion, stressed to the County Council, lack of prompted the hiring of Robert T. Cardy to fill county support forced St. Mary's to rethink the newly created position of business its plans and concentrate more on providing manager in May 1959. Cardy had served as hospital services only to the cities of business administrator of Guelph Separate Kitchener and Waterloo. "It would be Schools before taking up his post at St. improper and unfair to the cities for us to Mary's. He would later become secretary to accept the $15,000 grant offered, as it would the Advisory Board and be instrumental in not provide any reasonable financial assis- chronicling the history of St. Mary's in the tance to us in fulfilling our plans."5 volume, "Record of Permanence." Despite the setback in county funding, The real driving force behind the build- the general plans for the expansion evolved ing campaign was Colonel Hugh J. Heasley through the spring and summer of 1959. lrish-born and a Presbyterian, Heasley had Sister Clotilde, the Advisory Board, and the served in the Canadian Army Service Corps Sisters of St. Joseph faced the increased during the First World War, and he also financial hurdles by planning a major public brought extensive engineering and manage- fundraising campaign. The Sisters also ment experience from his position as committed themselves to undertaking a manager of Carling Breweries in Waterloo. larger debt burden in order to see the He had served on the Advisory Board since 62 ~ St. Mary'sGeneral Hospital 1943 and had been on the executive of the at St. Mary's, the addition of the word K-W Federated Charities. When Walter "General" was first suggested in 1957. The McGibbon named him as general chairman Board felt that while the new addition was of the hospital's fundraising campaign, going forward, it would be the opportune planned for the fall of 1959, Colonel Heasley time to make the change. Approval from the already had considerable experience and an Ontario Hospital Services Commission was enviable reputation for work in the commu- necessary, and this was completed on nity. He would follow the strategy that had November 19, 1959,7 allowing the new name proven so successful before, focusing on local to be used on the hospital's letterhead as well and national corporations doing business in as on advertising and other literature the area and businesses and individuals from prepared for the building campaign. the area St. Mary's served.6 He was joined on The campaign was officially launched on the campaign organization team by Dr. Louis October 31, 1959, under the slogan, Lang as honorary treasurer, Dr. H. Allister "Deserving Through Serving." Many promi- Lackner, hospital division chairman, J. Albert nent men and women lent their names as Smith, personal gifts chairman, and D.G. honorary patrons, including Ontario's former Knox, corporations' division chairman. Other Lieutenant-Governor Louis Breithaupt, who, campaign officials included R.H. Magwood, as Mayor of Kitchener, had helped lay the treasurer, andJ.E. Fehrenbach, deputy chair- cornerstone of St. Mary's in 1923. man, supported by forty-one volunteers who Breithaupt had also been the Member of made up the six campaign committees. Parliament for Waterloo North and had One of the first decisions of Colonel served as Lieutenant -Governor between Heasley and his team was to change the 1952 and 1957. hospital's name to St. Mary's General The goal of the campaign was to raise Hospital. There was a lingering perception $1,100,000, with the Sisters of St. Joseph among some in the community that pledging to underwrite any funding shortfall St. Mary's was a hospital only for Roman up to $600,000. This meant that the public Catholics. Such a perception was difficult for campaign had to raise at least $500,000. the Sisters to accept and in order to stress In addition, as Colonel Heasley noted, "the that all people in need of help were welcome 19 nuns on the hospital staff donate their

Like all hospitals, St. Mary's was heavily dependent on corporate donors as well as many individual supporters. In 1959 the building fund was headed by D.G. Knox (right), the president of Carling Breweries. Shown with him is Norman Schneider (centre), formerly Kitchener's Member of Parliament and a prominent business and civic leader; holding the poster is Gerry Corlett. Source:UW/KWR

5t. Mary:S General Hospital ~ 63 Loyalty to St. Mary's doctors, 110 employees affected many in and 19 Sisters Kitchener, Waterloo and the surrounding contributed $53,000 of communities; age made the $313,000 raised no difference as nine- during the first month year old Terry McGrath proudly of the campaign. presented his one- Dr. Allister lackner and dollar donation to Dr. Harry Shoniker led Robert Cardy, St. Mary's Business the campaign among Manager. St. Mary's doctors, Source: SMGH which raised $46,000 during the first month, including twenty-nine doctors who gave at least $1,000 each to the cause.1o While the support of the St. Mary's family was significant, it was the corporate donations that quickly moved the hospital towards its ultimate fundraising goa1.11"Gifts of Permanence" accounted for about $100,000 of the total donations received by early

contribution to the community of at least $12,000, these gifts were targeted towards $76,000 a year."8 the construction, furnishing and equipping Among the first gifts was $10 from of individual rooms in the new St. Mary's Walter J. Schnitzler of Toronto. Little signifi- addition. Among such Gifts of Permanence cance was given to the donation until were patient rooms donated by the Motz, campaign officials recognized that the name McGibbon, Zuber and Ball families, and such was that of the first baby born at St. Mary's. local firms as Bauer's and J .M. Schneider's. The story of the first girl born at St. Mary's, Longtime Advisory Board member William Patsy Mullens, was also highlighted during Lochead and his son George together paid the campaign. She was now an active for the new waiting room. Other Gifts of member of the Auxiliary at the St. Joseph's Permanence came from the Krug family, who Hospital in London. Over the thirty-five supported the main lobby, while the Knights years since Walter and Patsy were born, more of Columbus took responsibility for the new than 22,000 babies had been delivered at children's nursery, and the St. Mary's Ladies' St. Mary's Hospital, while the original hospi- Auxiliary committed themselves to an tal building had been the centre of care for infant's nursery.ll some 160,000 other patients, "a total greater By mid-January 1960, the building than the population of the area it serves."9 campaign had passed the $700,000 mark, Nor were the current doctors and staff lack- a total built not only upon large donations, ing in their commitment to the expansion. but also on many small ones. One of the Boosted by the support of hundreds of grad- smallest gifts came from one of the youngest uates of the St. Mary's School of Nursing donors to the campaign. Nine-year-old Terry from allover the world, the St. Mary's family McGrath gave a dollar, which he "jiggled out of ninety-one nurses, 142 active and other of his piggy bank." His name was added to 64 'QO;;'5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital the 1,723 others who had also supported the Heasley, Norman H. McMurrich, architect of St. Mary's drive, including many other chil- the new hospital, and the Bishop of dren, all of whom received a letter of thanks Hamilton, Joseph E Ryan, who blessed the from the Sisters of St. ]oseph.13 Byearly site and gave the keynote address. Terry February, when the campaign office officially McGrath, the boy who gave a dollar to the closed, the fund was short of the $1,100,000 building campaign, and who symbolized all objective by $300,000. However, the donors, presented Mr. Cundick with a silver- campaign was not over. The office staff plated shovel. Shortly after the sod-tuming moved into the hospital and by mid-August ceremony, Walter McGibbon, on behalf of 1960, another $50,000 had been raised when Mother Paschal, Superior of the Hamilton it was decided to resume the campaign in the Sisters, presented Colonel Heasley with a fall in an effort to reach the final goal.14 scroll annquncing that the auditorium of the One reason for the shortfall was the new hospital would be named Heasley Hall.17 absence of funding from Waterloo County: The project was now opened for tenders In late November, 1959 the County Council to compete for a contract "believed to be the had debated what to do with the $15,000 the largest single one ever awarded for any hospital had turned down earlier in the year. project in Twin City history." On August 4, Hespeler Reeve Erwin Nelson sparked the 1960, the contract was awarded to Ball debate by moving that the $15,000 item be Brothers Ltd. , who had offered the lowest bid deleted from the budget. Warden Howard of $4,455,216. Power shovels and dump Ziegler felt that the county clearly owed trucks arrived the next day to begin the two- St. Mary's $15,000 towards its operations, year project to build the ten-storey addition but warned the council that, "If that grant is and to renovate the old building. When cancelled in his opinion it would put the finished, the new St. Mary's, as highlighted in county in a bad light."15 For St. Mary's part, the press coverage, would "be the first fully refusing such local support might have an air-conditioned hospital in Ontario."lB impact on provincial and federal funding, Two weeks later, official word arrived which had yet to be approved. Colonel from the Ontario Hospital Services Heasley therefore informed the County Commission that a provincial grant to St. Council that St. Mary's would accept the Mary's had been approved in the amount of $15,000 gift after all. However, he hoped $1,000,947. Provincial funds were depen- "that should we need further assistance in dent upon the Sisters of St. Joseph financing reaching the amount needed to bring the a total debt of just over $1,350,000. The Hospital into being, our acceptance of this Commission was confident that this debt gift will not prejudice our approach on a "could be serviced from revenue from future occasion." Preston politicians resisted preferred accommodation and from contribu- any grants to St. Mary's, arguing that tions from the Sisters."19 "Certainly we have excellent hospitalization facilities here, and there is no need to drive to Expansion Kitchener for hospitalization."16 As was clear While August 1960 marked the long-awaited during the earlier debate, however, many beginning of the new St. Mary's building people in Preston voted with their feet, or at project, it also ended the six-year term of least with their cars, by often making that trip office for Sister Clotilde as Superintendent north when they needed hospital care. of the hospital. She was transferred to On May 17, 1960, rain fell on St. Mary's St. joseph's Hospital in Brantford as Assistant for most of the day: However, the sun shone Administrator and was replaced at St. Mary's just long enough to allow Albert ] .Cundick, by Sister Paula Schnurr. According to Walter a member of the Advisory Board for nineteen McGibbon, Sister Clotilde was "the moving years, to turn the first sod of the new addi- spirit in bringing the enlarged hospital to this tion before a crowd of two hundred people. community and her departure will be a great Overseeing the ceremony were Kitchener loss to everyone."20 Mayor Wambold and Waterloo Mayor Bauer, Sister Paula was fifty-one years old along with Walter McGibbon, Colonel when she assumed her new assignment at 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 65 misgivingsin trying to equalize Sister Paula

Schnurr ourself with other establish- ments,in salary at least. Our (1909-1996 ) Born into a Mildmay efforts could be interpreted as family of sixteen children, one of helpfulnessin trying to Sister Paula entered the protect the gracious and gener- Hamilton Congregation in 1926. Her ambition was ous investmentsthat are being to be a dietitian, but made in our project by the Mother Marguerite, then Superior General of the Provincial and Federal Hamilton Sisters, Govemments.21 recognized her potential as a nurse and assigned her Federal funding to St. Mary's to St. Mary's School of Nursing. She graduated was approved in May. The from the School in 1935 federal grant awarded to and stayed on to take St. Mary's was $849,000, charge of the maternity floor until 1944. Sister paid in quarterly install- Paula is remembered as ments, the first of which an excellent obstetrical arrived on May 18, 1961.22 nurse, and many of the A major challenge that Sister babies she helped deliver were named after hel: Paula and her successor at After serving as the School of Nursing, Sister Superintendent of Nurses Mary Rose Paulter, faced at St. joseph's Hospital in Guelph, she returned to during the construction St. Mary's in 1948 to period was maintaining the assume a similar position full educational program for in the School of Nursing. Her energy and the growing number of nurs- professionalism, as well as ing students. The number of new students her singing voice, were educated Superintendent that had yet been entering the School jumped to thirty-seven particularly remembered in the fall of 1961, and accommodating all of at St. Mary's, especially appointed. Sister Paula had taken a post- among the nursing staff. graduate course in obstetrics at Toronto them was impossible, even when students Source: SMGH General Hospital, and along with a burning from the local area lived at home. The desire to improve facilities, she brought a crowded situation had been eased somewhat new and more modern perspective to her a year earlier when the hospital purchased a leadership position. She would need it in the small house on Spadina Road in which six difficult months to come, particularly in her second- and third-year students took up dealings with the OHSC bureaucrats. The residence. This house soon was named Commission was questioning the differences "Marymount" and the students who lived between St. Mary's budgeted and actual there were known as the "Marymount Six."23 spending patterns, especially for salary It was not only the student nurses who increases and adjustments given to maintain were forced to live outside of the hospital. the morale of St. Mary's staff under such The dislocations created by the erection of difficult working circumstances. However, the hospital tower forced a number of as Sister Paula stressed to the Commission's departments and offices to move into Regional Representative in June 1961, temporary quarters in nearby houses. Provincial grants assisted with the purchase It is doubly necessarythat we do everything of a number of properties which would possibleto ensurepatronage, otherwise we eventually make way for an expanded park- would be a real liability. To do this we must ing lot. In December 1960, the Gruenwald make every effort to satisfy our patients in home to the west of the hospital was respectto Service.Our conditionsare not purchased and, beginning in january, it ideal, and it is reasonableto assumethat our became the interim home for the hospital's employeeswould rather work elsewhere,free laboratory on the first floor, as well as Bob of noiseand dust. So we do not feel any Cardy's office on the second.

66 ~ St. Mary's General Hospital Construction remained at least one poured on the superstructure at the end of month ahead of schedule as 1961 began. The March 1961, months ahead ofschedule.25. new tower had grown up to the tenth storey, During the summer of 1961, consider- and although it was still a bare concrete able progress was made in finishing sections shell, it dominated the Kitchener skyline. But of the new addition and in renovating the the weather was less of a friend in January old building to enable a number of depart- than it had been when the project began and ments to move into their new homes. By july, construction workers faced bitter winter at least half of the new building was occu- j winds while they prepared to add the tenth pied, thus enabling renovations to the origi- floor. Although it was much warmer inside, nal building to proceed. A new cafeteria and it was also noisier and dustier. Walls were a centralized kitchen were opened in a newly knocked down, others were bricked up and renovated space on the ground floor of the plumbers and electricians did their work.24 original hospital.26 Now was the time to Not everyone was happy with the show the people of the Twin Cities the St. Mary's situation. One housewife who results of all the turmoil and inconvenience lived near the hospital expressed her they had endured all summer. And what concerns to the K- W Record: "Regarding the better way to promote the advantages soon St. Mary's Hospital addition, we nearby resi- to be offered by the St. Mary's expansion dents, knowing the fine work the sisters do, than to hold an open house? have borne up bravely under what is a bit of The Ladies' Auxiliary swung into action a mess. But the workmen park their cars all with the help of Sister Zita McQueen. Sister day long on the narrow street in front of our Zita's butter tarts were legendary in the Twin houses (sometimes on both sides) leaving Cities, as were her Chelsea buns, rolls and just enough space for driveways." coffee cakes. For the six hundred visitors Nevertheless, the last load of concrete was who crowded into the newly expanded

Surrounded by local officials and dignitaries, Kitchener Alderman Albert J. Cundick turned the first sod for the new addition. Standing next to him was Terry McGrath and watching over the event were Colonel Hugh J. Heasley, Walter McGibbon, Bishop Joseph F. Ryan, Kitchener Mayor Harold Warnfold and Waterloo Mayor James Bauer. Source:SMGH

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 67

~ In 1961,the new ten- building that day in September 1961, Sister conditioning system, was unique in Ontario storey tower addition Zita and her staff baked more than seven at that time.28 to the hospital takes hundred tarts, cakes and buns. The K-W The opening of Heasley Hall took place shape. Source: SMGH Record reported the success of the mammoth more formally on September 11,1961. bake sale, which raised more than $700 for The new auditorium was designed with a the hospital. As the paper wrote, "many of retractable wall dividing it from the dining the hundreds of visitors who thronged the room so that it could be used for meetings, hospital to attend the sale were ex-patients presentations and assemblies. Walter who first sampled Sister Zita's tempting McGibbon unveiled a special plaque honour- pastries in their hospital beds. "27 ing Colonel Heasley, after which Monsignor The people of Kitchener-Waterloo who R.M. Hailer of St. joseph's Roman Catholic came to the open house were given a first Church, gave the invocation and address.29 look at the many innovations incorporated A week later, and almost thirty-eight into the new addition. Featured on the tour years to the day after St. Mary's first corner- were the new laundry and cafeteria, as well stone day in 1923, Monsignor Hailer again as two patients' rooms which had been officiated, this time at the laying of a new designed, according to Sister Paula, to "have cornerstone at the base of the hospital's ten- the decor resemble that of a home so that storey tower. Much had changed in and patients will not find adjustment difficult. around St. Mary's during the intervening We want them to feel that they are going to years. In 1923 St. Mary's Hospital was rising visit friends." Visitors were also informed in the middle of an open field at the end of a that the emergency operating rooms, the dirt road. In 1961 St. Mary's General operating theatre, recovery rooms, obstetrics Hospital stood at the centre of a growing and nurseries would have bacteria-free air. neighbourhood of new homes and young This feature, like the hospital's air- families that depended upon its expanding 68 ~ 51.Mary's General Hospital range of health care services. Before the new tradition unique in Canadian medical history. cornerstone was laid, the original from 1923 He performed the first operation in the new was opened in preparation for moving it to St. Mary's addition, just as his grandfather, the newly restored building. Unfortunately, Dr. Henry Lackner, had conducted the first all the paper documents and newspapers surgery at the Berlin-Waterloo Hospital in within had crumbled to dust. A crucifix and 1895, and his father, Dr. Harry Lackner, had religious medals were all that remained in performed the first operation at St. Mary's good condition. To prevent the same thing shortly after it opened in 1924. Funhermore, from happening to the newspapers, celebra- with Dr. Allister Lackner's son John a third- tory letters and other documents placed in year medical student at the University of the new cornerstone, a new steel box with an Toronto, it was the first time in the history of air-tight rubber gasket was donated. In addi- the university that four generations of one Dr. Allister tion, an argon gas capsule was placed in the family had studied medicine consecutively.33 lackner box to force out the oxygen, while the papers During the spring of 1962, as the new Dr: Allister Lackne1;who were sealed in a plastic coating in the hopes and expanded facilities of the addition opened servedon the St. Mary's up, St. Mary's staff increased to match. Among that "people can dig out this box in 100 Hospital Board, also has the new personnel joining the St. Mary's years and find everything in perfect shape."3o the distinction of family was an assistant radiologist, Dr. Roben performing thefirst Renaissance Gagnon, who would assist Dr. WA. Farrell in surgery in the new On january 16,1962, the old and the new the upgraded Radiology Depanment. Dr. addition at St. Mary's were symbolically joined when the first Gagnon was a graduate of Laval University Hospital just as hisfathe1; patients were wheeled from their rooms in and later studied at the Radium Institute of Dr: Harry Lackne1;in the original building to one floor of the new Montreal and the Hotel Dieu and Notre Dame 1924, had performed the addition. "The move spanned an era, with hospitals. Another new service offered by the first surgery in the original St. Mary:S the patients moving from an overcrowded expanded hospital was physiotherapy. Anne Hospital. His fathe1; hospital typical of hundreds in Canada into Wilkin had been appointed to oversee the Dr: Henry Lackne1;in the most up-to-date in the country." Even new Physiotherapy Depanment in October 1895, had performed the 1961 and the depanment's preparation for its before the construction and renovation work very first surgery in what was complete, the threshold between the old opening in August 1962?4 was then the Berlin- Reverend Harry Feeney was appointed as and new buildings appeared seamless. The Waterloo Hospital. OHSC officials found it "difficult to know St. Mary's first resident chaplain in June Dr: john Lackner is the where the existing building ceases and new 1962. A member of the Congregation of the fourth generation of his construction starts."31 Resurrection, like the hospital's founders family to graduatefrom Now a more general migration took Fathers Fischer and Zinger, Father Feeney the Schoolof Medicine at the University of Toronto place. Patients, staff, had been assigned to and to practice medicine equipment, and entire St. Jerome's High School in this community. departments moved to prior to moving into the new hospital in orde1 St. Mary's.35 Source:Private Collection to allow the original The Ladies' Auxiliary building to undergo the established a beauty extensive renovations aru salon and an expanded upgrades that had been gift shop to boost the planned. One of the first morale of patients. Sister departments to move wa: Paula felt that while a the Maternity woman convalesces in Department, which the hospital, "she opened a few hours reaches a certain earlier than had been plateau where her envi- planned when the first ronment and appearance baby was born in the play an important role new addition.32 A week in improving her later, Dr. Allister Lackner morale, thus hastening her recovery "36 kept intact a family 5t. Mary's General Hospital 'Q$;'69 On March 15, 1962, the new front right to the point where the new building entrance into St. Mary's General Hospital had joins the old." At the same time, the been opened, allowing patients and the Commission had boosted its capital grant to public full access to all floors in the tower.37 St. Mary's by more than $63,000.40 Good One of the most striking sights as one funding news was also received a month later entered the new front doors was a brilliant when the Atkinson Charitable Foundation, mural on the wall of the main lounge enti- which had been established by the founder tled, "A Tribute to Medicine," painted by a of the Toronto Star, donated $13,000 to help former Kitchener resident, Mrs. Jane Birchell. equip the new Obstetrical Department.41 The subject of the mural, and which One long-awaited feature of the new mirrored the marriage of the old and new at St. Mary's General Hospital was the establish- St. Mary's, was the history of medicine and ment of an Emergency Department. The the depiction of its progress from prehistoric need for emergency services at St. Marys had times to the present. The four panels of the been highlighted on the evening of October mural had taken nearly a year to research 11, 1960. Brunon Gruzdz, an employee of and paint, beginning in the upper left with St. Mary's, was struck by a car a few blocks early cuneiform writing from 3000 B.C. and from the hospital, leaving him unconscious ending on the far right with a depiction of a and suffering from a fractured pelvis, thigh family; which, thanks to modern medicine, and ankle. Mr. Gruzdz was rushed by ambu- is enjoying a happy and healthy life. lance to the K-W Hospital instead of back to Also featured are Hippocrates, the father of St. Mary's which was much closer. medicine, Roman medical instruments, At the time, Kitchener's ambulance an early Christian infirmary; a Renaissance services consisted of four vehicles operated artist sketching human anatomy; and a by the City of Kitchener on behalf of both modern microscope.38 hospitals. A spokesman for K-W Hospital Beyond the main lounge, other services explained that, "Unless a patient specifically on the ground floor of St. Mary's new tower requests to be removed to a certain hospital, included, Admitting, Medical Records, the ambulance attendants will bring him here Pharmacy; X-Ray and Accounting. The to the municipal hospital," which had the second floor, decorated in a soft green, was only emergency unit in the area that was for surgical patients. The aqua-toned open twenty-four hours a day:42 Paediatrics Department shared the third floor At long last it seemed that the building with a new Gynaecology Department, which program was complete.43 Plans for the official was rapidly becoming one of St. Mary's opening had been in the works since busiest departments. Pediatrics featured a September 1961, and the Governor General playroom that was made possible by a Gift of of Canada, His Excellency Georges p Vanier, Permanence from the architectural firm that had accepted the invitation to officiate at the designed the new building. The Maternity opening ceremonies on November 7. Three Department occupied the fourth floor, while days earlier, the new hospital was blessed by the fifth and sixth floors were to become the Monsignor Hailer in St. Mary's Chapel. The new home of the Department of Medicine, chapel was actually one of the few parts of once the renovations were complete in the the old hospital building that had remained old building. The Surgical Department was unchanged during the renovation project.44 established on the seventh floor, while the Governor General Vanier cut the ribbon eighth floor was dedicated to a seven-room and officially declared St. Marys open before operating theatre, including rooms for a crowd of seven hundred people, many of Orthopaedics and Cystoscopy A large whom had waited in the rain for his arrival recovery room also occupied the eighth and for his address. "The people of Waterloo floor. The ninth and tenth floors were the County must receive full credit for the Sister's Suites.39 support they have unstintingly given," he On June 20,1962, Sister Paula informed said. "The full time and voluntary efforts of the OHSC that "The entire addition is so many people will be long remembered." completed and functioning. This takes us His Excellency gave a special tribute to the 70 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital Sisters of St. Joseph "and the wonderful work community's recognition and gratitude for Governor General Georges P. Vanier and the wonderful work the Sisters are doing in they have accomplished in so many coun- Madame Vanier loved the service of humanity "45His sentiment was tries. ...I know the Sisters do not seek praise, children and the feel- but I feel it my duty to say in conclusion that shared by all those who knew of St. Mary's ings were mutual, as seen in the faces of this hospital is the tangible expression of a Hospital and the Sisters of St. Joseph.~ these youngsters at St. Mary's Hospital. Source:SMGH

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 71 By the time that the new addition was completed, the surrounding countryside had also undergone a metamorphosis as new subdivisions appeared in every direction. St. Mary's was an urban hospital around which a city had grown. Source: UW/KWR CHAPTER 6

Where there are people there are publicity about the expansion was fresh in problems. There is no limit to the everyone's minds. In contrast to the sharp amount of social work which can debates over expansion in 1959, the County be done in a 467-bed hospital. Council simply granted $15,000 each year SisterPaula Schnurr, from 1962 through 1964. The county MarchI, 1963 boosted its support to $25,000 when it became clear that 42 per cent of the patients .A: ter the festivities of opening day were admitted to the county's three hospitals were over and Governor General and cared for at St. Mary's. Coupled with new Madame Vanier had left, Sister Paula grants from the Kitchener and Waterloo city found herself pondering new challenges for councils, this local support provided her restless energy. For the previous two St. Marys with a modest but consistent years her life had been dominated with income of at least $71,000 a year, to be put ensuring that St. Mary's health care services towards retiring the Sisters' debt load.l were maintained amidst all the dust and The Sisters themselves provided even confusion of construction. The hospital had more funding than the local municipalities. tripled in size since she was appointed As they had since the hospital opened, the Superintendent in August 1960, and her new Sisters living and working at St. Mary's mission was to provide a larger patient donated their salaries to the hospital. By the population with the best care and the latest early 1960s, the total annual salary of medical technology available. She also had St. Marys eighteen Sisters was just over to redefine the mission of the expanded $84,000. Still, the debt load was worrisome. St. Mary's General Hospital. Although the Ontario Hospital Services One of the most immediate issues was Commission was confident that it was how to pay for the expanded hospital, and manageable, the Commission placed increas- how the Sisters of St. Joseph were going to ing pressure on Sister Paula to improve the finance their $1,700,000 debt. More than hospital's management. This was a new chal- $100,000 remained outstanding from the lenge for Sister Paula and her staff, but it was building campaign, and some $250,000 in also necessary within a much larger and more federal and $130,000 in provincial grants complex hospital, with the province tracking had yet to be received. Several ideas were every penny spent during the early years of suggested, including renewing the building Ontario's public hospital insurance system.2 campaign, and immediately seeking The incredible demands that Sister Paula additional municipal grants while the had faced in transforming St. Marys into a 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 73 the front door of the hospital. Dr. Thomas J . Shoniker, who had been hired in November 1962 as St. Mary's second pathologist, recalled that in the hospital's new laboratory long, long extension cords had to be plugged into the nearest functioning electrical outlet to keep vital laboratory equipment working.4 The poor performance of the hospital's emergency power system during this blackout marked the beginning of a series of expensive maintenance troubles that persisted through the early 19605.

