Infection Prevention 
For details on the evolution of both the facility and mental health treatment, including historical photos, please select from the following eras:
- 1913 – The Sanatorium is expanded with the addition of a new hospital building.
- 1920s – The facility expands again, including a new Children’s Building and tunnels connecting the 3 main hospitals.
- 1930s & ’40s – Occupational therapy is introduced, there’s a shift towards the provision of free treatment for tuberculosis patients and management of the facility is moved from the province to the Board of Trustees.
- 1950s – Major renovations greatly expanded services offered; tuberculosis treatments improve and a rehabilitation institute is formed to provide outpatient services to the physically challenged.
- 1960s – Hospital designated as a treatment centre for persons suffering from any kind of disability or illness, including emotional and psychiatric disorders; the first psychiatric service unit is established.
- 1970s – Last tuberculosis ward closed, focus shifts to rehabilitation medicine and new programs including forensic psychiatry and substance abuse added; dedicated cottages for specialized treatment of children and youth were also established.
- 1980s – Medium security unit created, regional rehabilitation centre and new Lady Grey building opened, a mobile clinic delivers services in remote areas of Quebec and Ontario.
- 1990s – Transitional living centre for treatment of head injuries opened.
- 2000-present – Major redevelopment project creates the first teaching hospital in Canada to be privately built and operated; century-old psychiatric hospital replaced with state-of-the-art facility to promote healing and foster research and education.
Historical photos used in this section appear courtesy of the archives of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, the City of Ottawa, and the Brockville Museum.
History of The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre
1920s
1927 – The Whitney Building, a gift of the late Edwin C. Whitney, opened with an additional 16 beds. Between 1929 and 1932, the porches were converted to wards and with the addition of a fourth floor, the total number of beds in the Sanatorium reached 184.
1928 – The Red Cross Preventorium (later known as the Children’s Building) was opened.
1929 – A central heating plant and laundry building was added, together with a tunnel connecting the three main buildings.