Leading the Way in Patient Services Despite these somewhat embarrassing glitches, Sister Paula had considerably more success in introducing several new patient services. By the early 1960s, intensive patient care was "becoming the hottest thing going" in Canadian hospitals, with close to 10 per During an open house modern, innovative institution made the new cent of Ontario hospitals establishing an in 1962 to celebrate the hospital's new administrative and financial realities seem intensive care unit (ICU) by 1963. The addition, Dr. Farrell much easier. A formal acknowledgment of senior anaesthetist, Dr. Alexander Campbell, proudly displays a new Sister Paula's accomplishments was given in had been interested in the ICU concept for Picker x-ray unit. some time, and had led the St. Mary's Source: SMGH April 1963 when she was named the "Woman of the Year" by the Kitchener- medical staff in pressing the issue to Sister Waterloo Quota Club. She clearly deserved Paula in 1960. By Apri11962, a thirteen-bed the title. According to the president of the ICU was proposed, and despite one consul- TWin Cities service club, "No other woman, tant suggesting that this plan seemed "extrav- to our knowledge, has undertaken a project agant," the project proceeded.5 as large as a 10-storey building in this The first Intensive Care Unit in Waterloo community, which becomes an even bigger County opened at St. Mary's in January project when this is an extension to a hospi- 1963. It provided one graduate nurse for tal that had to function efficiently, even every two patients; one private room for during a long and trying construction infectious or "noisy" cases, and one waiting period." Commenting on the award, a room for visitors. In its first three weeks, the St. Mary's staff member stressed how Sister new unit accommodated seventeen patients, Paula has "made the whole function as a and as many as five at once. As Head Nurse 'well-oiled machine."'3 Rosemary Corriveau told the K- W Record, Sister Paula's well-oiled machine was not "They came so fast we began to wonder what Without its problems. On Apri14, 1963, we had done without it."6 southern and eastern Ontario was hit by a Six months later, St. Mary's established damaging storm with high winds. Overhead the region's first radioactive isotope labora- power lines were blown together and tory The K-W Recordused cold war imagery St. Mary's two power transformers short to describe how St. Mary's was "bringing circuited, plunging the hospital into darkness radioactivity, a development of the atomic for nearly twenty-four hours. Seven opera- age, into its arsenal of weapons in the fight tions were performed by flashlight while the against disease." Patients no longer had to hospital's emergency generators struggled to travel to Hamilton, Toronto or London to supply power. Fortunately, the operating access similar technology. Spearheaded by rooms had large windows which allowed Dr. E. Earle Brown, fresh from graduating daylight in, although some of these windows from The University of Western Ontario were victims of the wild winds, along with medical school and completing research 74 ~ 5t. Marys GeneralHospital fellowships in internal medicine and nuclear diseases. There was also a growing trend medicine, the modest two-room laboratory towards personal service for the patients at was designed primarily for out-patient diag- St. Marys. In 1963 the Ladies' Auxiliary initi- nosis of a variety of diseases. The diagnostic ated a new "ALa Carte" service that procedure involved patients swallowing small extended the "Sunshine Cart" rounds, which amounts of radioactive iodine, which was since 1955 had brought magazines, toiletries, then traced through their system with a candy and other items to a patient's bedside, specialized scanner designed to detect the to include such items as baby oil, baby radiation within tissues such as the thyroid.7 powder and baby bottles, especially for new St. Mary's pioneered several other new mothers.11 The success of these new patient hospital services during the first half of the services was boosted in 1963 with the orga- St. Mary's 1960s, introducing the first cardioverter nization of a Junior Auxiliary, or "Candy Candy Stripers heart machine in Waterloo and Wellington Stripers" as they became known because of The nucleus of the first Counties in August 1963. This combined their crisp and "perky" pink and white group of Candy Stripers in pacemaker, defibrillator and cardiometer was 1963 consisted of ninety- striped pinafore uniforms.12 seven students from St. designed to regulate fibrillation in hearts, According to Sister Paula, the personal Mary's High School, whose thereby permitting normal activity for some services provided by Auxiliary volunteers over-all aim was "spreading sunshine to the patients whose lives had been seriously and Candy Stripers, along with good nurs- patients. " While staffing curtailed by various heart conditions. Such ing, "is not only to aid the patient physically, the Auxiliary's Gift Case was the case for one of the first local patients but to help their mental outlook." Sister and new maternity treated with the new machine, Hubert Paula recognized that "where there are Sunshine Cart, as well as Greulich of New Dundee. "With the push of handling TV rentals for people there are problems." To relieve her patients, the teenage a button on the machine, the heart beat from the struggle of dealing with individual volunteers were expected changed from an irregular 130 to a normal patients' social or psychological troubles, she to exhibit "proper 80. It was still 80 a week later, while his handed this responsibility to Esther Strub, deportment, grooming, discretion and shortness of breath disappeared immediately who began a new social service in March responsibilities of service. " and he was able to get around normally."8 1963. According to Sister Paula, there were They were forbidden from Other increasingly important diagnostic "no bounds to the amount of social service "chewing gum, smoking, loud talking, singing, tools introduced by St. Mary's included the work which can be done in a 467-bed hospi- humming or 'nonsensical area's first electroencephalogram that went tal." She agreed with Mrs. Strub that "aged demeanor: "' 1t was hoped into operation in August 1964. Otherwise patients pose the greatest problem." Since that some of them would known as an EEG, it detected brain tumours choose nursing as a her appointment, most of Mrs. Strub's time profession, or at least or epilepsy and, like the radioisotope labora- was spent on the difficult task of "persuading become full-fledged tory, eliminated the need for patients to families to take back older hospitalized rela- members of the Ladies' travel long distances for such tests.9 tives whom they have decided they can no Auxiliary. Source: SMGH Measurement of respiratory function and the longer care for in their homes."13 diagnosis of breathing problems was another Meeting the various spiritual needs of new service which St. Mary's introduced in hospital patients facing disease, disability and October 1964 and expanded into a fully death had always been an important part of equipped Pulmonary Function Laboratory by St. Mary's mission. Reflecting the "modern August 1966. This service was of particular concern with treating the whole person- value for testing post-polio patients with mind and body," spiritual services assumed breathing difficulties, as well as for assessing an increasingly important place within the emphysema cases. The laboratory was built larger St. Mary's during the 1960s under the through the initiative of Dr. M.J. Diamond, spiritual leadership of Father Feeney. an anaesthetist, whose efforts enabled Since his arrival in early 1962, serving St. Mary's to "become the only non-teaching the many religious affiliations of patients had hospital west of Toronto with a fully been a challenge to the Irish-born Father equipped laboratory that can measure all Feeney About 60 per cent of St. Mary's functions of the lungs."lO patients were members of various Protestant New services offered by St. Mary's were denominations, in addition to others of non- not always focused on expensive new tech- Christian faiths. As he told the K- W Record, nology and the diagnosis and treatment of "Some people think I should visit every 5t. Marys GeneralHosvital 0&;> 75 St. Mary's Auxiliary members are all smiles as they see first-hand the new equipment purchased through the generosity of their centennial gift to the hospital. Source:SMGH

patient, Catholic, Protestant, Jew or other- parts of the hospital, uncertainties about the wise. But I think visiting non-Catholic future of the Nursing School, and a stronger patients might be resented or perhaps provincial influence in shaping both hospital misinterpreted." Although he thus restricted policy and the planning relations among the his unsolicited visits to Catholics, Father area'shospitals. Feeney was "prepared to go to the bedside of Questions about the future of the any patient needing help or wanting to talk Nursing School were of particular impQr- about spiritual matters." Not long after his tance to Sister Clotilde. Under Sister Paula appointment to the "parish with a differ- the School had undergone considerable ence," as he described St. Mary's, Father adjustments to meet the increasing demand Feeney oversaw the first refurbishing of the for graduate nurses. One problem was hospital's chapel since 1924. This was attracting nurses to St. Mary's and keeping completed in October 1963.14 pace with their rising salary demands while complying with the budgetary restrictions The Politics 0£ Change imposed by the Ontario Hospital Services Although many significant changes remained Commission. By August 1966, the size of the for St. Mary's General Hospital during the nursing classes and the shortage of accom- second half of the 19605, they would not be modation in the residence forced the hospital for Sister Paula to oversee. When her six-year to rent a number of apartments in a nearby term as Superintendent expired in August building to accommodate about seventy 1966, Sister Clotilde Dales was appointed second- and third-year students out of the Superintendent for a second term. The total enrolment of 158. Another group of return of Sister Clotilde to St. Mary's was second-year students lived in Regina Hall, welcomed, especially among the more senior the former Sisters' quarters on the second doctors and staff who were familiar with her floor of the original hospital building.1s quiet, elegant and graceful demeanour. Her A visible and more symbolic change had also second term at St. Mary's coincided with a been made which reflected the evolution of period of retrenchment for St. Mary's amidst the professional status of nursing during the increasingly apparent space limitations in key 1960s. Much as the nurses residence was 76 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital showing its age after thirty-five years, so too placed further pressure on the hospital to Class of 1967 had the style of the uniforms that the meet rising wage demands.17 In the mean- (Top to bottom, left to right) Linda Krause, SI: Anthony, students wore during this period. In time, approval from the College of Nurses of Elizabeth Clemens, Colleen September 1966, first-year students entering Ontario in July 1967 to proceed with the Connelly, Ruth Ritchie, Karen new "2 + 1" education program made the the School bought new uniforms, "a smart Webel; Mary Collins, Joanne one-piece dress in powder blue with white physical redevelopment of the School imper- Clancy, Sandra Cressman, Patricia schnitzlel; trim: which was not starched.16 ative. Walter McGibbon expressed uncer- Susan Millel; Jane schuett, Also in September, 1966, the idea of tainty about whether the old School Rosemary Waechtel; Janis developing a Regional School of Nursing at residence would be expanded, or an entirely Donau, Joan seidle, Dolores Taman, Nora Gorwill, Judy St. Mary's arose and highlighted the need to new one built. Either plan, if and when Murawsky, Lynne McKenna, build a new nurses' residence. From the approved by the province, would take some Elizbeth Crow, Barbara province's perspective, the goal was to train time to complete. In the meantime, more McCay,Judy Denomy, Patricia McKinlay, Margaret more nurses faster, which meant moving classrooms were needed immediately for Henkel, Dianne Roberts, towards a shortened education program. students to cope with the new program Helen Mayberry, Jean A proposed "2 + 1" program included having which required a radically different curricu- Riseborough, Mary Jane students in the "+1" year paid a monthly lum.1s As part of the provincial reforms of Collins, Anne Webel; Elizabeth salary, thus eliminating their need for resi- nursing education, an independent adminis- Bumett, Janice Schustel; dence accommodation. This plan created tration for the School was established during Charlene Wilhelm, Gail several difficulties. A trend towards the the summer of 1967 under a new Director of Bolce, Margaret Simon, Diane Mahn, Mary unionization of nurses developed at the School of Nursing, Sister Virginia Brubachel; Elaine Ashley St. Mary's between 1967 and 1969, and Hanlon, and a management committee was Source: SMGH

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 77 These young nurses from St. Mary's act as set up chaired by Gordon Mackay, a local diagnostic, pathological and other tests that the honour guard for lawyer. Sister Bonaventure Fagan became were required, including pregnancy tests.21 the new hospital's Director of Nurses within the hospital.19 The Board recommended that immediate opening. Source: SMGH The attention placed on the future of the thought be given to extending the south-west residence opened several new opportunities wing to provide more space for the laboratory for St. Mary's that Sister Clotilde hoped An essential element of this plan was building to pursue. a new School of Nursing, possibly outside the By the mid-1960s, one of the most prob- Queen's Boulevard Circle. This would entail lematic departments of the hospital was the expensive property expropriations. laboratory, which had been under the direc- The OHSC recognized that a new School tion of Dr. Walter Armstrong since 1948. and residence were needed. The problem St. Mary's laboratory had developed the was, what to do with the existing residence? reputation of being one of the most under- Answering this question required that the sized in the province. The laboratory was too hospital's overall needs be carefully analysed small for the increasing demands placed on by the commission. In the short term, an it, a situation that originated when the initial arrangement was made with the nearby plans for the hospital's expansion were Highland Baptist Church for temporary changed and two more patient care floors classroom space. The commission's study of were added without a corresponding increase St. Mary's requirements evolved into a long in the hospital's support services.2° This and detailed exercise, raising larger and more problem was compounded by the increasing difficult questions about the broader importance of laboratory work in hospitals long-term needs of each hospital in the and the growing number and complexity of Waterloo region.22 78 ~ 5t. Marys GeneralHospital Community Hospital Planning achieve? What can St. Mary's afford to do? Complicating and driving the planning One commission official suggested that process was the question of whether a third "there is marked resistance to sharing hospital was necessary in the Twin Cities to services within St. Mary's." He suggested that meet the needs of a rapidly growing popula- "education might be useful in this regard" to tion. Plans had been made to expand K-W persuade St. Mary's leadership as to the Hospital by 1970, but could St. Mary's be necessity of combining the resources of further expanded instead? Another important both hospitals.23 factor of increasing significance to the Meetings of hospital administrators were Ontario Hospital Services Commission in the held in the spring of 1968 to begin looking late 1960s was the idea of regionalization- into a regional hospital planning council for the closer coordination of hospital services Waterloo and Wellington counties. At the and long-term hospital planning within a same time, meetings were held to consider given region. Byearly 1968, the concept of the more practical idea of establishing establishing regional hospital planning coun- another council made up of representatives cils was of growing interest within the from the four hospitals of Waterloo County OHSC. Indeed, as a senior consultant for the alone. However, the basic concept of estab- commission pointed out, "To discuss local or lishing such planning councils was not isolated portions of the hospital prior to their enthusiastically received in some quarters. broad aspects is to me not proceeding in an The President of St. Mary's medical staff, orderly fashion." Broad questions had to be Dr. Gerald Lynne-Davies, objected strongly to answered. Are Schools of Nursing necessary the suggestion from Dr. J .C. Baldwin of the at St. Mary's and at K-W Hospital, or is a OHSC that hospitals must form such coun- regional school a better idea? Where is cils or they would not be considered for St. Mary's going? What does it wish to expansion grants. "Dr. Baldwin is our servant and not our master," Dr. Lynne-Davies told the Advisory Board. Despite such concerns, the Waterloo County Hospital Planning Council was formally established on June 24,1968.24 In the meantime, Sister Clotilde had a hospital to run and she could not afford to worry too much about planning councils and master plans. The Emergency Department, an increasingly busy part of St. Mary's, required her attention. The number of cases had jumped from 5,000 casesin 1963 to more than 25,000 in 1967. Unlike K-W Hospital, which had a staff doctor in Emergency; St. Mary's department was serviced by volunteer doctors from the hospital staff, or by a private physician on call. Having an intern at St. Mary's Emergency "would be wonderful," Dr. Louis Lang told the Board, "but they are not available."25 Meanwhile, as patients kept filling the city's emergency departments, the number of doctors staffing the departments declined. Dr. Walter J. Armstrong, a pathologist and Private practices were so busy that there was former Medical Director of the Laboratory, little time for ER duty: The increasing use of examines a specimen while Claire Schmidt, St. Mary's Emergency Department was driven secretary of the department, awaits his recommenda tion. by several factors, including a rising popula- Source: SMGH tion which contained many people without a 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 79 family doctor, and others "who become very begin in May 1969 with the sudden death of operating rooms on the eighth floor -a dissatisfied if they can't get a doctor at a Bob Cardy at the age of forty-six. His ten far cry from the moment's notice."26 Through the efforts of years at St. Mary's as Business Manager and earlier surgical Dr. Earle Brown, Chief of Staff at St. Mary's, then Administrative Assistant had marked a facilities -Brenda a unique cooperative arrangement between Herringer adjusts a progressive period in the history of the surgical light. St. Mary's and K-W Hospital came into effect hospital. The loss of Bob Cardy, and other Source: SMGH in January 1971. The plan involved the staff shortages, prompted McGibbon to call a contracting of six doctors (three for each special meeting of the Advisory Board execu- hospital under separate contracts) to cover tive in early June 1969. It was especially the emergency departments of both hospitals important to fill Cardy's position as soon as twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week possible in order "to relieve some of the pres- for $10 per hour. The hospitals were respon- sure presently placed on Sister Clotilde's sible for paying the doctors and were able to shoulders." It was also increasingly apparent charge the patients' insurers on behalf of the that because of a lack of funds the new physicians. The hospitals kept the proceeds, School of Nursing was not going to proceed. as well as any surplus or deficit. Under this McGibbon reminded the executive that it system, doctors in private practice were still had been ten years since the expansion had free to care for their patients in both emer- been approved, and although he felt that gency departments.27 "another building program was almost The success of this plan was a bright inevitable. ..it was not possible to think along spot in what was an otherwise difficult those lines at the moment in view of K-W period for St. Mary's. Trouble seemed to Hospital's present construction program."28 80 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital The Politics of Birth tubal ligation procedure as a method of birth With its expansion in the early 1960s, control. Echoing the recommendation of the St. Mary's became the preferred place to give Catholic Hospital Association of Canada, birth in Waterloo County, recording more Medico- Moral Committees were proposed to than twice the number of births at the K-W study each case requesting a tubal ligation on Hospital in 1969. The modern facilities and medical and moral grounds. According to televisions in the labour rooms at St. Mary's Father Sherlock, it was no longer acceptable made the hospital more attractive, as did the to have a hospital administrator saying, more convenient visiting hours and the "As long as I am Administrator of this hospi- opportunity for fathers to stay with their tal we will never accept a tubal ligation." wives during labour. At both hospitals, Moreover, he stressed that "No matter what allowing fathers in the labour room had we like or do not like personally, we cannot more to do with having enough space than be more Catholic than the Church." It was with any particular restrictive policy Officials important to "take into account the realities at K-W Hospital, however, expected the of human life. The rigidity of old rules does This was a proud not apply today "32 moment in February, tables to turn when its modern new mater- 1962 when the first nity unit opened with the expanded hospital Sister Clotilde invited Father Sherlock to baby was born in the in 1970.29 the first meeting of St. Mary's Medico-Moral new delivery rooms. Source: UW/KWR The number of births at both St. Mary's and K-W Hospital had increased by 12 per cent in 1969, but with the baby boom over, the growth of the Twin Cities was attributed to immigration into the area rather than an increase in the growth of the local population.3o In August 1969, a number of amend- ments to the Canadian Criminal Code now allowed abortions in hospitals if they were performed to preserve the life or health of the mother. The key change had been the new phrase, "life or health," in which health could mean mental as well as physical health. Despite this change, Catholic hospitals such as St. Mary's, would not permit abortions, except under very rare circumstances.31Within the Hamilton diocese, a preliminary set of medical moral guidelines was issued in November 1969 by Father John Sherlock, Bishop Ryan's representative to the Catholic Hospital Conference of Ontario. These guidelines focused on the particular problem of regulating postpartum tubal ligation procedures in the Sisters' hospitals of the Hamilton diocese. Tuballiga- tions involved tying the fallopian tubes in women to prevent an unfertilized egg from travelling to the uterus during ovulation. In some women there were medical problems or risks associated with the ovulation process that a tubal ligation procedure could prevent, particularly after problematic preg- nancies and Cesaerian section deliveries. Some women, however, chose to undergo a Sister Bonaventure had initiated the idea of family-centred maternity in 1968 and generated substantial support for the concept among St. Mary's nursing staff and the other Sisters. Gaining the support of the doctors who delivered the babies and, as Dr. Sehl recalls, especially the older general practitioners and the anaesthetists, was "a real struggle." They were worried about fathers fainting and creating other problems in the delivery room. Obstetricians such as Dr. Sehl finally forced the issue one day at a meeting of the Obstetrical Committee. Early in the meeting, and before most of the family doctors and anaesthetists had arrived, Dr. Sehl put forward a motion in support of family-centred maternity care and it was passed quickly by the more punctual members of the committee.34

Uncertainties and Independence Registered nurse By 1972 the overall future of St. Mary's Muriel Clark talks to Committee, which was held on September General Hospital had become an urgent issue future siblings as their 24,1970. The committee was authorized to as the Waterloo County Hospital Planning parents peer in through the nursery meet following a formal request from a Council focused on examining the roles of windows as part of physician for a tubal ligation. A complete each hospital in the county: A significant step St. Mary's family- and confidential patient record was required, to ensure St. Mary's future was made in centred Maternal Child including answers to the questions: "Could October 1970 when Walter McGibbon program. Source: UW/KWR other means than the ligation be used to notified the Board that, according to the obtain the end result in this particular case?" regulations of the OHSC, the Sisters of and «Why is the ligation specially recom- St. Joseph of Hamilton were "no longer able mended?"33 St. Mary's Medico-Moral to govern and control the operations of the Committee had three such requests for post - Hospital. " Based on the model used at partum tubal ligations in 1970, allofwhich St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton, on were approved. March 2,1971, a new Board of Trustees for In the spring of 1971, St. Mary's St. Mary's held its first meeting. This Board pioneered a course to improve the experience was made up of seventeen members of birth for the entire family. Fathers had appointed from the old Advisory Board; been allowed into St. Mary's labour rooms Walter McGibbon remained as chairman. since 1964, but allowing them into the One of the new by-laws changed Sister delivery room was more difficult for many Clotilde's title from Administrator to doctors to accept until obstetricians like Executive Director. Ironically, in her first Dr. John Sehl and nursing leaders like Sister report as Executive Director, Sister Clotilde Bonaventure Fagan unlocked the delivery informed the Board that as of November room doors. Another important aspect of 1970, "the final payment on the debt of the family-centred maternity was to allow the Hospital was made."35 new infants to room-in with their mother Although the hospital's debt had been while in hospital during the day Rooming-in overcome, St. Mary's Board of Trustees faced enabled new mothers to breastfeed on a new set of challenges during the first years demand and otherwise care for and bond of the 19705. At its first meeting, McGibbon with their new baby, rather than follow the had informed the Board that a final decision traditional hospital routine of keeping the had been made about building a new newborns in the nursery except to nurse. Nursing School. There were insufficient 82 ~ 5t. Marys GeneralHospital the idea of a full-time medical director to assume an intermediary role was first proposed in June 1969. St. Mary's already had a part-time consultant medical director, based at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton. The establishment of a local Board of Trustees opened the door for the hospital to finally hire a full-time medical director. 1n March 1972, Dr. WH.R. Croskery started his new job. The tall, bespectacled and Dr. W.H.R.

reserved fifty-five-year-old former army Croskery colonel from National Defence Headquarters (1918-1998) in Ottawa, explained to the K- W Recordthat When Dr Howard Croskery was originally hired as St. his role was to "air the problems of the Mary:S first full-time medical staff to the administration and Medical Director in 1972, Directors," although they would also go the his medical career had already spanned thirty Artist Jane Lippert-Birchell paints "The History of other way He then laughed quietly at a ques- Medicine" mural in the lobby of St. Mary's General years. He left a tion about the types of problems there might Hospital (February 6, 1962). distinguished military career as Chief of Staff at Source:UW/KWR be, "None-you hope."37 National Defence Medical Just as Dr. Howard Croskery started at Centre in Ottawa to move funds available from the province, "and if St. Mary's, the long-awaited "Role Study" to Kitchener Previously he funds had been available the Commission commissioned by the Waterloo County had been a colonel in the army and an Associate had serious reservations as there are a Hospital Planning Council was delivered. The Professor of Medicine at the number of diploma schools in the immediate most far-reaching of the twenty-five recom- University of Ottawa. He area." Moreover, he said, "[l]t seems they mendations involved St. Mary's. It suggested was a 1943 graduate of the want nurses all trained at Community "that the Sisters of St. Joseph sell the present University of Toronto Medical School, and during Colleges," one of which, Conestoga College, St. Mary's Hospital to Freeport Hospital for the war he served as had opened in Kitchener in 1967. Thus, conversion to a chronic care institution," and commanding officer of the despite five years of high hopes, surveys, that the Sisters "build a new active treatment Canadian section of British military hospitals in feasibility studies and planning, McGibbon hospital on a new site west of their present Germany and japan. While felt that "there was no use running to institution." Aware of the potential volatility at St. Mary's he maintained Toronto to get them to change their minds." of such a plan, the study suggested that if a reserved demeanor and developed a reputation as a Change, nevertheless, continued at St. Mary's such plans were not acceptable to the Sisters, consensus-builder between School of Nursing. Effective August 1971, "it is recommended that St. Mary's Hospital the medical staff and the St. Mary's shortened administration, a reputation its nursing program he carried into his challenging role as to two years.36 St. Mary's Executive The relationship Director in 1979. between the admin- Source: SMGH istration and the medical staff at St. Mary's had always been relatively problem-free. However, as hospital facilities and services grew in size and complexity, In 1962 these two the medical staff felt stainless steel increasingly power- whirlpools and a hot less in influencing wax bath were the latest equipment in the the administration's Physiotherapy management of the Department. hospital. As a result, Source:SMGH

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 83 Nursing Choir the best of their ability a master plan for however, to explore the idea of redeveloping performs on CKCO- renovation and redevelopment of the hospital the existing hospital. If this was not possible, TV, with Joan Voll as on its existing site." "the hospital would be prepared to consider pianist. Source: Private collection The reaction of the administration of alternative solutions." One of these would St. Mary's was swift and decisive. The Sisters appear to be a suggestion by the Waterloo of St. Joseph were not prepared to build a County Hospital Planning Council that new hospital on another site. Furthermore, 5t. Mary's consider "the possibility of integra- the idea of rebuilding a new hospital near the tion of certain services with K-W Hospital."38 University of Waterloo was questioned, as it All of this had come only a decade after the would also bring it closer to the K-W opening of the new expansion.~

84 ~ 5t. Marys General Hospital 5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 85

CHAPTER 7

Today is thefirst day of the rest the traditional religious name that they had of your life. been using. Sister Virginia had made this Woodenplaque on SisterJoan choice earlier, and had also chosen to adopt O'Sullivan'sdesk a less traditional habit consisting of a simpler headpiece and shorter suits accented with B Y the fall of 1972 it was not the long- some colour. Other signs of change included term fate of St. Mary's General Hospital the appointment of a new, lay Assistant that most concerned the administra- Executive Director, Harold Shantz, who tion. The hospital was witnessing the passing would take charge of the day-to-day running of an era as many long-serving personalities of the hospital. A lay Director of the School left their leadership positions. In September, of Nursing, Carolyn Dudgeon, was also an ailing Sister Clotilde had been succeeded hired, as was a new coordinator of pastoral by $ister Virginia Hanlon as Executive care, the Reverend Tom Comerford, who was Director. Then Walter McGibbon, for so long given charge of an expanded program of a tower of strength during the years of clergy visits that emphasized serving all expansion, retired from the Board of denominations. According to Sister Virginia, Trustees, along with several other prominent this was a logical development since all community leaders, including Colonel denominations supported the hospital.2 Heasley,John Motz and Dr. Louis Lang. The decade that began with Sister Following these departures, Hartman H.L. Virginia's appointment was dominated by Krug was appointed the new Chairman of several familiar themes. Perhaps the most the Board for a two-year term. He was the important issue was identifying St. Mary's grandson of Hartman Krug, founder of the health care role within the Kitchener- H. Krug Furniture Co. Ltd. and president of Waterloo community and then equipping it Doon Twines Ltd., a company that his grand- with the proper facilities and funding to live father had bought in 1916. The Board itself up to its mission. Working against this was also reorganized and a more formal process were deepening provincial funding Executive Committee was established.l cuts to hospitals and the inability to secure The appointment of Sister Virginia as the Ministry of Health's support for St. Mary's Executive Director symbolized a new era for expansion and other long-term plans. St. Mary's and the Sisters of St. Joseph. As of The first of a seemingly endless series of September 1972, members of the Hamilton provincial cut-backs to hospitals was order were formally given the option to use announced in late November 1972. their family, or baptismal name, instead of St. Mary's was ordered to trim a modest 5t. Mary's General Hospital 'Q$;'87 $23,000, out of its total 1973 budget of family-centred maternity program and the $7.9 million but, unlike K-W Hospital, it establishment of a large number of prenatal was not told to reduce its number of beds. classes at the hospital.6 Early in 1974, the As was made clear to the Executive program expanded further. A new room, Committee by a Ministry of Health official in "furnished like the den at home," had been early February 1973, the ministry could not set up in the hospital for the father's and allocate money for any new projects. There family's use. A new bright and cheerful room had been a "change in direction" as the was also set aside for children to visit with ministry assumed direct authority over their mothers after delivery 7 Sister Virginia hospitals from the former Ontario Hospital Yet, despite St. Mary's denials, the Hanlon: Services Commission, and it would be at ministry clearly was interested in amalgamat - Sister Virginia was born least five years before any new money would ing hospital services. In January 1974, in Guelph, but "how long ago remains her secret, " be available.3 a ministry official suggested to the Executive and was a graduate of the Director of K-W Hospital, Gerald Cox, "the St. joseph's Hospital The Amalgamation Question: Round One relocation of paediatrics outside your hospi- School of Nursing in While provincial cutbacks slowed progress tal and acceptance of total obstetric responsi- Hamilton, before joining the Hamilton Sisters in on any master plan for St. Mary's, the tighter bilities within your existing facilities."8 1945. She remained in finances during the early 1970s increased K-W Hospital was clearly having problems Hamilton as Director of the pressure for amalgamating, or rationaliz- housing chronic patients in the Scott Education and then as Director of the School of ing hospital services. In May 1973, the Pavilion, and while St. Mary's offered to take Nursing before moving to executive committees of both Kitchener over paediatrics, the Executive Committee St. Marys in 1964 to hospitals held a special joint meeting to felt that there should be an obstetric unit at become Coordinator in the "explore areas of cooperation." Dr. Donald both hospitals. In March 1974, however, Department of Nursing. Many nurses who had Geiger of K-W Hospital "dropped his bomb K-W Hospital suddenly changed its mind trained under her shell by stating that perhaps K-W could take and "decided not to proceed with the amal- appreciated her down-to- over all the acute care with St. Mary's taking gamation of Paediatrics at this time."9 earth style and her compassion, enlivened at long term, convalescent and rehabilitative Other changes were being forced on the times by brief flashes of care, so that the Scott Pavilion [at K-W local hospitals. In 1974 the Ministry of temper: She saw herself as Hospital] would become available for a Health had all hospital-based schools of "an architect of change," Health Centre. " As a summary of this meet - but change that had to be nursing brought under the control of the implemented carefully and ing noted, "This [suggestion] was followed Ministry of Colleges and Universities and with sensitivity. bya great silence."4 local community colleges. The St. Mary's Source: SSJ A month later, Dr. John Sehl suggested School of Nursing had ceased to exist as of to the St. Mary's Executive Committee that September 1, 1973. Its last formal act took the Twin City's obstetrical services could be place on June 6, 1974, when the final class centralized at St. Mary's. Dr. Sehl's proposal of students graduated at a special ceremony depended upon St. Mary's being able to at the Walper Hotel presented jointly by the perform tubal ligations freely: However, the Sisters and by Conestoga College. As the position of Father Sherlock and Bishop Paul history of St. Mary's Nursing School put it, E Reding on this procedure showed little "The edge of sadness was softened by the movement. It was clear to Sister Marina celebration of 50 years of existence for Flaherty, the General Superior of the St. Mary's General Hospital," which took Hamilton Sisters, that "in the event that the place with much fanfare during the week of Ministry insists on only one Obstetrical Unit October 20-25, 1974.10An arrangement had in the area, it will not be possible for been made with Conestoga College by which St. Mary's to conduct the sole program the ministry rented the old school building because of the moral and ethical problems for the continued use of its facilities to which I foresee."5 educate nursing students. Rumours soon spread through the press Increasing provincial pressures for that St. Mary's maternity beds were to be reshaping hospital services were also felt in closed and services merged with K-W St. Mary's Laundry Department, which Hospital. Sister Virginia reassured the became the first area of amalgamation public by pointing to St. Mary's unique between St. Mary's and K-W Hospital. 88 ~ 5t. Marys GeneralHospital Upgrading St. Mary's laundry facilities would publishing a formal annual report for the Class of 1974 be very expensive, while the space it occu- first time since the mid-1930s. A hospital Throughout the late 1960s and early 70s the province:S pied was very attractive for the Nuclear newsletter, the Suture Line, also began to Schools of Nursing were Medicine Department. Nuclear Medicine had appear, as did a wide variety of publications under continuous scrutiny. undergone tremendous growth since opening to celebrate St. Mary's fiftieth anniversary. On September 1, 1973 the in 1963 and was desperately in need of The amount and type of health care St. Mary's School of Nursing ceased to exist and nursing expanded and upgraded facilities. During information St. Mary's provided to its education was brought under 1974 provincial approval was given to have patients and the public had grown in impor- the control of the Ministry of Waterloo Wellington Linen Service, which tance during the early 1970s. For St. Mary's, Colleges and Universities. These graduates of the Class was owned by K-W Hospital, take over one significant area occurred with the devel- of 1974 had a joint responsibility for St. Marys laundry require- opment of a family life clinic in 1975. graduation ceremony with ments by June 1975, although it actually Establishing such a clinic in a Catholic Conestoga College. took longer to complete the changeover.ll hospital was problematic and had its origins Top to bottom, left to right: The many changes at St. Mary's during in a renewed debate among Ontario bishops Peggy Geyel; Jane Fox, Barbara Atifield, Deborah the early 1970s put considerable strain on over declining family values as well as the Boyko, Ewa Dabrowski, Joan the hospital's relations with the local media. problem of direct sterilization in Catholic McLennan, Janice McClure, Public uncertainty about the future of such hospitals. The growing uncertainties among Julia Watson, Barbara Martyn, Heather Watson, central services as obstetrics and paediatrics, such Catholic obstetricians as Dr. John Sehl Bonnie Gene McClevis, and growing labour tensions among several about the future of obstetric services at St. Sandra Grose, Donna hospital unions, particularly the Building Mary's were also part and parcel of this Gowland, Services Union which held a one-day strike debate. As Dr. Sehl pointed out in October Mary Lou Steckly, Helen Gross, Ruth Pletsch, Martha in May 1974, prompted repeated inquiries to 1974, "If we are going to move to unlimited Jewitt, Lynn Hasenpjlug, Sister Virginia for more public information. ligation which seems inevitable, there is a Wendy Karley, Nancy In April, 1974, a representative from a local need for a family planning clinic to aid in Goguen, Jackie Weisel; Bonnie Blail; Marion radio station asked Board chairman Hartman forming a responsible opinion."13 St. Mary's Culliton, Kathleen Beaton, Krug, "if the money [for hospitals] comes approach was to establish a Natural Family Carol McGuire, Barbara from the government then shouldn't [the Planning service that was developed in coop- Robinson, press] be allowed to sit in on the Board eration with the Family Life Bureau of the Gloria Martin, Sharon Noms, Barbara Mustard, meetings."12 The hospital responded by Diocese of Hamilton. Julie Maddock, Barbara Webel; Margaret Bruin, Laurie Holowchuk, Rose Ann Coughlin, Branka Stipic, Pamela Leech, Tena Ennema, Wendy Scarfe, Diane Bmjas, Debbie Shaw, Catherine Beecroft, Suzette Dumolin, Linda Itkin, Ruth Ann Elliott, Judy Fizell, Grace Fryfogel, Glenda Kleinveld, Susan Clail; Jeanette Huras, Frances Jordan, Susanne Scott, Mary Beth Greenwood, Beverly Jones, Vera Millal; Elizabeth Falk, Colleen Cardiff, Shirley Bilton, Jo-Ann Surowiak, Cathy Forbes, Barbara Symons, Joan Fischel; Judy Kaminska, Joy Emrich, Brenda Kellel; Joan Bartman Source: SMGH Corrective Surgery Engraved on a wooden plaque on her desk, the motto of the new Executive Director, Sister joan O'Sullivan, was that "today is the first day of the rest of your life." She thrived on change and brought this progressive spirit to her new job at St. Mary's. Sister joan continued a modernizing trend among the Sisters that Sister Virginia had initiated. It was difficult to recognize Sister joan as a nun as she preferred to wear colourful business suits rather than a habit. She was very familiar with St. Mary's. For the previous two years she had served on the Board of Trustees as a representative of the Sisters of St. joseph. Her priorities were to "explore new avenues of care and try to interest hospital staff in trying them." While significant budget pressures continued for Sister joan, she searched for new ways to maintain Ladies' Auxiliary President Mary Anton By the spring of 1975, Sister Virginia felt the personal touch within the hospital; presents a cheque to that it was time for her to move on to other a personal touch she reinforced every morn- St. Mary's Executive challenges. At the end of May, she submitted ing by making the rounds of the hospital, Director Sr. Clotilde her resignation to the Board of Tmstees, "chatting with nurses at their stations, visit- for the purchase of a newborn isolette effective July 1. Sister Virginia planned a trip ing patients or just taking a look around."15 (February 23, 1972). to the mission in Teculutan, Guatemala, that One of Sister joan's first acts as Executive Source: SMGH was run by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Having Director was to launch extensive renovation already spent some time in that country, plans. A substantial physical reorganization of Sister Virginia returned to Guatemala in July hospital services was prompted by the space in an official capacity as Councillor for the created when the laundry moved out and an Congregation.14 expanded Nuclear Medicine Department was slated to move in. Unfortunately, a new

St. Mary's new 'Birthing Room" provided a more welcoming environment for expectant mothers. Director of Nursing Millie McQuillin and Delivery registered nurse Suzanne Burgess are seen approving of the new facility. Source: SMGH

90 ~ St. Mary's General Hospital round of hospital funding cuts took place future visits to the hospita1.l8 An updated but early in 1976 and there was no provincial somewhat smaller chapel was officially money for the nuclear medicine project. reopened and rededicated by Bishop Reding It would take a series of direct appeals to the as the Resurrection Chapel on May 25, 1979. ministry, and some luck, to open the provin- The statue of the Sacred Heart that had been cial wallet. Frank Voisin, who served as Board so prominent in the chapel since 1924 was Chair from 1976 to 1978, recalled that, by donated to a school in Georgetown, the Altar December 1976, after repeated trips to of Sacrifice was given to a school in Milton, Toronto along with Sister joan, Dr. Earle and the pews were sold to the Apostolic Brown, and the Assistant Executive Director, Church in Kitchener.19 Brian Steinberg, St. Mary's could wait no longer. At last, during yet another meeting The Amalgamation Question: Round Two Sister Joan O'Sullivan with ministry on December 17, Shirley Brett, While Sister Joan worked to upgrade Born and raised in one of the ministry officials, left to confer St. Mary's, the ministry moved forward with Hamilton, the ever with her colleagues. "Finally she came back full or partial hospital closings and amalga- energetic and adaptable to tell us that funds were found and that we mations around the province. Sister Joan Sister joan O'Sullivan joined the Hamilton could proceed." Another hospital project hoped that St. Mary's was not on the Sisters in 1946 after somewhere would have to wait for another ministry's list. She felt that the chances of any graduating from the year to begin.16 amalgamation of Paediatrics and/or St. joseph's School of Nursing in Hamilton in Once the nuclear medicine project Obstetrics was "marginal and would appear 1943. When she entered received approval, Sister joan proceeded with to us to be premature in terms of projected the congregation she some "corrective surgery" on St. Mary's. growth patterns. However, I do not trust became known as Sister Celestine, a name she kept As she told the K-WRecord, "I don't know any of them, quite frankly"2° unti11972. She first how the staff has stood working under these Byearly 1977 the focus of any potential served as a Nurses' conditions for so long. ..1 admire them for amalgamation of services was once again on Instructor at St. Mary's their cheerfulness." The areas of the hospital paediatrics, but little progress was made on between 1951 and 1955. She then moved to St. that most needed to be upgraded included the issue, primarily because it was unclear joseph's Hospital in the admitting area in the front lobby, where whether either hospital could physically Guelph and returned to desks were crowded into a tiny area "with accommodate all paediatric patients in the Hamilton as Director of Nursing in 1964 after Twin Cities. By the end of the year, South little elbow room for the switchboard opera- completing a Master's tors and no privacy for incoming patients." Waterloo Memorial Hospital suggested a new degree in Nursing The crowding in the laboratory had become study which would include all four Waterloo Administration from The University of Western "inhuman." There were not enough testing County hospitals. St. Mary's Board chairman, Ontario. In 1973, Sister rooms and sometimes patients had to sit on Frank Voisin, wondered aloud about the joan became Assistant chairs in the hall while they provided blood need for all of this debate and study, asking Executive Director at samples. The respiratory technology lab the Waterloo District Health Council, "What St. josephs Hospital in Brantford, a position she looked "like a closet," while "the nuclear have we accomplished? We have upset a held until her return to St. medicine department in another section is large number of patients who, for various Marys. Her extensive just as crowded." Other changes to free up reasons, prefer either K-W or St. Mary's. educational, practical and administrative experience, "':vVehave upset a lot of paediatricians, obste- space included moving six Sisters from the coupled with her ability to ninth and tenth floors into a house on tricians and general practitioners. Have we bring people together and Queen's Boulevard, including Sister joan accomplished anything beneficial? Would we a warm, fun-Ioving personality, made her herself. Commenting on the move she wryly provide better service? Not likely Would we important asset to the reduce costs? Not likely." A competitive noted, "It is nice to go out the back door and hospital. be away from it all."17 environment between the two hospitals had Source: SSJ Sister joan's renovation program resulted in "very good hospital care," continued through 1978 and into 1979. according to Voisin, and it would be better In August 1978 St. Mary's became the first for everyone "if we concentrate on cutting hospital in the Waterloo Region to introduce costs and staying within government a central registry for admitting and docu- spending limits."21 menting basic patient information. This St. Mary's restriction on postpartum information was electronically printed on a tubal ligations was the central obstacle to any plastic card that each patient used for all significant amalgamation progress with K-W 5t. Mary's General Hospital 'Q4I;'91 Hospital. Any change in St. Mary's position floors on to the proposed new two-storey on this issue was unlikely An Instructional building.26 Doctrine of the Church on the matter in The timing of this new plan was unfortu- 1977, which, according to the religious nate. On March 23, 1979, Sister Joan members of the committee, "would not announced that she was leaving St. Mary's, as appear to leave any justification for direct of June 30, to become Executive Director at sterilization as such." An appeal to outside St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton. The deci- authority for interpretation of the doctrine sion as to her successor was almost immedi- left the committee in limbo for most of the ate. Since there was no experienced Sister next year.22The lack of written guidelines for available to assume the position, the Sisters the Medico-Moral Committee was particu- of St. Joseph Board of Governors nominated larly confusing for physicians on the commit - Dr. Howard Croskery, St. Mary's Medical tee who knew that approvals for tubal Director since 1972. As the Board chairman, ligations were being granted at other Catholic Thomas McCauley stressed, Dr. Croskery was hospitals in Ontario. In October 1978, Sister particularly sensitive to the role and philoso- Joan suggested to Bishop Reding that phy of the Sisters. The nomination, however, "perhaps the time has arrived for the Bishops raised some concerns. Why was the position of Hamilton, London, Toronto, Peterborough not being advertised? According to the and Kingston to issue a common set of Board's by-laws, the Mother Superior had the guidelines to bring some semblance of power to nominate the Executive Director, uniformity in dealing with these delicate and who would normally be a Sister of the Order. yet frequently occurring results."23 The sixty-one-year-old Dr. Croskery was not even a Catholic. Indeed, after Sister Joan left, Expansion Plans there were no Catholics among St. Mary's If thoughts of amalgamation were on the executive core. Dr. Croskery was an Anglican ministry's mind, Sister Joan had other plans although, as Dr. John Sehllater recalled, he Dr. John Sehl helped afoot. These plans centred on another hospi- was more Catholic than many Catholics.27 steer St. Mary's tal expansion.24 The K- W Recordbroke the through the sensitive news of St. Mary's $9 million expansion discussions regarding Frustrations sterilization and plans in March 1979 and in sharp contrast to Dr. Croskery's tenure as Executive Director abortion. the enthusiastic press coverage of the expan- would be dominated by two main issues: the Source: SMGH sion story twenty years earlier, the tone in expansion plans that had been launched by 1979 was quite different. Sister joan, and the renewed question of The Mayor of Waterloo, amalgamation, or rationalization, of services Marjorie Carroll, charac- with K-W Hospital. As had been the case terized the plan as "pie in since the early 19705, the amalgamation the sky, which hasn't got a issue was complicated by the moral ques- hope" of receiving funding tions surrounding artificial birth control. from the province. Within By the early 19805, however, the focus of St. Mary's, the Assistant concern had expanded beyond the question Executive Director was of tubal ligations and was complicated by a cautious, but optimistic, as growing range of technological interventions he explained that, "we've for promoting human reproduction. Despite got our guns loaded to go the outward appearance of change with the to the ministry"25 The appointment of the first non-Catholic physi- main plan was to build a cian-administrator of St. Mary's, Dr. Croskery new two-storey building in was close to retirement and remained the space between the committed to protecting the traditional original hospital building and the Nurses' values of the Sisters during increasingly Residence that would be connected to both. uncertain times. A second phase of the project would upgrade Dr. Croskery's first task was to sell patient care facilities by adding rooms to the St. Mary's expansion plans to the Ministry of front of the tower, and building up to seven Health and begin the uncertain quest for 92 ~ 5t. Mary:SGeneral Hospital provincial funding. St. Mary's appeared to be adopting a passive, hesitant response to changing economic conditions. Rather taking a proactive approach to define new services and a unique health care for itself within the Twin Cities for the 19805, the expansion was simply to enable the hospital "to continue on offering the excellent and patient care that

St. Mary's Hospital in the past." The hospi- ment, developed in 1982, stressed the "range of services to the over some services, such as physiotherapy." Registered Nurse community which an average family practi- St. Mary's Board chairman, Thomas Velma McGoey speaks with Auxiliary tioner might expect to find in the general McCauley, disagreed. "If you take a basic members Mabel Krug hospital."28 service like physiotherapy and remove it, (right) and Isabelle While maintaining traditions had a then we are no longer a general hospital. Murawsky in the Intensive Care/ certain value, the prospects for an expansion We won't be able to provide the basic Coronary Care Unit. effort were weakened by this essentially services the community has come to expect Source:SMGH passive stance. In contrast, in the early from this hospital." He later emphasized that, 1960s, Sister Paula had assumed a dynamic "it is our view that the space problems at and forward-looking position in the face of St. Mary's cannot be solved by other facilities difficult circumstances. While she maintained in the Region and therefore, Phase I of the certain traditions, Sister Paula's mission was Plan, which deals with immediate require- centred on a bold and progressive vision of ments, should proceed."3° St. Mary's future within the Kitchener- "Frustration" was the operative word Waterloo community. Dr. Croskery, however, over the next two years as St. Mary's strug- lived in very different times and had to struggled to gain the ministry's support for expan- gle with rapidly shrinking provincial fund- sion. A new Board chairman, Jim Murdoch, ing. Both leaders found themselves facing appointed in May 1980, helped bring a fresh substantial deficits in their budgets but, as perspective to the project. He had been on Dr. Croskery observed, "under present meth- the Board since 1974 and brought extensive ods of funding there is no reserve you can business experience to the hospital through dip into."29 his position as branch manager of Burroughs In October 1979 the Waterloo Region Business Machines. By June 1982, with the District Health Council reserved judgment country mired in economic recession, high on St. Mary's expansion proposal and inflation and double-digit interest rates, it suggested that "the need for facilities should was clear that expansion would not be be evaluated on a regional basis." According approved. St. Mary's Board decided to focus to the K-W Record, the council also "grilled instead on "limited renovations in the over- hospital representatives on the possibility of crowded intensive care unit, laboratory and St. Mary's letting other area hospitals take emergency departments."31 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 93 Before closing the books on the expan- and how acceptable the use of certain sion project for at least a few years, St. Mary's hormones were "from a religious point of view " In January 1981 the Committee was given some advice from the ministry about how to sell itself if it embarked on concluded that it "could not sanction artifi- another building program in the future. cial insemination under these circumstances Despite the difficult economic circumstances, in this hospital at this time."35 Mr. W Bain of the ministry suggested that St. Mary's needed a more marketable pack- The Amalgamation Question: age; a package that should be "presented as Round Three attractively as possible, realizing that it is to By 1981 the issue of amalgamating or ratio- be handled by politicians and that local nalizing services was once again the focus of politicians might contribute something to it." discussions between St. Mary's and K-W From the perspective of the ministry at least, Hospital and grew out of a new Joint it was apparent that St. Mary's needed some Hospital Committee struck in 1980 to study political contacts.32 points of mutual concern. This committee St. Mary's was certainly skilled in was made up of the executive directors and marketing its pioneering family-centred chiefs of staff of both hospitals and focused maternity program, which was expanded in on the specific areas of ophthalmology, December 1979 to include a birthing room. obstetrics, operating room facilities and Detailed discussions were held by the Public sophisticated new technologies such as the Relations Committee to explore publicity C.A. T. scanner which provided detailed ideas for the birthing room, in addition to cross-section images of all internal tissues how family doctors and obstetricians could and organs. It was very useful for efficient be informed about its availability. St. Mary's diagnosis and the targeting of surgical proce- "cozy" birthing room dures. The discussions of this committee had included a rocking chair wide implications for both hospitals. The in one corner and a committee's initial focus was on the location wooden cradle, draped of a new C.A. T. scanner and the rationaliza- with a hand-crafted tion of Paediatrics and Obstetrics, particu- blanket in another. It also larly in relation to high risk, or Levelll had "all the trappings of a obstetrical care. At this point, St. Mary's was fireside family room-complete with confident that it could retain Paediatrics and wall-to-wall carpet, television, tele- that the rationalization process would phone, chesterfield, softly toned wall- proceed quickly.36 paper and Peter Etril Snyder prints The question of where to put a new on the wall."33 Maternity-related C.A. T. scanner was the first issue to be programs were further expanded resolved in August 1981. St. Mary's simply late in 1981, including a family plan- did not have the space to install such a large ning service funded by the Sisters, and a piece of equipment. The question of where sibling program introduced for educating the to locate paediatric and Levelll obstetric Nursing Anniversary Pins young brothers and sisters of newborns services was more problematic. In October Given for years of service, about maternity care at St. Mary's.34 1981, the Joint Committee recommended these pins are from the By 1980 there was growing interest that both services be established at the same collection of joan Voll, Registered Nurse among St. Mary's obstetricians in enlarging hospital, preferably at K-W Hospital, the hospital's role in newly emerging tech- although "Obstetrics would not necessarily nologies, including ultrasound, artificial follow at once, if at all."37 insemination and the care of high-risk The following year, however, the obstetrical patients. There were, however, rationalization question focused squarely on concerns about the moral issues surrounding Obstetrics. Pressure was building from obste- some of these technologies, which were again tricians, as well as anaesthetists, to have the brought before the Medico-Moral issue resolved. The uncertainty about the Committee. Such concerns centred on the future of St. Mary's obstetrical services had question of how semen would be obtained, created a sense in the community that led 94 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital some pregnant women to have their babies at Catholic hospital like St. Mary's into K-W Hospital who otherwise would have accepting abortions. delivered at St. Mary's,.while the number of The obstetricians on the committee, obstetricians and anaesthetists was declining, nevertheless, emphasized that, while less making it difficult for them to cover both popular, postpartum tubal ligations were still hospitals efficiently38 being done at St. Mary's and that this proce- In 1982, progress on the issue of ratio- dure did fit with the concept of Obstetrics nalization once again ran into the thorny and Paediatrics at St. Mary's and within the tubal ligations question. The debate, which Catholic philosophy and the mission state- had been building over the previous decade, ment of the hospital. It was St. Mary's Chief reached a climax at St. Mary's when the of Staff, Dr. James A. Israel, a guest at the Cranston Medico-Moral Committee met on October meeting, who summed up the central issue 25, 1982. The Chief of Anaesthesia, Dr. M.E. Knechtel as far as the future of St. Mary's was A prominent business Mahaffey, challenged the committee to "give concerned. Although he had no wish to sway leader in the community, the Committee on Rationalization of Services the committee, Dr. Israel felt obligated to as Chair of the Board, a 'free-hand' to come up with the best possi- Cranston Knechtel guided present his view that "if St. Mary's lost 5t. Mary:S Hospital ble solutions." He asked that the committee Obstetrics they would also lose Paediatrics through turbulent waters, allow tubal ligations at St. Mary's, so that, if and these would take most of the hospital's establishing closer working relations with the appropriate, it could provide facilities for functions with them. Regardless of the deci- total obstetrical care. Moreover, in light of neighboring Kitchener- sion reached, he felt that it was impeiative Waterloo Hospital. space limitations, "the opportunity for imple- that we come to one quickly; since we could Source: Be/air Photo menting such a 'one-hospital' system may no longer continue planning without it." hinge on St. Mary's Hospital allowing post - By the end of the meeting, little seemed partum tubal ligations." Dr. Mahaffey stressed to have been settled. Dr. John Sehl put that the decisions being made on rationaliza- forward a motion that the committee submit tion "will influence obstetrical and paediatric a statement to the bishop, the Sisters and the care for the next quarter century The deci- Board of St. Mary's stating that after much sion is yours!"39 Dr. John Sehl pointed to an discussion the committee concluded that, important new element to the tubal ligations "St. Mary's General Hospital could assume debate since it had last been raised. Chemical obstetrical care in this community including birth control had recently been considered postpartum ligations as appropriate. acceptable because it was reversible. This was If approved, this committee will develop now also true of tubal ligations. guidelines to implement the same."40 Despite such arguments, Father Stephen One person who would not have to Connor, the Director of Information for the make any decisions on this seemingly Hamilton Diocese, was unmoved. He told intractable issue was Howard Croskery the committee that his priority was preserv- In July 1982 he had announced that he was ing the "value of the Catholic hospital to the retiring and would be leaving his position as community and in particular the effect of the Executive Director as of November 30, 1982. community Catholic hospital in overall This time a formal search was launched to support and establishment of the find a suitable replacement. The hospital was Catholic philosophy generally throughout looking for "a self starter with a high energy the community" Of panicular concern was level."41 In the young Bruce Antonello, this is that allowing tubal ligations not coerce a exactly what St. Mary's found.'Qc-.

Mary's General Hospital ~

CHAPTER 8

We at St. Mary's are at that obligatory and optional." One change would point in our corporate lives, be to bury the animosity that had existed when we must choose between between St. Mary's and K-W Hospital. On his the paths of greatness and second day on the job he meet with Gerald mediocrity. ...We must now ask Cox, K-W Hospital's CEO, in an attempt to ourselves if we are. ..prepared to start fresh, particularly on the question of make the sacrifices necessary to rationalization.2 achieve these ambitious goals. Any attempt at rationalization, however, depended upon resolving the outstanding Bruce Antonello, August 1985. question of how to keep Obstetrics at T he appointment of Bruce Antonello as St. Mary's, and, in particular, how to regulate Executive Director in October 1982 postpartum tubal ligations. Among marked an important turning point in Antonello's first challenges was to develop ~ the history of St. Mary's. His arrival also and defend appropriate guidelines for tubal reflected broader changes under way in ligations in cooperation with Father Stephen hospital administration in Canada. Connor, the Director of Information for the Dr. Croskery had represented a conservative Hamilton Diocese. Although Antonello was change from a Sister to a lay physician Catholic, his age, background and practical administrator. Unlike Dr. Croskery, Antonello xperience with fatherhood, hospital admin- was a Roman Catholic, and at thirty-four, he istration and politics left him uncomfortable was close to half Dr. Croskery's age. More ~th the concept of a committee deciding importantly, Antonello was a professionally such a personal matter. Many of St. Mary's educated, well-connected and experienced patients were not Catholic, nor likely in hospital administrator.1 agreement with the Catholic Church's posi- Bruce Antonello's first months at tion on the issue of birth control. Antonello St. Mary's were focused on developing a feel also recognized that Catholic families tended for the hospital, its staff and the community: to come to St. Mary's to have their first child, His words to the staff in the hospital newslet- but go to K-W Hospital to have their last. ter Suture Line spoke "of a feeling of dedica- At a February 1983 meeting of the tion, a feeling of caring for our patients and Medico-Moral Committee, Father Connor for each other, and perhaps most of all, suggested the range of options, including I sense the potential and desire to grow and acting "in dissent" of the Church's traditional prosper. " He predicted that "the next few teachings and permitting sterilizations. The years are going to be full of change, both dominant view at the meeting was that any 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 97 sterilization decision should be defined by Assistant Executive Director, Don the patient-physician relationship and not by McDermott, with whom Antonello had a committee. The key question was whether worked at the Ottawa General Hospital. the hospital should be forcing Catholic theol- When McDermott arrived at St. Mary's in ogy on non-Catholic patients and physicians. February 1983, the hospital now had "two Father Connor insisted that the guidelines new people on the same wavelength," and include specific medical indicators before together with the remaining members of the sterilizations could take place. The doctors St. Mary's team, they were able to make some on the committee warned that they could not substantial changes.4 act in the best interests of patients under During the summer of 1983, St. Mary's such conditions and feared that some physi- explored the idea of providing new acute Bruce M. cians might abandon St. Mary's and do care services to geriatric as well as other Antonello Bruce Antonello arrived at certain procedures at another hospital. Father adult patients. Such services included new St. Mary's about as well- Connor recognized that "it could be difficult rehabilitation and ambulatory services, as prepared, well-connected to serve the entire community" under such well as the strengthening and reorienting of and enthusiastic as one circumstances, but asked what image did existing services towards the particular needs could be. He assumed his new job at St. Mary's on St. Mary's represent to the community: "Is it of the geriatric population. All of the other December 1, 1982. He to be Catholic witness or will it be 'just hospitals owned by the Hamilton Sisters had was born in Ottawa and another hospital?"'3 already moved into providing at least some decided early on a career in health care, graduating Answering this central question was the level of geriatric care, and it was clear that a with a Masters' of primary motivation in March 1983 for strong move in this direction at St. Mary's Hospital Administration Antonello calling the first of what became an would fit well with the hospital's vision of from the University of Ottawa in 1973. A ten- annual weekend retreat for St. Mary's Board itself as a family hospital. St. Mary's had month practicum at the of Trustees, senior management and physi- already introduced an interdisciplinary pallia- Ottawa General Hospital cian leaders. The most significant outcome of tive care team in November 1982. Working had introduced him to a the retreat was the realization that there was with the medical staff, this team provided forward-thinking management style based a future for St. Mary's as a Catholic hospital support to patients and the family and staff on compassion and an without obstetrical services. Moreover, it was actively involved with each patient. St. Mary's open but business-like concluded that it would not be fair to the was also the home for the Kitchener- approach to decision- making. He developed community for St. Mary's to force the issue Waterloo Ostomy Chapter, a non-profit these skills further at by trying to have the only obstetrical unit, volunteer rehabilitation organization estab- Ottawa General. In 1980 particularly in light of the firm position taken lished through the leadership of Cathy he moved to the Ministry of Health to become a by the Bishop of Hamilton on regulating ster- Brothers, St. Mary's Director of Social Work. senior administrative ilizations. It was also clear that a number of This group and an out-patient clinic at consultant. Antonello activist groups were ready to pressure St. St. Mary's helped new ostomates adjust to began his new job at St. Mary's to remove any restrictions on tubal the personal challenges they faced after Mary's with such energy and enthusiasm for ligations and abortions if it became the only colostomy surgery change that at the end of obstetrical hospital in the Twin Cities. Thus, While the potential for some significant his first yeal; his negotiations with K-W Hospital had to begin changes at St. Mary's grew during Antonello's management colleagues gave him a pair of again and a package of other services, with first months, so did the possibilities for concrete shoes for or without obstetrics, had to be studied. misunderstanding among the hospital's staff Christmas. The light- and the public. This situation prompted hearted symbolism was clear to Bruce' "Slow An Evolving Mission Antonello to cultivate a more open relation- down." In the meantime, Antonello struggled with a ship between himself and the staff, and SMGH number of other outstanding issues, includ- between St. Mary's, the media and the public. ing the need to find a new home for the Beginning in August 1983, a series of general Intensive Care and Coronary Care Unit, staff meetings was held to inform everyone of improving St. Mary's relationship with the the rationalization discussions and to local media, and moving forward with plan- respond to questions. As St. Mary's sixtieth ning for the overall redevelopment and anniversary year began, there were also plans expansion of the hospital's physical plant. to look back and document the hospital's Antonello also initiated a management reor- history-plans that were limited by a lack of ganization, prompted by the hiring of a new an organized archives. This shortcoming was ~ remedied in the fall of 1985 with the arrival complexity of health care management, in of Elaine Baldwin, St. Mary's new librarian. July 1984, the Sisters took the unusual step An extensive archives project was initiated of hiring an experienced layman, Dr. Andre with the help of local university students Spekkens, to assume the full-time position of which enabled many subsequent anniversary health-care coordinator for the Sisters' five projects to develop. In the meantime, health care facilities. This appointment came a "Healthwise" campaign, with an owl logo at a time when the number of Sisters in the as its mascot, was designed to encourage Order was steadily declining. By October preventive health care by promoting healthy 1984, only six Sisters lived and worked at and safe living habits in the lives of patients St. Mary's, which raised "the problem of how and the community to keep its spiritual and religious character Providing direct information to the when so few young women are becoming media about the operations of St. Mary's was nuns in these secular times."5 Sister Ann Reverend Edward more of a challenge. Even after the media Marshall, Superior General of the Hamilton J. (Rip) Kirby (1933-1995) were admitted to the K-W Hospital Board Sisters, was not concerned. She encouraged Before joining St. Mary's, meetings and given press releases from the Catholic and non-Catholic lay people to run Rip Kirby had worked at hospital, St. Mary's position was often either St. Mary's. With the decline of the Sisters' the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre following not reported, or relegated to a secondary physical presence, the spiritual identity and service in the Canadian position. As public expectations of health mission of the hospital would be reinforced Armed Forces from 1951 care grew, cultivating a good relationship by giving a higher priority to pastoral care to 1981. His nickname originated with his with the media became critical and pressure services and after a long search, Reverend military buddies who grew to open St. Mary's Board of Trustees Edward (Rip) Kirby was hired as director of named him after the meetings to the public. The members of the St. Mary's pastoral care program. 19505 comic strip Board were divided on the issue, while the detective "Rip Kirby." Reverend Kirby brought to Sisters in Hamilton remained opposed to The Start of Rationalization St. Mary's pastoral care open Board meetings. A fresh effort to negotiate the rationalization program a powerful aura Despite their hesitant position towards of Obstetrics and Paediatrics between and a genuine caring, gentleness, empathy and the media, the Hamilton Congregation of the St. Mary's and K-W Hospital began in the sensitivity towards the Sisters of St. Joseph underwent substantial summer of 1983. Formal discussions were spiritual needs of patients. change during the early 1980s. Reflecting the given a boost when the Minister of Health, He was especially interested in working with increasing technology and the growing Larry Grossman, visited both hospitals with a terminally ill adolescents. After his death in 1995, the Special Person's Award, established in 1987, was renamed The Reverend Rip Kirby Award of Excellence, in honour of his special warmth, leadership and dedication to St. Mary's mission. Source: SMGH

5t. Mary's General Hospital 'Q6O'99 clear message: "get on with rationalizing Hospital, it may well have remained only as a services."6 Progress remained slow but steady "feeder hospital," doing the routine proce- through the fall when the initial basis of dures and passing on the more challenging discussion had focused on Scenario I. This and sophisticated work on to K-W Hospital. proposal had K-W Hospital assuming Antonello's focus was to carve a specialized responsibility for Obstetrics, Paediatrics and niche for St. Mary's, since with fewer Gynecology, while St. Mary's would take over services, St. Mary's "will be better able to Dialysis services, Rehabilitation and Day afford the investments in highly technical Surgery, along with several surgical subspe- equipment demanded today by physicians, cialties. By the end of the year several prob- staff and a more highly sophisticated and lems emerged that threatened the knowledgeable consumer." Thus, St. Mary's negotiations. A different arrangement, "will be given the opportunity and responsi- Scenario 11,proposed that Obstetrics move to bility to be number one in significant and K-W Hospital, while Paediatrics remain at growing programs and services."8 St. Mary's along with Dialysis and Based on Scenario III, a formal agree- Ophthalmology, but it, too, proved problem- ment between the two hospitals was atic, particularly the idea of splitting announced on April 18, 1985. Although Obstetrics and Paediatrics. Eventually a third some members of the St. Mary's Board were plan, Scenario 111,was proposed in the concerned that the transfer of both summer of 1984 that would see K-W Obstetrics and Paediatrics to K-W Hospital Hospital take over both Obstetrics and would change the complexion of St. Mary's Pediatrics, while St. Mary's would assume the from a family hospital to one mainly serving Emergency surgery can be required at any role of trauma centre for the Twin Cities, a the elderly population, on the whole, the time. A surgical team role that would require a C.A. T. s<=anneron Board supported the plan since it offered an works against the site as well as extensive renovations.7 opportunity for St. Mary's to provide adult clock. Left to right: From Antonello's perspective, St. Mary's, RPN Kathy Toth, acute care services without constant compar- Dr. Craig McFadyen, as the smaller hospital since 1951, had more isons to K-W Hospital. general and vascular to gain from the rationalization process than The rationalization agreement sparked a surgeon, assistant K-W Hospital. If St. Mary's had continued to summer of hurried activity at St. Mary's in Dr. Cathy Malon and anaesthetist do essentially the same things as K-W anticipation of its approval by the District Dr. Robert Council and the Ministry of Mazurka. Health. In the meantime, efforts focused on finalizing the long-standing plans to expand St. Mary's and redevelop such key services as the overcrowded Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Departments, as well as the Laboratory, Operating Rooms and the Physiotherapy Department. Preparations were also made for the new services expected through rationalization. The plans for

100 ~ 5t. Mary:S General Hospital A trauma patient is rushed to resuscitation room. Left to right: Kim Kwiatkowski, Phil Dunt and Mirjana Stekovic.

expanding St. Mary's had evolved consider- corporate lives, when we must choosebetween ably since the master plan of 1979. By 1984, the paths of greatnessand mediocrity....We the options were either to build a three- must now ask ourselvesif we are. ..prepared storey "pod" at the front of the hospital, a to make the sacrificesnecessary to achieve three-storey square structure between the theseambitious goals. 10 Nursing School and the original building, or a three-storey building across the street Despite Antonello's expectations that with a link to the 1962 tower. Within a year everything would fall into place now that a the second option was developed into a rationalization agreement had finally been formal proposal. reached, it grew increasingly apparent that A major fundraising campaign, St. Mary's progress was not going to be easy: There was first since 1959, was announced for the fall a provincial election in May 1985, and the of 1985, in which the hospital hoped to raise arrival of a new and inexperienced Liberal $7 million through local government and minority government at Queen's Park public donations, to which would be added complicated the rationalization process the $10 million expected from the province significantly, as did several other unexpected and the $3 million St. Mary's had in reserve.9 events over the next year. By July 1985, the There was considerably more hope of receiv- first indications of trouble were reports that ing provincial funding for this expansion, the Ministry of Health had some "unofficial even though, as Antonello stressed in Suture concerns" about the rationalization plan. Line, there were still skeptics who felt that Antonello felt strongly that the plan was "our goals are unachievable." Nevertheless, worth defending. However, the Planning he felt that Committee wondered whether St. Mary's overall plan was in jeopardy if the govern-

In everyone's life, there is a moment of truth; ment did not support it. "If so, can we in all

a time when a decision, an action, or an atti- conscience, seek public donations?"ll

tude can mean the diffe rence between going on By September, it was clear that while the

to do great things or settlingthat for point mediocrity in our new government was interested in rational- We at 5t. Mary's are at ization, it did not strongly endorse the whole 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 101 to a project that did not have final ministry approval. Yet the Board hesitated to postpone the campaign officially until all ministry approvals were given. In the meantime, the staff of St. Mary's Emergency Department did their bit for the building campaign. They started collecting favourite recipes and put together The Best of Emerg Cookbook. The ER crew was "eagerly looking forward to what redevelopment will mean for it," since little had changed in the Emergency wing since 1962 and the Department was handling more than 50,000 twice as many as in 1973. By August 1986, proceeds from sales of the cookbook had reached $25,000.13 One potential criticism St. Mary's faced in launching the new fundraising campaign was how to Dr. Mike Curtis, Chief prevent the money raised for hospital of Emergency Medicine. plan. Of particular interest to the ministry expansion from being used to subsidize cares for an emer- was the expediting of the transfer of the dial- operations and deficits. Since the 1970s a gency orthopaedic patient in The ysis program at K-W Hospital to St. Mary's. number of hospitals had established founda- Robertson Clinic. With the ministry now asking K-W Hospital tions through which donated funds could be Source: SMGH to undertake a new master plan, optimism managed separately. The idea of setting up for a speedy transfer of services was damp- such a foundation at St. Mary's was first ened, particularly after the full costs of ratio- proposed in 1976, and again in 1980, but on nalizing Obstetrics and Pediatrics at K-W both occasions the plans did not proceed. Hospital became apparent early in 1986. A more serious attempt began in 1985. The In the face of the growing uncertainties Sisters were concerned that if the St. Mary's surrounding the future of the rationalization foundation was not incorporated, as had agreement, St. Mary's fundraising plans been proposed, neither they nor the St. moved forward, tentatively The official Mary's Board would have control over the $3 launch of the campaign took place on million capital reserve that the hospital had September 10, 1985, with the "World's accumulated. After all, most of these funds Largest Gala," a concept that long-time had come from the Sisters' donated salaries St. Mary's supporter and eventual St. Mary's after the hospital's debt had been eliminated. General Hospital Foundation chair, Vince By September 1985 the need for a foun- Scherer, borrowed from an event held in dation became more urgent. Indeed, "time Saskatchewan. Some 1,800 people "danced was of the essence" as the Ministry suggested the night away" at the Ruedesheimer Garten that such hospital reserves be used to offset in Waterloo and raised close to $75,000 for St. Mary's growing deficit. The hospital was the hospital.12 As had been the pattern for fortunate in having Gordon Mackay as its previous campaigns, major donors, corpora- Board chairman. His association with tions and businesses would be approached St. Mary's stretched back to 1939 when his first, while a public appeal would start in the parents moved to within a block of the spring of 1986. By February 1986, however, hospital. His sister trained as a nurse, while such plans fell victim to growing concerns his mother worked as house mother in the that corporate donors would not contribute residence after his father died. He had been 102 ~ 5t. Marys GeneralHospital appointed to the Board of Trustees in 1980, the Mission Statement was therefore opened where he would serve for the next twelve up to include input from a broad cross- years. As a highly respected corporate law section of interested individuals, including specialist, Gordon Mackay had extensive staff, doctors, Auxiliary and volunteers, experience with establishing similar organiza- patients and the surrounding community: tions and assured the Sisters that a non- Together they would define the values upon incorporated foundation established as a which St. Marys should operate. Coordinated Trust could be properly controlled while it through a Task Force of the Planning also protected capital funds from the govem- Committee, and chaired by Board member ment's "heavy hand." Once the Sisters were Eve Menich, the work of producing a new satisfied on this point, the process of estab- statement was completed in April 1987. lishing the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation Unlike the original 1982 statement, proceeded quickly towards its inaugural which had consisted of a single typed page, meeting on March 26,1986. Mackay was the renewed version was published as a appointed chairman and president of the colourful brochure divided into three main Foundation, along with Thomas A. sections: "What We Believe," "What We Want McCauley, vice-president, Bruce Antonello, to Achieve," and "What We Do." The last secretary, and Frank Voisin, treasurer.14 section consisted of a simple listing of the clinical programs and support services Mission Renewal offered by St. Mary's, suggesting a flexibility Updating the hospital's Mission Statement in the specific services offered. But it was the became more urgent with the arrival of the "What We Want to Achieve" section that 1985 rationalization agreement and the stood at the heart of the new statement. major changes it would bring to St. Mary's. Central to it was St. Mary's commitment to St. Mary's first Mission Statement, adopted in "whole person care," to restore physical January 1982, emphasized a philosophy of health, promote individual spiritual values, providing care and treatment to the whole facilitate the expression of feelings caused by Sparks. a Girl Guides patient, "including the physical, emotional, hospitalization and involve family and of Canada group, tour St. Mary's and see a spiritual and social needs," uniquely friends in patient care. "Dignityand self- CT scanner up close. expressed at St. Mary's "within a family responsibility" were other core values, in Source: SMGH centred context." Families were encouraged to be as fully involved as possible in supporting and sustaining the patient's care. The 1982 statement outlined a traditional range of services that a family doctor might expect of a general hospital.15 It was important that the revised statement be a dynamic document, able to accommodate and not preclude new developments. It should reinforce St. Mary's Catholic identity. profile of the Sisters at St. Mary's declined, the distance from the Hamilton Motherhouse seemed to grow. As Antonello would later emphasize, it was time for St Mary's to be less hesitant about declaring its Catholic values and heritage within the Kitchener- Waterloo community. Rewriting

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 103 which the religious, cultural and racial consider first the needs of people-patients, origins of all were respected and patients their families, and all levels of staff-in plan- would be given the information they would ning, development and operations." Indeed, need to make informed decisions and to "People are St. Mary's most important learn how to care for themselves. resource. Their caring, skills and insistence The new St. Mary's statement proposed on excellence enable us to carry on our sponsoring activities in the community and ministry, faithful to our traditions and the hospital and seeking out opportunities responsive to the community we serve." for health teaching and health promotion. To actively recognize non-managerial staff The St. Mary's child interest group was one members who best exemplified such values, example of this community outreach and St. Mary's instituted a "Special Person of the education goal. This group had been Month and Annual Award Program" in June founded in 1981 when a number of staff 1987. Awards were based on nominations by members recognized the need to promote any employee, visitor, patient, volunteer or education and public awareness about child physician who detailed an event where an abuse. The group sponsored an annual employee clearly demonstrated one or more conference at St. Mary's. For their fifth of the values of the new Mission Statement. annual conference in October 1986, the During the renewal process, a new logo keynote speaker was Dr. Benjamin Spock, was introduced for the hospital. Designed by Registered Nurses Randy Chapman, author of the influential book, Baby and Child Ratchford and Associates, it provided a Nancy Doadt, and Care, first published in 1946. powerful visual symbol of the caring spirit of Karen Tondreau (left to Ironically, the focus of St. Mary's was the hospital. Since the hospital's name right) successfully resuscitate a patient in shifting away from babies and children and conjured up the image of Mary, the Madonna the new Frank and towards adult health care services. The new image of the logo captured St. Mary's histori- Glady Voisin Intensive Mission Statement placed particular empha- cal and religious roots. The new design was Care/Coronary Care Unit. sis in several areas, including: "To provide an all-encompassing symbolic image that Source: SMGH knowledgeable and compassionate care for could mean mother earth caring for her chil- dying patients and their families;" "To be dren, Mary caring for her child, or any innovative within the limits of our person caring fori:!l!QJ.~er.Ratchford later resources;" and "To

104 'Q()o' 5t. Mary's General Hospitl suggested to Antonello that the Dr. Eric Hentschei, logo design came to him from an Chief of Internal Medicine and Medical image he had of Sister Mary Director of ICU/ Raymond comforting his infant CCU/Respiratory while a patient at St. Mary's. Therapy is a strong advocate ofcomput- The process of redefining St erized health records Mary's Mission Statement had and the use of tech- depended upon a closer relation- nology to improve information that ship with the public, as did the assists patient care. hospital's fundraising efforts and broader renewal plans. However, by early 1986 it was apparent that there was considerable public misunderstanding about K-W Hospital.16 This situation once again the services the hospital was providing. In raised questions about St. Mary's media relations and the need to revisit the question of open Board meetings. The Board still issued media releases when it felt there was "anything of substance to report," and saw no reason to change that policy.17 Almost immediately, however, and over most of the next three years, a series of dramatic events would provide many reasons to change GENEML HOSPITAL this policy. ~ particular, there was a sharp decline in the number of babies being delivered at St. Mary's, while the baby business was GENERAL HOSPITAL booming at K-W Hospital. Many believed that rationalization had already taken place and Obstetrics and Paediatrics had moved to

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 105

CHAPTER 9

The time has come to stop The Board challenged the doctors and talking and start fighting the averted direct action against the hospital. forces that threaten to shut down Meanwhile, with the Emergency St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchene1: Department crowded during the strike, Closing the doors to this facility St. Mary's started to offer waiting patients should not be an easy or polite free coffee or juice during busy periods. "For process.Nor should it be seenas some frazzled patients, this coffee may be the a done deal. Instead, the path best one they ever had." Such hospitality was leadingfrom the excellent all the more heart-warming, according to the hospital operating now to a K- W Record, as it was offered when the mothballed pile of bricks should confrontation had reached its bitterest level. be blockedby every barrie1; rock It was a sign of civility in a sea of animosity: 1 or shard of glass the public can St. Mary's Board, however, had little choice throw in the way. but to assume a neutral position towards the doctors' cause. The Board could not afford to Editorial, The Record, jeopardize its position with the provincial September 27, 1996. government in its quest for funds for St. J ust when life at St. Mary's and the big Mary's redevelopment program. After the issues of rationalization and mission strike finally ended in July, there was an renewal seemed settled, the hospital was uncomfortable distancing between some hit by a provincial doctors' strike. doctors and the St. Mary's Board and admin- The strike was called by the Ontario Medical istration that would last for many years. Association to protest the Liberal govern- While the doctors' strike reached a ment's legislation banning extra billing. climax, another serious problem emerged It began on June 12, 1986, coinciding with that threw St. Mary's entire rationalization William Pernfuss succeeding Gordon Mackay and redevelopment plans into disarray. On as chairman of the Board of Trustees. June 23, 1986, K-W Hospital announced The strike placed increasing pressure on that it was backing out of the rationalization St. Mary's Emergency Department to handle agreement because, as its Board explained, patients whose family doctors' offices were it had never agreed to the approval of the closed. The doctors planned to target the ER rationalization proposal beyond the initial Department for a weekend in late June, but stage. This meant that K-W Hospital had hoped that an appeal to St. Mary's Board for "not given its support to St. Mary's redevel- support of their cause might ease tensions. opment and the programs that would 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 107 emigrate to St. Mary's." There had been a in order to salvage the process and work change in leadership at K-W Hospital at the towards a new and less complex agreement. end of May Gerald Cox had retired and was By December 1986, a new deal was replaced by Joseph deMora as CEO. struck that proposed Obstetrics and Formerly vice-president of operations at Gynaecology and the dialysis service be Kingston General Hospital, deMora would consolidated at K-W Hospital, while take over on August 1. In the meantime, Paediatrics and a Rheumatic Disease Unit Al Collins, the associate executive director, remain at 5t. Mary's, along with its proposed became acting executive director and he geriatric program. Despite the concerns of began a process of rethinking the rationaliza- some paediatricians who felt that separating Jim Robertson chaired the Campaign for tion agreement and the costs that were Paediatrics from Obstetrics was "ill advised,"4 St. Mary's and became involved in its implementation.2 the new agreement was formally submitted to the first Executive This surprise move by K-W Hospital was the District Health Council in the fall of Director of St. Mary's General Hospital a hard blow for St. Mary's, particularly as it 1987, where it was approved, and then Foundation which came just as confidence was building for the passed on to the ministry: In the meantime, raises funds for capital new direction the hospital was planning in according to Pemfuss, "the project has no projects and equip- acute geriatric and adult medicine. Indeed, timetable or budget and all other redevelopment. In his honour, The Robertson Clinic the Waterloo District Health Council strongly ment plans for both hospitals [were] held was opened in 1995. agreed with this approach and recommended in abeyance."5 Source; SMGH that St. Mary's receive ministry support for its development.3 Gordon Mackay suggested Pushing Forward with New Services that St. Mary's should not appear to be too Despite the holding pattern on St. Mary's flexible. "We negotiated in good faith an larger plans through 1988, a number of agreement, and if that agreement is to be projects were possible, including proceeding broken, K-W Hospital should do the break- with a modest expansion of the Emergency ing in front of the public." However, the and Physiotherapy Departments. Also pressures for rationalization remained and approved for St. Mary's by the District Health both hospitals tried to overcome suspicions Council in 1988 were a new drug and alcohol abuse program and a pioneering In June 1996, St. Mary's sexual assault treatment centre, opened nurses became the in 1989 and 1992, respectively:6 first to use handheld computers at the Fortunately, the District Health bedside to document Council was able to approve the the care they provide. Emergency expansion project before Corinne Malette- Wolter, a registered the ministry clamped down on accept- nurse, reviews her ing any new funding requests from patient's latest results. hospitals. Caught in this holding Source:SMGH pattern was provincial approval for St. Mary's geriatric care program.7 St. Mary's development of adult and geriatric care services continued on a number of levels and with support from within the hospital and non- governmental sources. For example, in January 1986 the Recreational Therapy Department developed a pet visitation progrCiLm.Designed by Mary Brubaker Zehr, the program would add some active and vibrant life to the clinical- like hospital atmosphere for patients who were in hospital for prolonged periods of time. The first two canine "visitors" in the program were Zak and Shadow, who were brought to St. Mary's Rotary Club, Jim Robertson, who had "a soft ER nurses Rita Cutajar and Joan Tarbut (left spot for St. Mary's."8 from the Humane Society once a month by to right) begin immedi- George Miehm, a volunteer who helped in Meanwhile, the renovations of the ate treatment for a the program. Emergency Department set off a chain reac- patient whose diabetic The Kitchener-Conestoga Rotary Club tion that pushed the Physiotherapy reaction brought para- medics Craig Munshaw was the key sponsor for a new "Lifeline" Department to relocate to the second floor of and Phil Dunt to her program in the Waterloo Region in 1987, the original building, which had been used aid. for which St. Mary's served as the Emergency for hospital administration. By early 1989, Source: SMGH Response Centre. The Lifeline system this move prompted the hospital's senior consisted of a small transmitter worn around administrators to relocate to the second floor the patient's neck or wrist and a device for a of the former Nursing School building. home phone that connected to the the hospi- While there was concern within the Board at tal's switchboard. When in distress at home, being located away from the hospital, the patient simply pressed a button on the Antonello felt that, despite some inconve- transmitter, a signal was received by the nience, there was no alternative but to hospital and help was dispatched. Lifeline "banish" senior management to the School. provided security for those who lived alone, Although the upgrading and rearranging and helped prevent premature institutional- of some patient services was progressing ization by assuring the elderly or disabled, through most of 1988, the ministry's delay in in particular, that help was available at the approving the rationalization package was touch of a button. St. Mary's strong interest becoming increasingly frustrating. Patient in the Lifeline program was led by St. Mary's awareness about St. Mary's services had been Director of Social Work, Cathy Brothers, improved by early 1988, particularly through along with the first vice-president of the local the distribution of new Patient Information 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 109 Kits (PIKs) to all patients. These kits locally," pressured the Board and the Sisters contained the new Mission Statement, a to invite the media to a portion of the Board quality assurance brochure, a hospital guide Meetings for a year-long trial starting in late and general information about hospital September 1988. According to the K-W procedures. The package was designed to Record, "This decision could not have come help people become more involved in their at a better time."1O health care, especially since they would no longer automatically "accept professionals Forcing the Rationalization Issne actions without understanding, asking ques- Unforeseen events once again plunged the tions or participating in their care."9 rationalization process into crisis. As had With K-W Hospital's tradition of open been the case with the longstanding tubal board meetings, any news about rationaliza- ligation question, the wild card in forcing the tion or other hospital issues tended to come rationalization issue was the obstetricians. In through K-W Hospital, with St. Mary's posi- June 1988, they unilaterally threatened to Social Worker Tracey tion usually mentioned, if at all, as a short move all elective Caesarian section deliveries Goldhar provides coun- postscript. St. Mary's Community Relations to K-W Hospital as of September 1, 1988, selling and comfort to Committee argued that "the issue here is an elderly gentleman. and to stop providing on-call obstetrical Source: SMGH public accountability," and services at St. Mary's as of January 1, 1989. based on the fact that St. Mary's Board was caught off guard and "we are in a scrambled to convince the obstetricians to competitive reconsider. Their position would jeopardize situation the rationalization proposal to the ministry The K-W Hospital Board indicated that they could not and would not accept this additional workload. By mid-July, the obstetricians raised the stakes and declared that all deliveries would be done at K-W Hospital as ofJanuary 1, 1989. They wanted to consoli- date their service and ease the demands on their time. Meanwhile, news of the obstetricians' action created confusion for patients and the growing uncertainties prompted some of St. Mary's nurses to seek employment elsewhere. The crisis eased by the end of August when the obstetricians agreed to maintain full obstetrical services at St. Mary's until April 1989, when the situation would be reassessed.ll The peace was short-lived, however. In late September 1988, the ministry once again expressed second thoughts about the rationalization plan, particularly the idea of splitting obstetrical and paediatric services between the two hospitals, which "does not make a lot of sense." As Health Minister Elinor Caplan told the K- W Record, "I've recommended that they have some further discussions and look at something that is more feasible."12Once again, St. Mary's Board wondered whether rationalization was now effectively dead. By late October, even the ever optimistic Bruce Antonello was at a loss to know what to do.

110 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital St. Mary's Hospital Board of T rustees, 1997 Back row, left to right: Dr. Satish Rangaswamy, John Sweeney, Mary D'Alton, Lloyd Wright, David Graham, Fred Kirvan, Dr. Brian Kelly, Alan Beaupre, Dr. Neil Arya, Bruce Antonello Front row, left to right: Joan McKinnon, Mary Helen Stroeder, Cathy Brothers, Sr. Teresita Mclnally, Madelaine Hailer, Sr. Beatrice Schurr. Carol Sherban, Paula DeLorenzi Source:SMGH

He wondered if St. Mary's should reconsider centres. Meanwhile, leaders at both hospitals its position. He, too, "had no recommenda- wanted to present their new rationalization tion, only questions born of an uneasiness proposal directly to the Assistant Deputy surrounding this project."13 Minister of Health, giving the ministry a two- Despite this setback, both hospitals week deadline to reply. regrouped in November and decided to Uncharacteristically, the ministry met the approach a new round of negotiations on a deadline, but the news was not good. The less ambitious, or "unenhanced basis." latest proposal was rejected, further compli- Nevertheless, there was a concern within cating the looming crisis with the obstetri- St. Marys Board "that we might appear a wee cians. St. Marys realized that it could not bit foolish to the community, in having taken force the doctors to stay on staff and by the four or five years to come up with the conclu- end of April had "no choice but to advise the sion that an enhanced version of rationaliza- Minister of Health and the public that, as of tion is unacceptable to the government." Brian July 1, 1989, we no longer provide obstet- Dr. Victoria Ho, Ruby, St. Mary's recently appointed Board respirologist, (right) rics." The implications of this key decision discusses a patient's Chairman, reminded Board members that were complex, but rather than being reactive progress with critical "Governments and bureaucracies change as to the events, the Board decided to be care RN Judy Zehr. Source:SMGH do the financial resources available to them. Our new plan is a realization and acceptance of these current and future realities."14 By March 1989, growing impatience with the stalled rationalization process as well as several retirements scheduled for July 1, 1989, led St. Mary's obstetricians once again to take matters into their own hands. They informed their patients that as of April 1, 1989, they would no longer be on call at St. Mary's, and that as of July 1, 1989, the remaining eight or nine would together submit letters of resignation to St. Mary's Board. With such declining numbers, the doctors were concerned that they would not be in a position to offer safe care to their patients if they had to cover two obstetrical

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 111 proactive and "be in a position to determine most to gain in securing a dynamic future for our own future."15 itself. It was also a process that K-W Hospital On May 2, 1989 however, K-W Hospital seemed less enthusiastic about. Patience and presented its final rationalization proposal a strengthening sense of its mission and before the District Health Council. It was identity, and confidence in its ability to centred on two main options: consolidating make some difficult changes, allowed Obstetrics at K-W Hospital and Paediatrics at St. Mary's to stick with this long rationaliza- St. Mary's, or moving Obstetrics, Paediatrics tion process for its own and the community's and Gynaecology to K-W Hospital, with two best interests. additional medicaV surgical programs added to St. Mary's, in addition to a C.A. T. scanner. End of an Era This proposal was unacceptable to St. Mary's, Now began the difficult task of implementing as it was too vague in defining the services this agreement before the obstetricians' July St. Mary's would gain and too limited in their 1, 1989 deadline. In the immediate aftermath number. A more specific counter-proposal of the agreement, a major issue between the was presented the next day. To offset K-W two hospitals was finding a way to ensure Hospital taking on all Obstetrics and that St. Mary's obstetric and paediatric nurs- Paediatrics, St. Mary's would provide ing staff would be able to move to K-W Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, General, Hospital and not lose their seniority Based Urology, Vascular and Plastic Surgery, along on a 1985 agreement between the Ontario with Rheumatology, Endocrinology and other Nurses Association and the two hospitals, it acute care medical and geriatric services. had seemed that the ONA would guarantee St. Mary's would also buy a C.A. T. scanner as such successor rights. The problem was that soon as possible, as plans for developing its St. Mary's nurses were members of the ONA new surgical niche depended upon such union, while those at K-W Hospital were not technology: unionized. K-W Hospital, which had recently On May 15, Health Minister Caplan gave reduced nursing staff hours, was not willing formal approval to the to let St. Mary's nurses retain their ONA proposal, finally ending the long and thorny political process of hospital rationalization in the Twin Cities. It was a process, however, in which St. Mary's had the most to lose and also, perhaps, the

Physiotherapist Sue More!! works with a heart patient on state-of-the-art exercise equipment. Source: SMGH

112 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital Physiotherapist Marcia O'Connor supervises a patient's exercise program in Canada's first Arjo hydrother- apy pool, which opened in June 1995. Source: SMGH

membership and seniority at K-W Hospital. years, All th~ 130,000 people born at Only after a long legal battle was the issue St. Mary's over those years were invited to a finally settled in St. Mary's favour. Most of special celebration to say farewell to one the affected nursing staff took advantage of a service, and at the same time to welcome retraining program offered by St. Mary's in an St. Mary's new adult care role and the oppor- effort to minimize any staff displacement. 16 tunities that it offered for the future. Walter The timing of the plan was critical. By Schnitzler, the first baby born at St. Mary's early June it was agreed that all babies would on November 3,1924, returned from be delivered at K- W Hospital as of July 1, Toronto to attend the ceremonies. In a fitting 1989, except for elective Caesarian sections, symbol of the St. Mary's obstetric story, which would continue at St. Mary's until Walter held one of the last babies born at August 26. On August 1, 1989, all in-patient St. Mary's. A similarly emotional celebration paediatric services would be consolidated at took place on August 1, when St. Mary's K-W Hospital. Meeting such deadlines Paediatrics Department officially closed. required a summer of herculean efforts at A "Grand Finale Carnival" on St. Mary's lawn St. Mary's to plan and complete a long list of was held that day, to which all former dramatic rearrangements and renovations patients and their families were invited.17 throughout the hospital. In particular, delivery suites were converted into operating Renewal and Uncertainty rooms, the maternity floor changed into a The rationalization agreement of May 1989 surgical ward and the paediatric floor was unleashed a decade of accelerating confi- transformed into an adult care unit. dence and renewal at St. Mary's. The key to Perhaps the most difficult part of such a ensuring St. Mary's future after rationalization period of major change was simply facing its was the relaunching of the hospital's finality. At St. Mary's, there were two merrio- fundraising "Campaign for St. Mary's" on rable, though bittersweet, occasions during September 28, 1989 under the chairmanship the summer of 1989 when emotions welled of Jim Robertson. Within two months, some up and everyone had to say goodbye. The $3.7 million, or 46 per cent of its $8 million first took place on June 29, when the goal had been raised. Of this amount, close Obstetrics Department closed after sixty-five to $160,000 had been donated by the St. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 113 Dr. Julianne Klein, a St. Mary's family, and $600,000 had been witnessed the laying of St. Mary's original pathologist in the new 9th floor laboratory, pledged by the newly established St. Mary's cornerstone in 1923.19 Of the five hundred performs a microscopic Volunteer Association. 18 volunteers working at St. Mary's in 1998, examination of a surgi- The St. Mary's Volunteer Association was perhaps most symbolic of their service and cal specimen. Source: SMGH formed in September 1989 through the dedication is the story of Ann Hepditch, amalgamation of the longstanding Auxiliary likely the first of many friendly faces visitors with the Volunteer Resources Department, see when they walk into St. Mary's front which had been established in 1984. The lobby Annie first volunteered at St. Mary's in Volunteer Association was spearheaded by 1986, shortly after her husband died and she Madeline Haller, who had been president of moved from Newfoundland. Her children the Auxiliary, and Marlene Greulich, Director had already relocated in the Kitchener area of Volunteer Resources. Madeline Haller had and her grandchildren were born at been a member of the Auxiliary for more St. Mary's. After the birth of twin grandsons than twenty years, and her leadership was of in 1986, Annie's granddaughter, ER nurse particular value to the new association. Rebeccajesso, suggested she volunteer. Since One of the new association's most impor- then, Annie has been at St. Mary's ten hours tant ventures was the opening of a greatly a day, four or five days a week. In july 1998, expanded gift shop, the proceeds of which Ann Hepditch was recognized with the would make up most of the Association's Governor General's Caring Canadians Award. $600,000 commitment to the campaign. This award was established in 1996 by On hand for the official opening on October Governor General Romeo LeBlanc to focus 11, 1989, were three long-time volunteers, attention on "hidden helpers" like Ann, who jessie Reidel, joanna (Mickey) Heric and her ask for nothing, but whose compassion and sister, Loretta Killion. They were also known charity were part of the Canadian character.2o as the "cornerstone girls" since they had made the long trek up a dirt road to an open Building a Centre of Excellence field when they were teenagers and After the uncertainty that followed rational- 114 ~ 5t. Marys GeneralHospital ization, and the reluctance on the part of four Sisters living and working at the hospital K-W Hospital to allow St. Mary's to assume left their ninth-floor quarters to make way for our increased share of surgical services, a the hospital's expanded Laboratory Services. renewed creative energy was emerging at Sister Caroline Strauss, who had lived at St. Mary's. One new service offered by St. St. Mary's for twenty-four years, moved in Mary's was a Regional Rheumatology Unit. with several other Sisters near the hospital. It opened in October 1990 and was the first The other three Sisters moved to the service in Waterloo Region designed to assist Motherhouse. Sister St. Thomas Warren had people with arthritis and other rheumatic been at St. Mary's since 1969, while Sister diseases to cope better with their condition. Jeanette Sebo was involved in Pastoral Care. Another important innovation of this period Sister Roberta McKenna was all OR supervi- was a new short -stay surgical program that sor at St. Mary's between 1950 and 1976 and was supported by new pre-operative clinics. "knew every crack in the floor." She had On a broader level, a new cooperative continued to serve St. Mary's patients and staff educational partnership was established after her retirement and brought the warmth between St. Mary's and Forest Heights of her personality to her role as a public rela- Collegiate Institute in 1991. The students tions volunteer.22 worked in medical areas of St. Mary's and The opening of the ninth floor began a also received placements in such areas as series of other relocations and renovations at administration, housekeeping, grounds main- St. Mary's, beginning with the opening of the tenance and in the kitchen. In August I991, new Laboratory in November 1993. This St. Mary's was also one of the first hospitals project was followed by a major expansion of Post Anaesthetic Care Unit nurses Mary Nash to offer a new opportunity for a staff member the Physiotherapy Department, which opened and Marilyn Zanatta to assume a full voting membership position in September 1994, and a significantly (left to right) carefully on its Board of Trustees. This pioneering modernized Emergency Department, monitor patients recovering from move was part of a larger initiative under- completed in December 1994. In October surgery. taken by the five institutions owned by the 1994, St. Marys opened a new Morgue and Source: SMGH Hamilton Sisters. The first staff member to Autopsy Suite, which was named the join the St. Mary's Board was Janet Marshall, Dr. Walter J. Armstrong Suite in a social worker in the Department of Community Services, who had joined St. Mary's in 1987.2! In the midst of this growing activity; St. Mary's also marked a significant passing of an era. In August 1992, the last

5t. Mary's General Hospital "Q4Io'115 Frank and Glady Voisin efficient and cost-effective system for manag- in the Intensive Care/ Coronary Care ing surgical scheduling through differentiating Unit named in their day, short-stay and long-stay surgery honour. A Wellness Centre was established to provide Source: SMGH specialized interdisciplinary rehabilitation services designed to prevent injury and retum injured workers to their job site. On a more personal level, providing for the caffeine and sweet tooth needs of St. Mary's staff and patients was another important part of St. Mary's renewal plans. This was realized when a Tim Horton's franchise opened in September 1994. Operated by St. Mary's own Nutrition and Food Services staff, the "Timmy's" evolved into a central gathering place and an integral part of St. Mary's social culture. By 1996, a new round of construction and renovation activity began at St. Mary's honour of Dr. Annstrong's long service as with the building of one of the most sophisti- St. Mary's Chief Pathologist between 1948 and cated Intensive Care/ Coronary Care Units in 1974. After his retirement from St. Mary's, North America. The limits of the original unit Dr. Annstrong had served as coroner for had been apparent almost since the day it Waterloo Region, a position that brought him opened in 1963, and trying to find sufficient closer to his life-long passion for police work. space and funding for an upgraded unit had While coroner, he became "a cop's best been a major challenge since 1983. Approval friend," regularly walking the beat with young for the project was given in the fall of 1995, officers and showing up at crime scenes ready and its $3 million cost was financed to help with investigations. Dr. Annstrong completely by local sources. Among the major died on October 10, 1993 supporters of the project were the children of Another new service opened in the space Frank and Glady Voisin. Frank Voisin had once occupied by the Laboratory The St. served on the St. Mary's Board for many years, Mary's Outpatient and Ambulatory Clinic for including a term as chairman between 1976 Orthopaedics and Plastics is designed to care and 1978. He was president of Voisin for patients with fractures and other physical Developments Ltd. of Kitchener and was well injuries. In February 1995, the facility was known for the building projects that he christened The Robertson Clinic, in honour completed in the Twin Cities, including of Jim Robertson, who had played such a key several churches, as well as the transformation role in launching St. Mary's Lifeline project of a four-bedroom house near the hospital and leading the Campaign for St. Mary's. into a twelve bedroom residence for several of St. Mary's redevelopment program was St. Mary's Sisters in 1977. Frank Voisin was a about more than opening new patient devout Catholic who enjoyed making things services; it was also about pioneering new happen, particularly for St. Mary's. In honour surgical techniques in the Waterloo Region, of their fiftieth wedding anniversary, the such as laproscopy This procedure involved Voisins' many contributions to St. Mary's were conducting delicate operations guided by a recognized in June 1997 when the Frank and flexible electronic microscope inserted into Glady Voisin Intensive Care/ Coronary Care the body through a small port hole and Unit was officially opened.23 inserting specialized instruments through two Interdisciplinary teamwork, particularly or three additional port holes. Major incisions between nurses and doctors, as well as phys- and their associated trauma and complica- iotherapists, social workers, pastoral care- tions were thus eliminated for many surgical givers and the families of the patient, upon procedures. St. Mary's also developed a highly whom everyone's efforts were focused, was 116 ~ 5t. Mary:SGeneral Hospital the key to much of the successesat Save Our Hospital! St. Mary's. This was a very different world for Despite such successful services and staff nurses who had trained and worked at teamwork, by 1996 large economic and St. Mary's fifty years earlier. When members political forces in Ontario were generating of the Class of 1946 toured St. Mary's on the growing uncertainties about the future of fiftieth anniversary of their graduation, the St. Mary's. These concerns began with the most striking difference they noticed was the arrival of a new Progressive Conservative new technology and the changing practice of provincial government in June 1995. In their nursing. Patricia Miller recalled that first budget the government announced that "We cleaned the rooms, we served the food, provincial funding to hospitals would be cut we sterilized the linen, we did it all." Her by 18 per cent over the next three years as classmate, Elsie Cressman, added that "If a part of a deficit and tax reduction plan. physician came into the room, we stood up." When inflation, wage and other expense For Meg Slater, who had graduated in 1959, increases were factored in, an 18 per cent cut her 19505 training had been focused on actually meant a decrease of about 25 per following procedures and orders in a cent. Antonello felt that St. Mary's could starched uniform and she witnessed how absorb the first year of such a reduction, but nursing became more scientific and interven- was increasingly uncertain about managing tionist through the 19605 and focused on the second and third years.25As a key part of fixing the sick patient. The shift towards enforcing this reduced funding plan for patient participation in their own care during hospitals, and also to allow for a province- the 19705 and 19805 facilitated the growing wide examination of the entire health care responsibilities of nurses as teachers, coordi- system, a new arms-Iength body was estab- nators and team players. By the 19905, such lished by the government in April 1996 teamwork was particularly important in the known as the Health Services Restructuring technology-intensive areas of Emergency and Commission. This commission was given a Nurses from the classes of 1951and 1952 ICU/CCU, as well as in the more emotion- four-year mandate to restructure hospitals reunite on the steps of ally-intensive services provided by St. Mary's across the province, and to make recommen- the former Nurses' new palliative care unit, the St. joseph's dations to the Ministry of Health on restruc- Residence. now St. Mary's Quality of Life Centre, which opened in turing and enhancing other elements of the Administration Building. October 1997.24 health care system. Source: SMGH

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 117 District Health Council alone. There was little direct input from the hospitals themselves other than a thirty-day period for preparing and submitting an appeal after the commission reported its recommendations. During the summer of 1996, Antonello, along with St. Mary's Board chair, David Graham, and their counterparts from K-W Hospital, met to prepare for the commission's expected visit in the fall of 1997. David Graham had assumed the chair of St. Mary's Board of Trustees in June 1995. He was a well-respected chartered accountant with strong community commitments, an important asset that helped him during the turbulent times St. Mary's would experience while RN Valerie James, urol- The commission began its work in June he chaired the Board. At their meeting, the ogist Dr. Blair Egerdie 1996 by recommending the closure or merg- hospital leaders considered the kind of diffi- and RN Kathy ing of hospitals in Thunder Bay and Sudbury cult questions that the commission would Mac Isaac (left to right) prepare for one of the Through the summer of 1996 there were surely ask. Questions such as could an acute first laser surgery rising public fears that many more hospitals care hospital in the region be closed? cases. would close or otherwise face substantial Cambridge Memorial Hospital's closure was Source: SMGH restructuring. From the perspective of the unlikely, as it was largely self-contained to Region of Waterloo, the concern was that the serve the Cambridge area. The commission's commission might decide to restructure focus would very likely be on St. Mary's and hospital services based on a one-day visit and K-W Hospital. The latter, now known as the the recommendations of the Waterloo K-W Health Centre, had merged with Freeport in 1995 to

St. Mary's Emergency was the first in Waterloo Region to 'triage" patients. The system ensures that the most seriously ill patients are assessed and treated first. RN Rita Morriss takes a patient's temperature. pulse, and oxygen saturation while para- medic Gavin Scott gives a patient report. Source: SMGH

118 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital

~ form the Grand River Hospital Corporation. coverage highlighted the shock and disbelief Could St. Mary's take on all the acute care within the community, and among the services that K-W Health Centre provided? medical profession, local politicians and This would be clearly impossible within the particularly leading supporters of St. Mary's, St. Mary's Queen's Boulevard site. However, who had no inkling that the future of St. it was less clear whether the K-W Health Mary's was in such doubt. Jim Robertson Centre could absorb all the services provided suspected something was up, perhaps more by St. Mary's. In order to better serve the bed closures, but was stunned by the news of health care needs of the Twin Cities, the hard a possible closure, especially after the $9 and explosive question for St. Mary's was: in million he had helped raised for the hospital. the face of looming and drastic funding cuts, He also had a personal attachment to St. would it be more logical for the Kitchener- Mary's. Fifteen years earlier while in France Waterloo community to close St. Mary's and his appendix had ruptured and he was focus all available health care resources at the rushed home and then to St. Mary's where K-W Health Centre? If yes, could a Catholic the doctors had saved his life. health care presence remain in the Twin Much of the intensity of The Records Cities by having the Freeport Hospital coverage of the story reflected the strong ER clerk Anne Wein governed and operated by the St. Joseph public support for St. Mary's across the Twin takes a patient Health Care System? Cities. The newspaper had close links to St. report from the Central Ambulance Rather than waiting for the commission Mary's that stretched back to 1927 when its Communication Centre to ask this question and then rushing to former publisher, WJ. Motz, became the first via the ambulance respond, the boards of St. Mary's and Grand chair of St. Mary's Advisory Board. In 1996, phone. River decided "to do their homework" and Jackie Hayes, a popular columnist in The launch a feasibility task force to explore their Record, had served as president of St. options, using the same methods and Mary's Voluntary Association and was assumptions as the commission. The task married to the Record'sformer force's study could then be submitted to the managing editor, while her late commission for deciding the fate of Waterloo brother, Bob Cardy, had Region's hospitals. This was the plan. a key role in expanding and However, the boards were completely unpre- modernizing the hospital pared for the tidal wave of public opinion during the 1960s.27 that hit them on September 20, 1996 when During the first week the news of the hospitals' initial plan was of the crisis, The translated into bold headlines that shouted Records editorial "St. Mary's may close."26 board stressed The preliminary analysis suggested that that it was St. Mary's could close its site, transfer its time "to surgical and emergency services to the K-W stop Health Centre, and then take over operations of the Freeport Health Centre and focus its new mission on long-term geriatric, palliative and rehabilitation services at the Freeport site. It was estimated that such a plan would save about $18 million annually The details of the plan and its motivation, and the fact that the feasibility study could recommend that St. Mary's would stay open, were not what the media or the community focused on over the next year. What preoccupied most people was the dramatic idea that St. Mary's might close. The story quickly dominated the local media, especially the pages of The Record. Its

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 119 Her Honour, the campaign, more than 50,000 signatures Lieutenant Governor were delivered to Toronto.29 Hilary Weston (right) congratulates Ann The Conservative MPp' Wayne Hepolitch after the Wettlaufer, who represented the Kitchener St. Mary's volunteer riding that included St. Mary's, was the focus was honoured with the Governor General's of much of the political pressure generated Caring Canadian Award by groups fighting to save St. Mary's. While at a ceremony at he was quite sympathetic and had his own Queen's Park in Toronto. personal attachment to St. Mary's-where his Source:SMGH life was saved after an asthma attack-he found himself in a difficult position trying to defend both St. Mary's and the government's controversial health policy. While he expressed his concerns about St. Marys future to the Minister of Health, Jim Wilson, and later to Waterloo North MPP Elizabeth talking and start fighting the forces that Witmer when she became minister, their threaten to shut down St. Mary's. ...Closing response was to redirect such concerns away the doors to this facility should not be an from Queen's Park. St. Mary's supporters easy or polite process. Nor should it be seen were told instead to lobby the District Health as a done deal." Indeed, the editorial Council, which would make recommenda- suggested that "the path leading from the tions to the commission, as well as the excellent hospital operating now to a moth- federal government, whose health funding balled pile of bricks should be blocked by cutbacks to the provinces were blamed for every barrier, rock or shard of glass the ultimately creating this situation.3° public can throw in the way:"28 The debate quickly centred around the When Anne Wein, a St. Mary's ER clerk, issue of a community's strong emotional and heard the news, her first thought was that personal ties to St. Mary's that had been built there was no way that they could close since 1924, versus viewing the hospital as St. Marys. Her second thought was that simply bricks and mortar that could easily be somebody had to stop this from happening, closed in the name of saving money and and that person might just as well be Anne improving the region's health care system. Wein. So Anne, together with Nancy Anne Wein had objected strongly to the Kennedy, a friend and co-worker, organized a "bricks and mortar" argument, which was group they simply called, "Save Our made by the chair of the Waterloo Region Hospital." The group set up a Michael Chow, chaplain temporary small office in for St. Mary's General Hospital, takes a break Emergency before moving to a from his pastoral downtown headquarters. They duties. began to rally the community Source: SMGH members who cared about St. Mary's. They organized rallies, candlelight vigils, lawn signs, calls to a special hotline at the hospital, a Christmas parade float and applied direct political pressure through personal appeals to the three local Conservative MPPs and the Minister of Health. They collected signatures for a massive petition to Queen's Park. In the first ten days of 120 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital thoughts about the Kitchener City potential closing of Hall St. Mary's. The Opened in September, 1993, Kitchener's assumption was award-winning City that the St. Mary's Hall and administrative community would complex is a striking statement of urban be defined by the renewal in Kitchener's neighbourhood central business around the hospi- district. It is the venue for many community tal, or by the City events, including of Kitchener or the St. Mary's Festival of Waterloo Region, Lights, which every or by the Roman year draws the community to Catholics of the celebrate together in region, or by the preparation for older people who Christmas. Source: Steven Ward since 1989 had photography become its primary patients. He discovered that these assumptions were inaccurate. While most responses were from Kitchener, there were many from Waterloo, Cambridge, Elmira, Plattsville and Bright. Many specifically noted that they were not Roman Catholic, District Health Council, Veronica Kerr. The while others were from older people whose Save Our Hospital newsletter was named children had been born at St. Mary's, or "Bricks & Mortar" to symbolize the whose spouses had died there. There were campaign. Kerr held out little hope for St. other responses, "from younger people who Mary's and had suggested in October that "If had needed help and understanding and this community only campaigns for brick found it at St. Mary's."32 and mortar and says 'we don't want a hospi- In October, the board of the Cambridge tal closed,' it is missing an opportunity to Memorial Hospital asked to be included in push for real health care needs." The St. the feasibility study, which developed three Mary's debate moved to underscore how models for review. Model A suggested that all "seriously underfunded" Waterloo Region's three acute hospitals remain open; Model B health sector was compared to other centres pointed towards consolidating all acute care such as Toronto, as well as the broader politi- for Kitchener-Waterloo at the K-W Health cal dilemmas that all governments faced Centre, with St. Mary's and the Sisters of during the 1990s in managing growing St. Joseph taking over the operations of health care demands with shrinking Freeport, and with Cambridge remaining budgets. 31 unchanged; Model C was the same as Model The debate also redefined the St. Mary's B, but with Cambridge expanding its acute community Bill Bean, assistant news editor care mandate to serve patients from south of the Record, asked people to send him their of Kitchener.

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 121 The Honourable including suggesting Elizabeth Witmer, that St. Mary's assume Waterloo North MPP and Ontario's Minister full responsibility for of Health, speaks with mental health services, reporters about as well as outpatient St. Mary's future on December 7, 1998. care, day surgery, detox Source:SMGH and addiction services.35 To many, St. Mary's was suddenly off the critical list and its future bright- ened. The pressures on the hospitals' budgets were also eased when the province postponed the planned third year of hospital funding In February 1997, this initial turbulent cutS.36Thus, by the time the Restructuring period came to a close after some inoppor- Commission arrived in December, the hospi- tune comments from the Grand River tals and the District Health Council, which Hospital leadership. With Grand River facing had revised its recommendations in light of a mounting deficit and a series of layoffs, it the hospitals' feasibility task force report, was suggested that "part of the solution (to both recommended that St. Mary's continue Grand River's budget problems) might be the to serve the community.37 closure of a hospital." To Antonello, such a St. Mary's was left in a state of suspense comment was "upsetting and inappropriate," while it waited for the inevitable day that the and had the effect of bringing closer together commission returned to the Twin Cities with the Save Our Hospital campaign with the its verdict on the future of health care in the St. Mary's leadership. It was now "loud and Waterloo Region. There was very little anyone clear" that St. Mary's "should not, and would could do to change the situation while they not, be closed to cover another hospital's listened to disturbing reports of the growing deficit."33 Until these "inappropriate list of hospitals that the commission was comments," the St. Mary's Board had kept its ordering to close around the province. It was focus on the larger picture of trying to deter- not until May 14, 1998 that the commission mine objectively what would be best for the released its recommendations. It was good whole community and not just for St. Mary's. news for St. Mary's. The commission said that During the spring of 1997, the focus of "St. Mary's will continue in its role of provid- the debate shifted to the studies that were ing acute care services and its services will be underway by the hospitals and the District expanded to include rehabilitation and sub- Health Council. The report of the hospitals' acute care." The other hospitals of the feasibility task force, delivered in May, Waterloo Region received similar good news, emphasized that closing St. Mary's would not including Grand River, which was to be the save as much money as originally estimated, new home for a full-service regional cancer while upgrading Grand River to accommo- centre. The commission did not make any date all of St. Mary's acute care services recommendations to change the governance would cost a great deal more. It was esti- of the region's hospitals, except to suggest the mated that it would require $100 million in establishment of a joint executive committee capital improvements to save between $2.4 between Grand River, Cambridge Memorial and $4 million in annual operating expenses, and St. Mary's General Hospital. leaving the clear conclusion that Model A should be supported by the hospitals' In Good Hands boards.34 The council's report, also released As a vital part of the St. joseph's Health Care in May, focused on improving and rearrang- System, St. Mary's survived this period of ing services among the three hospitals, revolutionary change and intense uncertainty 122 ~ 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital because of its unique strength as both a divided from the old, allowing the Sisters, Catholic and a local community hospital that administration, doctors, nurses and staff to had historically depended on support from stay physically and spiritually close to one and that had conscientiously served the another in their common patient care entire community. The Save Our Hospital mission. Indeed, for its past and present campaign merely tapped into the same family, St. Mary's has remained one of the diverse Twin Cities community as Colonel greatest places to work. Spiritually nourished Heasley had in 1959 to expand the hospital, by the Sisters of St. joseph, and challenged or as the Ladies' Auxiliary had done during by a dynamic relationship with the the Rose Day campaigns of the 1930s, and Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital, St. Mary's has Father Zinger did over seventy-five years ago also grown into a strongly independent insti- when he set out to get St. Mary's Hospital tution, firmly rooted in the Waterloo Region built. and guided by a dedicated and highly St. Mary's strengths and its identity have competent local Board since 1927. also been shaped by the limits and opportu- At its heart, the St. Mary's General nities of evolving a concentrated hospital Hospital story has been about people caring within the circle of care that wrapped around for people. The many changes and opportu- Queen's Boulevard. The St. Mary's family has nities that this vital institution has encoun- shared the same home since 1924, a home tered have both challenged and reinforced that tripled in size in 1962, but unlike so this central mission. With a caring mission at many other hospitals, the new was not its heart, the future of St. Mary's is assured.~

The provincial government announced in January, 1999 that St. Mary's General Hospital would become the regional Cardiac Care Centre. Celebrating the future of the hospital are (left to right) Gerry Barr, Vice President, Finance and Administration; Scott Hebert, Director; Patient Services and Communications; Sue Krantz, Manager of the hospita/'s Tim Hortons (and maker of the heart neckties and scarves); Danielle Swerhone, Assistant Vice President, Patient Services; Bruce Antonello, President and CEO; Moira Taylor, Vice President, Corporate and Paramedical Service; Marie Askin, Vice President of Patient Services; Rob Donelson, Foundation Executive Director.

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 123 " T here is a time for everything. .." says provide cardiac services to our community the author of Ecclesiastes 3:1, and for and region. An expert panel from teaching St. Mary's, our time is clearly now. centres and other cardiac programs visited to After two years of considerable uncer- assessthe proposals of both Kitchener hospi- tainty about our future, May 14, 1998 tals. They were impressed with our plans and marked a time for good news from the recommended to the District Health Council Health Services Restructuring Commission. that the regional cardiac care centre be sited On that memorable day, a panel of three at St. Mary's General Hospital. experts confirmed St. Mary's General This recommendation was unanimously Hospital's continued role to serve the health approved by the District Health Council and Antonello care needs of Waterloo Region. It is a day on Friday, February 19, 1999, the Minister of that many of us will never forget. Health accepted the Health Council's recom- But the good news didn't stop there. mendation. In December 1998, The Honourable I am so proud of the commitment and Elizabeth Witmer, MPP for Waterloo North, caring of the St. Mary's team that was so and Minister of Health announced that a full- clearly evident to the expert panel. It is the service cardiac care centre would be same commitment that is demonstrated every approved for Kitchener to serve Waterloo day in our care of patients and families, and Region, Wellington, Dufferin and beyond. in the respect we show to one another. This announcement followed similar news It is an honour to serve as President of that a regional cancer centre and a magnetic such a warm and caring place. Thank you for resonance imaging unit (MRI) would be built all you do to support our mission and for at the neighbouring Grand River Hospital. your continued belief in the dream of the A team of St. Mary's physicians, staff and Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton that began board members collectively developed and 75 years ago and continues to inspire an submitted a comprehensive proposal to entire community today.

With my best wishes, Bruce M. Antonello President & Chief Executive Officer

5t. Mary:S General Hospital 'Q(Io' 125 D uring my tenure as Chair of St. Christopher Rutty, was hired in June 1997. A Mary's General Hospital's Board of Publications Committee guided and directed Trustees, I was honoured to serve at this project throughout its journey toward a number of ceremonies to celebrate the publication. Working with author hospital's seventieth anniversary in 1994. I Christopher Rutty were: Bruce Antonello, met with many people on those occasions Elaine Baldwin, Cathy Brothers, Theresa who were present when the hospital opened Franks, David Graham, Scott Hebert, Rita its doors in 1924. It became evident to me Mroz, Carol Sherban, Dr. Thomas Shoniker, that time was right to chronicle the history of and Sister Caroline Strauss. Professors St. Mary's to mark its 75th anniversary on McLaughlin and Hayes continued to serve on October 21, 1999. ttIis committee. They brought to the discus- In june 1995, the Board of Trustees sions their knowledge of St. Mary's General established the 75th Anniversary Committee Hospital and of the unique history of this which I was asked to Chair. Our mandate community as well as their experience as was to research, write and produce a history authors of several other books. The commit - book about St. Mary's General Hospital and tee members' insights ensured that this book to coordinate the special events to help cele- would capture the history and spirit of St. brate the hospital's diamond anniversary Mary's over the past seventy-five years. I The Anniversary Committee sought the would like to express my sincere thanks to expert assistance of Professors Kenneth all of them. McLaughlin and Geoffrey Hayes, professors Professors McLaughlin and Hayes sepa- from the University of Waterloo's Public rately researched, selected and identified History Program. From 1995 to 1996, five many of the photographs in the book as well graduate students, under the direction of as writing a series of interpretive captions for Geoffrey Hayes, conducted a thorough the book illustrations. They brought impor- archival review. From their initial research we tant new ideas to the design of the book and concluded that a history of St. Mary's General their commitment has been exception and Hospital would recognize its anniversary their input invaluable. They served, along while making a significant contribution to with Bruce Antonello, Elaine Baldwin, Scott the understanding of our community and of Hebert and myself, as proof readers and final the development of health care in the editors. I am also grateful to Professor province of Ontario. McLaughlin for providing a very engaging After the feasibility study was completed, and personal Foreword for our book. a Toronto-based researcher and historian, Elaine Baldwin and Scott Hebert deserve 5t. Mary'sGeneral Hospital ~ 127 special mention for giving so much of them- Nursing. Their financial support has been selves: their energy, their expertise and their gratifying and most appreciated. personal time in order that this book might Finally, I say thank you on behalf of meet the publication standards set by the everyone who has been touched by the committee. Their patience, editorial caring of this fine hospital. We are indebted comments and suggestions were appreciated. to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton for I am especially grateful to the sponsors their founding vision. St. Mary's has earned whose generous support made the produc- respect and support of individuals through- tion of this book possible. They include the out this community You have helped to Sisters of St. Joseph of Hamilton, the Bishop ensure that the mission, vision, caring and of the Dioceses of Hamilton, the concern for patients which began in 1924 Congregation of the Resurrection, Waterloo continues to this day Each one of you has Region Catholic Community Foundation, St. helped to make St. Mary's special. Mary's General Hospital Volunteer Association, the Mersynergy Charitable Foundation, First Echo Community Fund, as well as many individuals and nursing gradu- Frederick T Kirvan, Q.C. ating classes from St. Mary's School of Chait; 75th Anniversary Committee

128 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital T he story of St. Marys General Hospital has A miscellaneous collection of primary documents, been assembled from a variety of primary and including administrative and other correspondence, secondary sources. The most important are also collected in the hospital's archives. Originals sources are the St. Marys General Hospital Archives of these documents date mostly from the 19505 (SMGHA) in Kitchener, the Sisters of St. joseph's through 19705, while earlier items are photocopies Archives in Hamilton (SSjA) and the Archives of from originals kept in the Sisters'Archives. A number Ontario (AO) in Toronto. of important published sources have been collected in St. Mary's Archives are under the control of the St. Marys Archives, the most useful of which are a Medical Librarian, Elaine Baldwin. They have been collection of the hospital's newsletters, The Bells of well catalogued and are housed in the basement of St. Marys, published between 1961 and 1965, and the hospital, except for Board minutes and related Suture Line, which has appeared regularly since late documents that have been collected in binders and 1973. Finally, the hospital's archives contain the kept in a closet in the administrative building. hospital's annual reports from 1974 to the present Among the more important materials in the and the yearbooks of the School of Nursing, known St. Mary's Archives for this book are the records of as Impendam, published between 1957 and 1974. the St. Mary's Advisory Board and its successor after There is also a collection of miscellaneous correspon- 1971, the Board of Trustees and its various commit- dence and other documents and artifacts related to tees. The hospital's archives contain meeting minutes the School of Nursing and its history and related documents from about 1963 to the The best source to tell the early history of present, while the Sisters of St. joseph's Archives St. Mary's Hospital is the Sisters of St. joseph's contain Advisory Board minutes between 1927 and Archives at the Motherhouse in Hamilton. Also 1963. Another key source in the St. Mary's Archives collected there are original documents related to is an extensive collection of newspaper clippings, various St. Mary's fundraising campaigns during the mostly from the Kitchener-Waterloo Record. Most 19305 and 19405 and the expansion project during are originals from the 1950s to the present, while 1959 to 1962. Also of importance are several files of earlier clippings are photocopies from originals or original business correspondence of the hospital, microfilm. The name of the K-W Record has particularly during the 19205 and 19305, early changed several times during the past seventy-five account and subscription books, and original years. From 1904-1916 the paper was known as the invoices and receipts from the hospitals suppliers Berlin News Record, then the Daily Record or during 1924-25. Perhaps the most valuable collec- Kitchener Daily Record until 1947 when it was tion in the Sisters' Archives is a series of original renamed the Kitchener-Waterloo Record. 1n 1994, correspondence between Father Albert Zinger and the newspaper became simply The Record, a name the Mother Superiors of the Sisters between 1919 that it has retained to date. The meeting minutes and and 1925. Father Zinger's letters dramatically chroni- a scrapbook of the Ladies' Auxiliarys activities are cle the story of the origins of St. Mary's Hospital also kept in the hospital's archives, along with better than any other source. Other important Patient Registers dating back to the opening dar primary sources housed in the Sisters' Archives Of particular value to this project is a one-of-a- include biographical files on most of the Sisters who kind historical chronicle about St. Mary's known as served at St. Mary's, several files of original records the "Record of Permanence," assembled by Bob of the School of Nursing, and an impressive two- Cardy, St. Marys administrative assistant during the volume scrapbook of the School prepared in 1974, 1960s. After Bob Cardy's death in 1969 this chroni- which contains clippings, as well as photos of each cle was continued by others until the early 1980s. graduating class.

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 129 A third essential primary resource for telling the Group of nursing students, Class of 1947 (May 29, St. Mary's story, and of particular importance for 1997) providing the provincial government's perspective, is Group of nursing students, Class of 1951-52 (May the Archives of Ontario in Toronto. Collected on 29, 1997) microfilm is a large volume of official correspon- Group of nursing students, Class of 1962 (August 6, dence and other documents between St. Mary's 1997) administration and the Ontario Ministry of Health Margaret Heuther (Holle), Anita Patrinka (Kane) and and/or the Ontario Hospital Services Commission. Beula Palowski (Lewiski), nursing students While there are also original documents related to from Class of 1947 (March 26, 1998) St. Marys in a variety of files in the Ministry of Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, anaesthetist, 1946-84 Health government record group (RG10), the most (April7,1998) important documents are in the microfilmed central Dr. ThomasJ. Shoniker, pathologist, 1962-95; son hospital files collection known as RG 10-154 , and in of Dr. Harry J. Shoniker, general practitioner, particular, reels 148, 216, 278, 295, 368 and 413. 1926-64 (April8, 1998) Much of this material consists of routine administra- Dr. John Whaley, paediatrician, 1959-97; son of tive correspondence, but within the collection is a Dr. David Whaley, paediatrician, 1930-70 great deal of useful information about the relation- (April 28, 1998) ship between St. Mary's and the provincial govern- Terri Franks, laboratory technician, 1956-96 (April ment dating from the 19405 through the 19605. 29, 1998) The other archival collections consulted were Dr. John R. Sehl, obstetrician, 1959-95 (June 17, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo Corporate 1998) Records and Archives (RMWCRA) in Kitchener and Eleanor Buchanan, nurse, 1968-89; daughter of the Kitchener Public Library's Grace Schmidt Local Dr. Willard Sehl, obstetrician, 1940-61 (June History Room. The RMWCRA is important for 17,1998) understanding the often difficult relationship Bruce Antonello, president and CEO, 1982-present between St. Mary's and Waterloo County. The (June 23, 1998) published minutes of the Waterloo County Council Anne Wein, Emergency Department clerk and Save were surveyed between the 19205 and 19405, while Our Hospital leader, 1979-present (June 24 , several files of correspondence between county offi- 1998) cials and St. Marys from the 19505 were also helpful: Ann Hepditch, volunteer, 1987-present (June 24, The Kitchener Public Librarys local history room was 1998) also a valuable resource of biographical information, Gordon Mackay, chairman, Board of Trustees, particularly of doctors who worked at St. Marys, and 1984-86 (July 31, 1998, by phone) of members of the Advisory Board and Board of Clara Schmidt, laboratory technician, X-ray, Trustees. Finally, understanding a key piece of the 1955-98 (September 15, 1998, by phone) St. Mary's story was possible through a small collec- Orphe Meyer, nursing student, Class of 1948 tion of records kept by the Sisters of Providences (September 17, 1998, by phone) Archives in Kingston. This material included annals Cleo Hemler, pharmacist, 1948-61 (September 17 , and council meeting minutes of the Kingston Sisters 1998, by phone) from 1916-17, relevant extracts of which were made available through correspondence with the Sisters of Important biographical information, especially about physicians active at St. Mary's between the Providence archivist. 19205 and 19405, was also gathered from an Another essential primary source, particularly unpublished manuscript by Dr. Alexander Campbell for providing personal perspective and personality to that he called "The First 100 Years of Waterloo the St. Mary's story, has been a series of interviews County Physicians, 1825-1925." Thanks to with important people and groups in the history of Dr. Campbell for providing accessto his efforts. the hospital. Most of the interviews were taped and Another useful biographical source for early will be deposited in the St. Marys Archives. Listed physicians at St. Mary's isJ.E. Middleton and F below are the interviews that were conducted, Landon, The Provinceof Ontario: A History, including their position and years at St. Mary's, any 1615-1927 (Toronto, 1927). related individuals discussed during the interview, The essential secondary sources for local history followed by the date of the interview in brackets. are John English and Kenneth McLaughlin, Kitchener: An 1llustratedHistory (Waterloo, 1983) Rose Moody (Schmaltz), nursing student, 1924-25 and Geoffrey Hayes, Waterloo County' An 1llustrated (March 14, 1996) History (Kitchener, 1997). Vital Signs:The First 100 Roxy Lang (Roche), nursing student, Class of 1933; Years,Kitchener-Waterloo Hospital (Kitchener, 1994), wife of Dr. Louis V Lang, general practitioner, by Brent Hergott and Jonathan Marshall (with John 1926--87, (September 18, 1996, April 28, 1998) Lunman, Joanne Makulski and Kenneth Group of Allied Health staff (April 8, 1997) McLaughlin) , was also very useful in detailing the Group of Physicians (April 9, 1997) history of the Twin Cities' other general hospital and Group of Sisters of St. Joseph at Motherhouse, providing context to the St. Mary's story Similarly, Hamilton (April 10, 1997) Caring on the Grand: A History of the Freeport Hospital Group of Sisters of St. Joseph at Dundas Villa (April (Kitchener, 1987) by Peter Conrad is of value to 10, 1997) understanding the history of hospitals in Group of Obstetrical Nurses (April 22, 1997) Kitchener- Waterloo . 130 ~ 5t. Mary:SGeneral Hospital Of panicular importance to understanding the The historiography of hospitals in Canada is history of a Catholic hospital like St. Mary's are works still underdeveloped, but good general sources on the Catholic Church in the area, including include: G. Harvey Agnew, Canadian Hospitals, Reverend Theodore Spetz, The Catholic Church in 1920-1970' A Dramatic Half Century (Toronto, 1974) WaterlooCounty, Book I (The Catholic Register and and David Gagan, "For 'Patients of Moderate Means.' Extension, 1916), John lwicki, ResurrectionistCharism' The Transfonnation of Ontario's Public General A History of the Congregationof the Resurrection,Volume Hospitals, 1880-1950," Canadian Historical Review II, 1887-1932 (Rome, 1992), and the anonymous 70 (1989). 151-79. Also of particular value for the history of St. Mary's Church, Centennial, 1857-1957: historical summary it provides on the Ontario St. Mary's Church (Kitchener, 1957). hospital system up to the 1930s is A.A. Allan, Also essential to understanding the St. Mary's The Hospitals of Ontario: A Short History (Toronto. story are several books and anicles on the history of Ontario Department of Health, 1934). the Sisters of St. Joseph in Hamilton, as well as the Finally, the best source for understanding the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul in history of nursing in Canada is Kathryn McPherson, Kingston. Of particular value are Sister Mary Electa, BedsideMatters' The Transformationof Canadian The Sistersof Providenceof St. Vincent de Paul Nursing, 1900-1990 (Toronto, 1996). For additional (Montreal, 1961), ~J. Monaghan, The Sistersof background on other aspects of the history of medi- St. Josephof the Dioceseof Hamilton (Hamilton, 1943), cine in Canada, especially the history of particular Sister Mary Agnes, The Congregationof the Sistersof diseasesthat are mentioned in the St. Mary's story, St. Joseph'Le Puy, Lyons,St. Louis, Toronto(Toronto, see: Michael Bliss, The Discoveryof Insulin (Toronto, 1951). Peggy Savage,To ServeWith Honour' The Story 1982), Eileen Pettigrew, The Silent Enemy: Canada of St.Josephs Hospital, Hamilton, 1890-1990 (Toronto, and the Deadly Flu of 1918 (Saskatoon, 1983) and 1990), was also useful for background on the Christopher J. Rutty, "Do Something! Do Anything! Hamilton Sisters and their hospital in Hamilton, Poliomyelitis in Canada, 1927-1962," Ph.D. thesis, where many of the Sisters who served at St. Mary's University of Toronto, 1995. also worked.

5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 131 CHAPTER I 12 Father Zinger to Mother Manina, . 28 "Campaign Opened for New Hospital," 1 Council Minutes, Sisters of Providence, August 26, 1919, August 29, 1919, Daily Record, September 25, 1923; August 5, 1916; Annals, Sisters of SSJA. "Reasonsfor Support," September 13 Father Zinger to Mother Manina, 1923, SMGHA. Providence, August 15-16, 1916, 29 "Help! SecureNeeded Hospital Sisters of Providence Archives (here- September 3, 1919, SSJA. 14 Ibid. Accommodation at a Minimal Cost," after SPA). 15 Father Zinger to Mother M. ThecIa, 2 Annals, Sisters of Providence, Daily Record, September 26, 1923; "Majority of Patients Are Non-Catholic," September 12, 1916, SPA. February 20, 1923, SSJA. 16 John Iwiki, Resurrectionist Charism. Daily Record, September 25, 1923. 3 "The City to Obtain Second General A History of the Congregation of the 30 Father Zinger to Sisters of St. Joseph, Hospital," News Record, October 2, 1916; "New Hospital to be Erected in Resurrection, Vol. II, 1887-1932 October 1, 1923, SSJA. (Rome, 1992), p. 343. 31 Journal Book, Subscriptions Received, Kitchener by Sisters of Charity," Daily 17 Annual Repons, Ontario Inspector of Telegraph, October 2, 1916. September 1923-January 1925, SSJA. Prisons and Public Charities (including 32 "Remembering 65 years at St. Mary's," 4 Council Minutes, Sisters of Providence, Hospitals), Year Ending September 30, Today's Seniors, December 1989. October 9,1916, November 17, 1916, 1924 (Toronto, 1925) and Year Ending 33 "Lay Corner Stone at New Hospital," SPA. Daily Record, October 20, 1923; 5 Annals, Sisters of Providence, September 30, 1925 (Toronto, 1926). 18 Private note by Father Zinger, "Dignitaries of Church and City Lay November 17, 1916, SPA Corner Stone," Daily Record, October 6 Father A.L. Zinger to Mother M. February 1923, SSJA. Martina, August 29, 1919, Sisters of 19 Father Zinger to Rev. Mother M. 22, 1923. 34 Father Zinger to Mother Thecla, St. Joseph Archives (hereafter SSJA). Thecla, February 20, 1923, SSJA. November 14, 1923; "Rapid Progress 7 "New St. Mary's Hospital Will be One 20 Father Zinger to Mother Thecla, February 20, 1923, SSJA;"New on New Hospital," Daily Record, of Most Up-to-Date and Best Equipped November 14, 1923. in Province," Daily Telegraph, March Hospital for Twin City," Daily Record, February 21, 1923. 35 "RepresentativesInspect New 19,1917. Institution for Care of Sick," Daily 8 Council Minutes, Sisters of Providence, 21 Father Zinger to Mother Thecla, Record, October 15, 1924. May 9, 1917, SPA. February 22, 1923, SSJA. 9 Sister Mary Electa, The Sisters of 22 Ibid., March 11,14,1923, SSJA. Providence of St. Vincent de Paul 23 Ibid., March 14,1923, SSJA. CHAPTER 2 (Montreal. Palm Publishers, 1961), 24 Ibid., March 26, 1923, Apri12, 1923, I G. Harvey Agnew, Canadian Hospitals, p. 154; Sister Gayle Desarmia, SSJA;Deed of Land, May 2, 1923, 1920 to 1970: A Dramatic Half Archivist, Sisters of Providence, to the SMGHA. Century (Toronto. University of author, October 10, 1997. 25 "Plans and Specification Completed Toronto Press, 1974), pp. 5-15. 10 Mother M. Clement to Rev. T.J. For New Hospital," Daily Record, June 2 "Head of Hospital Called to Reward," Dowling,June 25, 1919, Record of 16,1923. Daily Record, May 12, 1932. Permanence, St. Mary's General 26 Father Zinger to Mother Thecla, 3 Father Zinger to Mother Thecla, July Hospital Archives (hereafter SMGHA). December 4,1923, SSJA. 15, 1924, SSJA. 11 "The Rev.Albert Lawrence Zinger, 27 "Hospital Tender Awarded," Daily 4 Interview with Rose Moody C.R., Ph.D.," inJ.E. Middleton and Record, July 17, 1923; "Sister's (Schmaltz) , March 14, 1996; Father F Landon, The Province of Ontario: Hospital, Kitchener," Daily Record, Zinger to Mother Thecla, February 24, A History, 1615-1927 (Toronto: July 25, 1923; "Rapid Progress on New 1925, SSJA. Dominion Publishing Co., 1927), Hospital," Daily Record, August 2, 5 Interview with Dr. Thomas J. Shoniker, p.386. 1923. AprilS, 1995. 5t. Mary's General Hosvital ~ 133 6 Ibid.; H.J. Shoniker to Mother 26 Meeting, Advisory Board, September Record, October 26, 1938. Superior, St. Mary's Hospital, 21, 1932, SSJA;"Hospital and County 16 "3 Hospitals Given Grant of $1,000: December 3, 1926, SSJA. Discuss Indigent Pay," Daily Record, Daily Record, October 27, 1938. 7 Interviews with Roxy Lang, September September 22, 1932. 17 Meeting, Advisory Board, March 19, IS, 1996, April2S, 1995; interview 27 Secretary,Advisory Board, to Waterloo 1940, SSJA with Dr. T.J. Shoniker, AprilS, 1995; County Council, October 18, 1932; 18 A.E. Pequegnat to H.C. Krug, October Louis V Lang to Mother Superior, Meeting, Advisory Board, October 18, 22, 1941, SSJA. St. Marys Hospital, December 2, 1926, 1932, and attached clipping, SSJA; 19 SisterM.GerardtoJ.E.Motz, SSJA. Minutes, Waterloo County Council, November 22, 1941; Meeting, S Interview with Rose Moody 1932, p. 35, RMWCRA, Series 20, Advisory Board, Apri128, 1942, SSJA. (Schmaltz), March 14,1996. Vol.6. 20 1nterview with Class of 1947 members 9 Sister Bonaventure to Department of 28 Annual Statement, 1931-32, Margaret Heuther (Holle), Anita Health, Ottawa, January 23, 1925; November 15, 1932, SSJA. Patrinka (Kane) and Beula Palowski Sister Bonaventure, to Inspector of 29 Annual Statement, 1932-33, October (Lewiski), March 26, 1998; "Strong Hospitals and Charities, February 9, 23, 1933, SSJA. bonds united nursing class of '47" K- 1925; A.J. Rattray to Sister 30 Meeting, Advisory Board, December 1, W Record, May 27, 1997. Bonaventure, March 4, 1925, SSJA; 1931, SSJA. 21 Meeting, Advisory Board, March 3, Provincial Secretary to Lieutenant- 31 Minute Book, Ladies' Auxiliary, 1944, SSJA;"Treat 3,592 at Hospital in Governor-in-Council, February 13, 1932-1966, SMGHA; "18-member Kitchener: Toronto Telegram, March 1925, Archives of Ontario (hereafter auxiliary staned St. Mary's volunteer 6, 1944. AO), RGI0-154, Reel 14S. tradition," K-W Record, April 24, 1992 22 H.J. Shoniker toJ.E. Motz, September 10 Sister Bonaventure to Kitchener City 32 Rose Day Campaign, Final 30, 1944, SSJA;M.E.J. Stalker to H.J Council, May 4,1925, September 15, Recapitulation, May 1934; Annual Shoniker, November 24, 1944; Report, 1925, SSJA. Statement, 1933-34, SSJA;"Hospital Inspection of St. Mary's Hospital, 11 Sister Bonaventure to Waterloo County Drive Goes Over Top," Daily Record, January 31, 1945, AO, RG10-154, Council, June S, 1925; Sister May 20, 1934. Ree1148. Bonaventure to Samuel Cassel,June 23 Meeting, Advisory Board, May 19,

13, 1925, June 23,1925, SSJA; CHAPTER 3 1943, SSJA. Minutes, Waterloo County Council, I "Minister Opens Hospital Wing," Daily 24 Meeting, Advisory Board, October 24 , June IS, 1925, Regional Municipality Record, April 14 , 1936. 1944, SSJA;"See Need for Addition to of Waterloo Corporate Records and 2 Interview with Dr. Alexander D. St. Mary's Hospital: Daily Record, Archives (hereafter RMWCRA), Campbell, April7, 1998; interview October 25, 1944. Series 20. with Dr. John Whaley, April 28, 1998. 25 "10 D.P Girls Are So Happy That They 12 Father Zinger to Mother Thecla, 3 Meetings, Advisory Board, August 1, Cry: Daily Record, October 1947; C.J. February 4,1927, SSJA. November 13, 1935, SSJA. Telfer, to Sister Mercedes, October 17, 13 Meeting, Advisory Board, February 15, 4 Meeting, Advisory Board, August 1, 1947, AO, RG10-154, Ree1148. 26 WJ. McGibbon to R.T. Kelley, March 2, 1927, SSJA. 1935, SSJA. 14 Ibid., March 22, 1927, SSJA. 5 Interview with Roxy Lang (Roche), 1949, AO, RG10-154, Ree1148. 15 Annual Reports, 1927-2S through Apri128, 1998. 27 C.J.Telfer to R.T. Kelley, March 7, 1931-32, SSJA. 6 Instructions to Candidates for 1949; Kelley to McGibbon, March 17, 16 Sister Bonaventure to American College Admission, (1936); Offer of Admission 1949, AO, RG10-154, Ree1148. of Surgeons, March 2, 1927, April 13, Letter, June 10, 1936, St. Mary's 28 "WJ. McGibbon Nominated: K-W 1927, SSJA;"First Graduation St. Marys School of Nursing History Album, Record, May 8, 1948; McGibbon to Nurses Is Brilliant Event," Daily Record, Vol. I, SSJA. Kelley, October 4, 1949; Kelley to June 30, 1927. 7 Patricia Farrell (Mrs. WR. Allen), Telfer, October 12, 1949, AO, RG10- 17 Meeting, Advisory Board, November undated letter (1986?), SMGHA. 154, Ree1148. 16, 1925, SSJA. 8 Ibid. 29 McGibbon to Telfer, December 10, IS Meetings, Advisory Board, April 24, 9 Interview with Roxy Lang (Roche), 1949, attached to Application for a 1929, May 26, 1930; Annual Report, April 28, 1998. Capital Grant; McGibbon to Telfer, 1925-29, November 13, 1929, SSJA. 10 Patricia Farrell (Mrs. WR. Allen), December 17, 1949, AO, RG10-154, 19 Interviews with Roxy Lang (Roche), undated letter (1986?) to SMGHA; Ree1148. 30 Brief on Capital Grant, February 9, September IS, 1996, April 2S, 1995. "Nurse Passeson Graduation Eve," 1950; Telfer to J .T. Phair, June 8, 20 "Construction on St. Mary's Hospital Daily Record, May 14,1935. 1950; Telfer to Phair, June 8, 1950, Nurses' Home to Start Now to Aid 11 St. Mary's Hospital, Bulletin, April AO, RG10-154, Ree1148. Workless,"Daily Record, October 1930. 1937, SMGHA. 21 "Stately New Home Built For Nurses of 12 Meeting, Advisory Board, July 10, St. Mary's Hospital," Daily Record, 1936, SSJA. CHAPTER 4 April IS, 1931. 13 "Busiest Month at St. Mary's, Daily 1 "3 Sets Twins Among 18 Babesin 2. 22 Annual Statement, 1930-31, Record, April 3, 1937; "3rd Floor Days," KW Record, December 1951. November 26, 1931, SSJA. Wing to be Equipped," Daily Record, 2 Inspection Report, January 7, 1952, 23 "Head of Hospital Called to Reward," May 5, 1937. AO, RG10-154, Ree1148. Daily Record, May 12, 1932. 14 Financial Statement, St. Mary's 3 "St. Mary's Graduate Nurses Urged to 24 Meeting, Waterloo County Council, Hospital Campaign, August 20, 1937; Maintain Ideals of Humanity," KW 1931, p. 45, RMWCRA, Series 20. Meeting, Advisory Board, August 25, Record, May 29, 1952; "Father Meehan 25 WJ. Motz to Waterloo County 1937, SSJA. spread messagethrough media," (obitu- Council, December 16, 1931, SSJA. 15 "Hospitals Ask Extra Payment," Daily ary) Toronto Star,July 29, 1998.

134 ~ St. Mary's General Hospital 4 Inspection Report, October 16-17 , 28 Sandy Baird, "Looking Around," K-W 19 R.Wl. Urquart to Sister Clotilde, 1952, AO, RGI0-154, Reel 148. Record, November 24, 1958. August 17, 1960, AO, RGI0-154, 5 Ibid. 29 Irvin Erb, letter to the editor, K-W Ree1148. 6 Meetings, Advisory Board, January 14 , Record, November 28, 1958. 20 "Sister Paula New Head of Hospital," February 11, 1953, SSJA. 30 "The Case History of St. Mary's," K-W K-W Record, August 18, 1960. 7 Sister Augustine to Mackinnon Record, November 15, 1958. 21 Sister Paula to T. Brazier, June 5,1961, Phillips, May 12, 1953, June 22, 1953; 31 "Nuns Devote Lives to Healing Sick," AO, RGI0-154, Ree1148. Sister Augustine to Phillips, July 21, K-W Record, November 22, 1958. 22 Sister Paula to R.WJ .Urquhart, April 1953, AO, RGI0-154, Reel 148. 32 "K-W Hospital Head Backs St. Mary's 27, 1961; Minister of Health to Sister 8 Meeting, Advisory Board, February 17, Plan," K-W Record, November 26, Paula, May 18, 1961, AO, RGI0-154, 1954, SSJA;"Federated Charities Set 1958. Ree1216; "$849,000 Grant Made To $180,000 Budget," K-W Record, Hospital," K-W Record, May 1961. March 1954. CHAPTER 5 23 "A Strange New World Opens for 9 WJ. McGibbon to C.H. Hall, January 1 J .E. Motz to C. Stager,January 8, Nursing Students," K-W Record, 12, 1956; H.]. Heasley to WJ. 1959, RMWCRA, Ser. 26; "St. Mary's September 1960. McGibbon, December 23, 1955, SSJA. Hospital Asks County Grant," K-W 24 "Hospital Changes Skyline of City As 10 Meeting, Advisory Board, February 9, Record, January 10, 1959. Work Starts on loth Floor," K-W 1955, SSJA;"Shrine Aids Hospitals," 2 "Hospital Decision Deferred,» K-W Record, January 28, 1961; "Weather KW Record, February 9, 1955. Record, January 16,1959. Aids St. Mary's Hospital Job," K-W 11 Meeting, Advisory Board, September 3 "Preston Tops County in Use of Record, September 22, 1960. 22, 1954, SSJA. Hospital,» K-W Record, March 1959. 25 "Beef Stew," K-W Record, March 1961; 12 Sister Clotilde to Phillips, January 15, 4 "County Rejects St. Mary's Appeal,» "End of the Line," K-W Record, March 1955; J.T. Phair to Sister Clotilde, K-W Record, March 26, 1959. 30, 1961. January 19, 1955, AO, RGI0-154, 5 J.E. Motz to Waterloo County Council, 26 R.T. Cardy to Urquhart, July 26, 1961, Reel 148. April 7, 1959, RMWCRA Ser. 26. AO, RGI0-154, Ree1216. 13 "St. Mary's Gets New X-Ray Unit," 6 "St. Mary's Hospital Starts Big New 27 "700 Dozen Tarts Sold," K-W Record, K-W Record, January 22, 1955. Addition in Spring,» K-W Record, July September 21, 1961; "Nun Famed for 14 "New Bassinetsat St. Mary's Hospital 30,1959. Chelsea Buns, Coffee Cakes," K-W Improve Care," K-W Record, February 7 Sister Clotilde to R.WI. Urquhart, Record, September 28, 1961. 21, 1955. October 9, 1959; FA. Evis to Sister 28 "Hospital Aid Plans Bake Sale, Tours," 15 InterviewwithDr.J.R. Sehl,June 17, Clotilde, November 19, 1959, AO, K-W Record, September 1961. 1998. RG10-154, Ree1148. 29 "Heasley Hall Is Opened," K-W 16 Interview with group of nurses from 8 "Prominent Citizens Are Campaign Record, September 12, 1961. Class of 1951-52, May 29, 1997; Patrons,» K-W Record, October 28, 30 "Gas Will PreserveHospital interview with group of nurses from 1959; "A Need and a Challenge to All Momentoes," K-W Record, October Class of 1962, August 6, 1997. of Us,» campaign advertisement, K-W 12, 1961; "Lays Cornerstone," K-W 17 "K-W Mercy Agencies Give Assistance Record, November 9, 1959. Record, October 17, 1961. in Many Ways," K-W Record, February 9 "First Baby Sends Gift to Hospital,» 31 "St. Mary's Addition Culminates Years 21, 1956. K-W Record, October 31, 1959; "Use of Planning," K-W Record, January 16, 18 A.]. Swanson to WJ. McGibbon, of Hospital Rises 1,400% in 35 Years,» 1962; H.Wright to J.E. Jamieson, October 4, 1956, AO, RGI0-154, K-W Record, October 21, 1959. January 26, 1962, AO, RGI0-154, Reel 148. 10 "St. Mary's Drive Reaches$313,000,» Reel 295. 19 "Big Addition Planned At St. Mary's K-W Record, November 25, 1959. 32 "lst Baby in New Hospital," K-W Hospital," K-W Record, March 11, 11 "First Contributions Hit $160,000 in Record, February 8, 1962. 1957. Hospital Campaign,» K-W Record, 33 "MD Tradition Kept Intact," K-W 20 C.J. Telfer to A.J. Swanson, May 6, November 9, 1959. Record, February 14,1962. 1957, AO, RGI0-154, Reel 148. 12 "St. Mary's Drive Now at $419,472,» 34 "Radiologist Added at St. Mary's," K-W 21 Meeting Notes, May 15, 1957; Telfer tc K-W Record, December 5, 1959. Record, March 1962; "New Units Swanson, May 16,1957, AO, RGI0- 13 "St. Mary's Fund Passes$700,000,» Open at St. Mary's," K-W Record, 154, Reel 148. K-W Record, January 14, 1960. August 28, 1962. 22 N.H. McMurrich to Sister Clotilde, 14 "Hospital Fund Gifts Still Coming,» 35 "St. Mary's Hospital to Have Padre," May 21,1957, AO, RGI0-154, Reel K-WRecord, August 17, 1960. K-W Record, June 1, 1962. 148 15 "County Grant Bylaw Gets 2 36 "Plan Beauty Salon for St. Mary's," 23 "Commission Urged St. Mary's To Readings,»K-W Record, November 25 K-W Record, May 24, 1962. Boost Addition to 9 Floors," K-W 1959. 37 "Front Entrance At St. Mary's Hospital Record, November 24, 1958. 16 H.J. Heasley to C.H.A. Stager, Ready," K-W Record, March 14,1962. 24 McMurrich to Stalker, October 24, November 25, 1959, RMWCRA, Ser. 38 "Big Mural Portrays History of 1957, AO, RGI0-154, Reel 148. 26; "Oppose Share St. Mary's Hospital Medicine," K-W Record, February 10, 25 McMurrich to McGibbon, October 3, At Kitchener,» GaIt Reporter, Decembe] 1962. 1958, SSJA. 4, 1959. 39 The Bells of St. Mary's, Vol. 1, No.2, 26 "Nine-Storey St. Mary's Hospital 17 "Sod is Turned For Hospital,» K-W Spring 1962. Addition Planned," K-W Record, Record, May 17, 1960; "Hospital 40 Sister Paula to J.K. Jamieson, June 20, October 11, 1958. Honors HughJ. Heasley,»K-W Record 1962, AO, RGI0-154, Ree1295. 27 "Benton Baptist Board Opposes May 18, 1960. 41 "Atkinson Fund Gives St. Mary's Hospital Bylaw," K-W Record, 18 "Start $4,455,216 Hospital Addition,» Hospital $13,000," K-W Record, July November 1958. K-W Record, August 5, 1960. 23, 1962. 5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 135 42 "Hospital May Zone Crash Aid," K-W 16 "St. Mary's Bibs, Aprons, Ousted After 36 Meeting, Board of Trustees, March 2 Record, October 1960; "New Units 35 Years," K-W Record, August 22, 1971, SMGHA; "Nurses Program Open at St. Mary's," K-W Record, 1966. Shortened," K-W Record, October I August 28, 1962. 17 "St. Marys Nurses Gain Union Status," 1970. 43 Sister Paula to Kenneth Box, K-W Record, September 22, 1969. 37 "Medical Director has military past," September 19,1962, AO, RG10-154, IS "At Least Two Months Before Word on K-W Record, Apri119, 1972. Ree1148. Nurses' Residence," K-W Record, May 38 ].S. Kettles to File, May 5, 1972, 44 "Addtion Blessed," K-W Record, IS, 1967. March 29, 1972, AO, RGI0- November 5, 1962. 19 "St. Mary's Changing Training 221-2-609, Box 48; "St. Mary's 45 "Sisters of St. Joseph Come in For Fine Program," K-W Record, July S, 1967. Hospital conversion rejected," K-W Praise," GaIt Evening Reporter, 20 Interview with a group of St. Mary's Record, Apri118, 1972. November 8, 1962; "Vanier Turns physicians, April 9, 1997; interviews with Dr. T.]. Shoniker, AprilS, 1995 Story-Teller for Young Patients," K-W CHAPTER 7 and Terri Franks, Apri129, 1995. Record, November 8, 1962. I "Hospital nuns honor retiring execu- 21 Interview with Clara Schmidt, September 15, 1995; interview with a tives," K-WRecord,June 27, 1972; CHAPTER 6 group of Allied Health staff, April S, Meetings, Executive Committee, July I "St. Mary's Hospital Asks Aid on Debt," 1997. 20, 1972, August 23, 1972, SMGHA. K-W Record, February 5, 1963; "St. 22 EC. Wilson to Sister Clotilde, 2 "St. Mary's Hospital has 6 staff Mary's Patients 42% of County Total," December 14,1967, AO, RGI0-154, changes," K-W Record, September 2, K-W Record, February 16, 1965. Ree1413; Meeting, Advisory Board 1972; 'Joint buying proposed to cut 2 J.K. Jamieson to B.L.P. Brosseau, Executive, November 16,1967, costs for 3 hospitals," K-W Record, February 26, 1963; Sister Paula to SMGHA. September 13, 1973. J.B. Neilson, November 8, 1963, AO, 23 J.C. Baldwin to WE Lumsden, AprilS, 3 Meeting, Executive Committee, RGI0-154, Ree1295; Sister Paula to 1965; Lumsden to Baldwin, Apri122, February 2, 1973, SMGHA. Laughame, February 20, 1964, AO, 1965, AO, RGI0-154, Ree1413. 4 Harold Shantz to Sister Virginia, RGI0-154, Ree1278. 24 Meetings, Advisory Board, May 22, May 23, 1973, SMGHA 3 "Nun Is Woman of the Year," K-W 1965,June 27, 1965, SMGHA; L.C. 5 Meeting, Medico-Moral Committee, Record, Apri11963. Ferris to J.C. Baldwin, OHSC, March October 31, 1972; Sister Marina to H. 4 "Major Surgery by Flashlight," Globe 25, 1965, AO, RGI0-221-2-571, Krug, August 7, 1973; Meeting, and Mail, April 5, 1963; interview Box 45. Executive Committee, August 8, 1973, with Dr. T.J. Shoniker, April8, 1998. 25 Meeting, Advisory Board, February 2S, SMGHA. 5 Interview with Dr. A.D. Campbell, 1965, SMGHA. 6 "St. Mary's maternity ward to stay," April7, 1998;J.K. Jamieson to Sister 26 "Emergency Service Growing K-W Record, September 12, 1973. Paula, March 26, 1963; D.N. Teasdale Problem," K-W Record, September 7 "Labor rooms provide bedside 1965. toJ.A. McNab, Apri126, 1962, AO, phones," K-W Record, January 26, RGI0-154, Ree1295. 27 "St. Mary's Emergency Plan Ok'd," 1974. K-W Record, December 30, 1970. 6 "St. Mary's Intensive-Care Unit Focuses 8 R.B. Walker to G.A. Cox, January 10, 2S Meeting, Advisory Board Executive, Extra Aid on Acutely 1\1,"K-W Record, 1974, SMGHA. June 6, 1969, SMGHA. February 4, 1963. 9 Meetings, Executive Committee, 29 "St. Marys Retains Big Lead in Births," 7 "Detect Diseaseswith Isotope Lab," January 28, 1974, April 23, 1974, K-W Record, December 26, 1969. K-W Record, July 23, 1963. SMGHA. 30 "Population Influx Ups Births," K-W 8 "Machine Advances Heart Research," 10 "Echoes from the Archives of St. Mary's Record, December 26, 1969. K-W Record, October 8, 1963. General Hospital School of Nursing," 3 I Michael W Higgins and Douglas R. 9 "Brain Wave Machine Goes Into SMGHA; "Alumnae honors last nurse Letson, My Father's Business: A Operation," K-W Record, August 21, graduating class," K-W Record, May 9, Biography of His Eminence G. Emmet 1974. 1964. Cardinal Carter (Toronto: Macmillan, 11 Meetings, Executive Committee, June 10 "Measure All Lung Functions," K-W 1990), p. 101-13. Record, August 13, 1966. 32 Rev. Father J. Sherlock, "Medical Moral 19, 1973, February 20, 1974, November 18, 1974, SMGHA; "'Hot' 11 "Hospital Patients Get 'the Works,"' Guidelines for Catholic Hospitals," Hospital Lab Looks for Cancer," K-W K-W Record, January 5, 1963; November 26, 1969, SMGHA. Record, August 26, 1970; "Mothers Get 'A La Carte' Service," 33 Sister Clotilde to Rev.J.M. Sherlock, 12 Meetings, Executive Committee, April K-W Record, Apri11963. September 21, 1970; Meeting, Medico- 12 "St. Mary's Hospital Gains Junior Moral Committee, September 24, 23, 1974, May 15, 1974, SMGHA; Auxiliary," K-W Record, 1963; 1970; BishopJ.E Ryan to "Woodstock hospital rift sparks one- "Auxiliary helps hospital in business- Administrators of our Catholic day strike at St. Mary's," K-W Record, like manner," Canadian Catholic Hospitals in the Diocese of Hamilton, May 28, 1974. Register, May 6, 1972 September 24, 1970, SMGHA. 13 Bishop P:E Reding to Rev. T.A. 13 "Social Worker Hired for Patient 34 "Family togetherness now begins at Comerford, September 13, 1974; Problems," Globe and Mail, March 1, birth," K-W Record, June 12, 1971; Meeting, Medico-Moral Committee, 1963. interview with Dr. John R. Sehl, June October 7, 1974; Comerford to Bishop 14 "St. Marys Hospital Busy 'Parish' for 17,199S. Reding, October 21, 1974, SMGHA. Father Feeney,"K-W Record, June 22, 35 Meeting, Advisory Board, October 21, 14 "St. Mary's director resigns," K-W 1963; "Church Chapel," K-W Record, 1970; Special Meeting, Advisory Record, May 29, 1975. October 19, 1963. Board, December 2S, 1970; Meeting, 15 "Care innovations appeal to new 15 "70 Student Nurses Get Rental Units," Board of Trustees, March 2, 1971, St. Mary's head," K-W Record, July 4, K- W Record, August 17, 1966. SMGHA. 1975.

136 ~ 5t. Mary:SGeneral Hospital 16 F Voisin to the author, March 10, 38 Interview with Dr.].R. Sehl,]une 17, 3 "St. Mary's geriatric bid backed by 1998. 1998. health council," K-W Record, June 26, 17 "Hospital with growing pains is having 39 M.E. Mahaffey to Chainnan, Medico- 1986. corrective surgery," K-W Record, June Moral Committee, October 21, 1982, 4 "Hospitals modify shared-service 20, 1977. SMGHA. plans," K-W Record, January 28, 1987; 18 "St. Mary's introduces admissions 40 Minutes, Medico-Moral Committee, "Separate care for newborns and chil- registry," K-W Record, July 28, 1978. October 25, 1982, SMGHA. dren ill-advised, MD says," K-W 19 "Bishop rededicates chapel at St. 41 "Croskery plans to retire from Record, January 30, 1987. Marys." K-W Record, May 26, 1979. St. Mary's," K-W Record,]uly 14, 5 "Hospital's plans for consolidation put 20 Sister Joan to Bishop Reding, February 1982; "Health-Ministry man hired by on hold until '88," K-W Record, May 4, 1976, SMGHA. Hospital," K-W Record, October 16, 21, 1987; "St. Mary's Board OKs ratio- 21 FW Voisin to Waterloo Health 1982. nalization plan," K-W Record, October Council, December 14,1977, SMGHA. 29, 1987; "Rationalization revealed," 22 Meetings, Medico-Moral Committee, CHAPTER 8 K-W Record, November 25, 1987. February 15,1977, March 31,1978; I Interview with Bruce Antonello, June 6 "Hospitals to serve as sex-assault Sister Joan to R.W O'Brien, September 23, 1998. centre," K-W Record, Apri128, 1988; 21, 1978, SMGHA. 2 "From the Executive Director," Suture "St. Mary's gets $320,000 for drug, 23 Sister Joan to Bishop Reding, October Line, Vol. 10, No.1, 1983; interview alcohol abuse program," K-W Record, 27,1978, SMGHA. with Antonello, June 23, 1998. Apri122, 1988. 24 Meeting, Executive Committee, August 3 Meeting, Medico-Moral Committee, 7 "Health council backs St. Mary's reno- 22, 1978; Sister Joan to M. Gregg, March 9, 1983, SMGHA. vation plans," K-W Record, February January 22, 1979, SMGHA. 4 Interview with Antonello, June 23, 25, 1988; "New program requests on 25 "Hospital expansion proposed," K-W 1998. hold, hospitals told," K-W Record, Record, March 12, 1979. 5 "Nuns now scarce at RC hospital," March 24, 1988. 26 Master Plan Highlights, May 1979, K-W Record, October 20, 1984. 8 "Chairman of Rotary Lifeline Project SMGHA. 6 Meeting, Board of Trustees, March 30, Awarded Citizen of the Year Honour," 27 Special Meeting, Board of Trustees, 1983, SMGHA. Suture Line, January 21, 1988. March 23, 1979, SMGHA; Interview 7 G.A. Mackay to Members of Board, 9 "Patient Information Kits," Suture Line, withDr.J.R. Sehl,June 17, 1998; August I, 1984, SMGHA. Apri128, 1988. "Doctor appointed director of hospi- 8 Special Meeting, Board of Trustees, 10 Meetings, Community Relations tal," K-W Record, March 31, 1979; Apri116, 1985, SMGHA. Committee, February 5, 1988, March "Sister Joan is moving on," K-W 9 "St. Marys set to launch $20-million 11,1988; Meetings, Board of Trustees, Record, June 27, 1979. campaign," K-W Record, July 10, 1985. Apri127, 1988, September 28, 1988, 28 Summary of Master Plan, September 10 "From the Executive Director," Suture SMGHA; "Sharing the Burden," K-W 1979; Mission Statement, January 27, Line, August 8, 1985. Record, August 6, 1988. 1982, SMGHA. II Meeting, Planning Committee, July 30, II Meeting, Caucus of Board of Trustees, 29 "St. Mary's ponders cuts in services as 1985, SMGHA. August 31, 1988; Meeting, Medical hospital faces $481,000 deficit," K-W 12 "St. Marys holds fund-raising gala," Record, September 5, 1979. Advisory Committee, September 13, K-W Record, September 12, 1985. 1988, SMGHA. 30 T.A. McCauley to A.E. Dyer, 13 "St. Mary's emergency staff hopes to 12 "Caplan balks at $16-million plan to September 4, 1979; McCauley to WH. raise funds with cookbook," K-W cut duplication at 2 hospitals," K-W Kaufman, November 16, 1979, Record, November 19, 1985. Record, September 28, 1988. SMGHA; "Hospital expansion proposal 14 Interview with Antonello, June 23, 13 Meeting, Caucus of the Board of left hanging," K-W Record, October 1998; interview with Gordon Mackay, Trustees, October 26, 1988, SMGHA. 25, 1979. July 31, 1998; "Foundation set for St. 14 Meeting, Executive and Finance 31 "Expansion off, hospital settles for Mary's," K-W Record, Apri113, 1986. renovations," K-W Record, June 9, Committees, December 20, 1988, 15 Executive Director's Repon, 1982. SMGHA. November-December 1984; "Mission 32 Meeting with Ministry of Health, 15 Meeting, Caucus of the Board of Statement," January 27, 1982, insened August 27,1982, SMGHA. Trustees, Apri126, 1989, SMGHA. in Suture Line, February 1986. 33 "St. Mary's Hospital room has home- 16 "Layoffs considered for St. Mary's 16 "Mix-up over St. Mary's changes leads like atmosphere for births," K-W nurses," K-W Record, June I, 1989. to drop in baby business," K-W Record, December 17, 1979; "Mothers 17 "Hospital both sad and optimistic," Record, March 13, 1986. laud birthing rooms," K-W Record, K-W Record, June 29, 1989; 17 Meeting, Public Relations Committee, July 30, 1980. "St. Mary's ends 65 years of obstetrical April 10, 1986; Meeting, Executive 34 Meeting, Executive and Finance care," K-W Record, July 3, 1989; Committee, Apri123, 1986. Committee, November 17, 1981; "Tots "Carnival marks St. Mary's change," check out the arrivals," K-W Record, K-W Record, July 22, 1989. December 8, 1981. CHAPTER 9 18 "St. Mary's $8-million fund-raising 35 Meeting, Medico-Moral Committee, 1 "Real Hospitality," K-W Record, June drive well on its way before official January 14,1981, SMGHA. 13, 1986. kick-off," K-W Record, Apri11990. 36 Meeting, Executive and Finance 2 Meeting, Executive Committee, June 19 "Remembering 65 years at St. Mary's," Committees, Apri121, 1981; Meeting, 24, 1986, SMGHA; "Kingston man to Today's Seniors, December 1989. Executive Committee, May 25, 1981, head K-W Hospital," K-W Record, 20 Interview with Ann Hepditch, June 24, SMGHA. May 10,1986; "Cost of hospital's 1998. 37 Meeting, Executive Committee, revamping may be the biggest 21 "Five hospitals add staff to boards," October 20, 1981, SMGHA. surprise," K-W Record, July 25, 1986. Hospital News, August 1991. 5t. Mary's General Hospital ~ 137 ,2 "Hospital's last 4 nuns get fond 28 "Make it impossible to shut St. Mary's," The Record, November 2, 1996. farewell," K-W Record, August 1992. The Record, September 27,1996. 33 "Keep St. Mary's open, hospital execu- ,3 "New unit designed to soothe 29 Interview with Anne Wein, June 24, tives urge," The Record, March 13, patients," The Record, June 10,1997. 1998; "Hospital's backers mobilize," 1997; Interview with Wein, June 24, ,4 "Nursing grads reminisce and look to The Record, October 1, 1996; 1998; "A Year in Review," Bricks & the future," Suture Line, June 1996; "Hospital backers get little comfort," Mortar, September 1997. "Changing Times, Changing Practice,' The Record, October 3, 1996.. 34 "Savings overrated," The Record, May Suture Line, May 1996; "Hospital 30 "Tory MPP urges minister to save St. 29, 1997; "St. Mary's threat over?" The offers an oasis where families can Mary's," The Record, September 26, Record, June 24, 1997; "Hospitals win cope," The Record, October 21, 1997 1996; "Hospital backers get little backing," The Record, June 26,1997. ~5 Interview with Antonello, June 23, comfon," The Record, October 3, 1996. 35 "Closing the Gaps," The Record, May 1998. 31 Interview with Wein,June 24,1998; 3, 1997; "Health council plan bashed," ~6 Interview with Antonello, June 23, "Hospital fight criticized," The Record, The Record, May 23, 1997. 1998; "St. Mary's May Close," The October 19, 1996; "Fight for St. Mary's 36 "St. Mary's off critical list," The Record, Record, September 21, 1996. reveals K-W is shon changed in health October 3, 1997. ~7 "Loss is stunning for RC backers," funds," The Record, October 31, 1996. 37 "Health-care review under way," The Record, September 21, 1996. 32 "St. Mary's crisis draws anger, dismay," The Record, December 5, 1997.

138 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospitai fc£~O~h~ ~"~! p t

In his opening remarks Reverend events of St. Mary's history, but also to A.L. Zingel; pastor GiSt. Mary's enlighten readers about the challenging Church and chairman of the financial, technological and political realities hospital committee, declared that involved in building and operating a Catholic October 21, 1923 would go general hospital during the twentieth century. down in the history of the Twin October 21, 1999 marks the seventy-fifth City as a red letter day. It was a anniversary of the opening of St. Mary's day that marked the beginning of Hospital, but it was only on May 14,1998, an institution that would take a that it became clear that St. Mary's doors large part in the life of the would remain open to all who needed its Ph.D. community. It would not be a special brand of personalized health care. Photo: D. W Dorken pile of brick and mortar erected The St. Marys story is above all for the purpose of bringing in about the many people who have dedicated commercial dividends to the themselves to fulfilling the special caring investors but one which would mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph of bring the angelic ministrations of Hamilton, who founded and still own the self-sacrificing sisters to the hospital. The St. Mary's story also reflects suffering. several important themes in the history of hospitals in Canada, the history of nursing Daily Record (Kitchener ), and the history of health care generally. In October 22, 1923 particular, the St. Mary's story illustrates how W at does it take to build a hospi- the growing influence of the provincial tal? How does a hospital grow government in funding and regulating health and evolve within a rapidly care has shaped the evolution of a privately- changing world? More importantly, how does owned Catholic public hospital. At the same a hospital maintain, redefine and expand its time, St. Mary's has maintained its Catholic health care mission in the face of deepening identity within an increasingly secular society provincial funding cutbacks, sweeping hospi- and remained open to people of all faiths. tal restructuring and threats of closure? This Moreover, St. Mary's has secured the book is designed to tell the dramatic story of intensely loyal patronage of the Twin Cities St. Mary's General Hospital in Kitchener, community and beyond, especially from Ontario, with these central questions in non-Catholics, and earned the solid financial mind. Its purpose is not only to celebrate the and political support of local governments. many memorable people and important St. Mary's history can be character- 5t. Mary:SGeneral Hospital ~ 139 ized as a circle of care, defined physically between St. Mary's and the Kitchener- and psychologically by the Queen's Waterloo Hospital during the 19705 and Boulevard Circle that surrounds it. While 19805. physically confined to a certain degree, Despite all the changes in the particular remaining within the limits of this circle has services the hospital has offered, the St. reinforced the unique caring environment of Mary's spirit continues to be defined by its the hospital and the personal relationships of family of caring individuals who meet the the St. Mary's family, particularly after the unique health care needs of each person completion of a major expansion in 1962 arriving at the hospital's front door. Indeed, and the subsequent decline of the presence among the St. Mary's family and the patients of the Sisters. Similarly, St. Mary's history has they have cared for over the past seventy-five been shaped by the cycles of events and years, this special hospital has always been issues which the hospital has revisited at more like a warm, friendly and welcoming different times. This cyclical pattern began home. with the three separate attempts to build St. Mary's between 1916 and 1924, various expansion efforts since the 1940s, and especially the numerous attempts to rationalize Christopher J. Rutty, Ph.D. services, such as obstetrics and paediatrics,

140 ~ 5t. Mary's General Hospital Acknowle ts Christopher Rutty, Ph.D.

I would like to thank everyone at St. Mary's Director of Patient Services and General Hospital for the opportunity to Communications, were my main panners, tell the story of their hospital and for all while University of Waterloo historians their kindness and support during this Professors Ken McLaughlin and Geoffrey project. This volume is the end product of an Hayes were especially helpful in the shaping effort by many dedicated people at St, Mary's of this manuscript. For her professional that began long before I became involved. input in copy editing the manuscript, Diane Special thanks must first go to the President Mew has also been most helpful, while Tom and Chief Executive Officer of St. Mary's Bishop and his Ampersand Studios have since 1982, Bruce Antonello, for recognizing done a remarkable job in transforming my that the St. Mary's story needed to be told in words into such a beautiful volume. an engaging, though serious and historically The researching and writing of the St. responsible manner. Mr. Antonello has given Mary's story would have been a much longer his and the hospital's full support to this process had it not been for the earlier project, provided valuable insights into the research effons of a group of Masters of Ans story in which he has played such an impor- students in Public History from the tant part, and exhibited his kindness and University of Waterloo under the direction of patience in seeing this project to completion. Professor Geoffrey Hayes. In 1995-96, Researching and writing this book would Debora Dennis, Elijah Funston, Elizabeth not have been possible without the commit - Waters Heinrichs, john A. Scime and Kate ment of considerable time and effort on the Walsh together undenook a preliminary part of the St. Mary's General Hospital 75th foray into the history of St. Mary's. They Anniversary Committee, chaired by Fred located and described primary historical Kirvan. I want to thank Mr. Kirvan and all sources, identified potential themes for the members of this committee for their development, and prepared several contex- thoughtful guidance and feedback on this tual essays. Their effons were collated into a project, including Bruce Antonello, Cathy large two-volume reference work that has Brothers, David Graham, Theresa Franks, proven invaluable to the development and Rita Mroz, Dr. Tom Shoniker, Carol Sherban, efficient completion of my work. Sister Caroline Straus and Frank Voisin. An essential primary resource for telling Several members deserve special thanks for the St. Mary's story is the Sisters of St. the close relationship they developed with joseph's Archives at the Motherhouse in me as I researched this project and wrote and Hamilton. I would like to thank Sister Rose revised each chapter. Elaine Baldwin, St. Paulter and Sister Doreen Kaminski, the Mary's Medical Librarian, and Scott Hebert, Sisters' archivists, who were especially help- St.Mary's General Hospital ~ 141 ful in allowing me to utilize freely the helpful for gathering the details of the congregation's well-organized collection of Kingston Sisters' hitherto unheralded role in documents, photographs and artifacts related giving birth to the St. Mary's story: to St. Mary's and the Sisters who served This project would not have been there. completed efficiently without the kind assis- Elaine Baldwin, Scott Hebert and Rita tance, advice, encouragement and proofing Mroz also oversaw a series of taped inter- skills of Dorothy Summers, a long-time views with several class reunions of St. family friend and neighbour. Managing and Mary's School of Nursing graduates, as well digesting all the documents, interviews and as groups of Sisters, physicians, nurses and other historical data collected to tell this support staff. Special thanks to all those who story was made considerably easier because participated in these sessions as well as to the of the professional contributions of fellow individuals who contributed their time and historian of medicine, Dr. Geoffrey Reaume. St. Mary's memories to personal interviews. Thank you both for your assistance and They have been listed in the Notes on interest in the success of this book. Sources section at the end of this book. On a more personal level, special recog- In addition, valuable research assistance nition must go to my parents, particularly to was given by the archivists and access offi- my mother, for providing private working cers at the Archives of Ontario, particularly space to focus on writing and revising this Carolyn Heald and judith Emery Robin manuscript, and to my father for helping to Keirstead, of the Regional Municipality of keep body and soul together during this Waterloo Corporate Records and Archives, projecL My mother and father-in-law also and Susan Hoffman, archivist at the provided physical and moral support. Most Kitchener Public Library, were also very help- deserving of my appreciation is my wife ful in tracking down useful local information Andrea, who supported me in this effort with on St. Mary's and the many people associated her love, patience, encouragement and edito- with the hospital. Thanks are also owing to rial advice, especially at the same time as she Father jim Wahl, a professor of history at St. was learning how to be a new mother to our jerome's University, for providing back- newborn daughter, Alessandra. I was also ground on Father Albert Zinger and the learning how to be a new father during the Congregation of the Resurrection, and process of putting this book together and I Thelma Bisch, secretary to the Kitchener- believe both my daughter and this book have Waterloo Academy of Medicine, for provid- turned out quite well, despite the many chal- ing connections to several St. Mary's doctors. lenges that we, and St. Mary's General Sister Gayle Desarmia, archivist of the Sisters Hospital, have encountered and overcome of Providence in Kingston was also very since I started working on telling this story:

142 000' 51. Marys General Hosvilal