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.

History of The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre

1950s

The 1950s marked a dramatic change in the treatment of tuberculosis as effective new drugs and chemotherapy were introduced to treat patients and improve recovery.

Further renovations and refurbishment to the Lady Grey building significantly expanded services to include a surgical unit, offices, an X-ray department, a laboratory, a pharmacy and resident quarters.

Individuals and organizations in both Ottawa and the outlying areas made many of these renovations possible through generous donations. The previously disbanded Occupational Therapy program now had 179 patients enrolled, sponsored by the Kinsmen Club.

The monthly payroll of the Sanatorium reached 180 employees and was expected to increase as new beds were added and the workweek was reduced to 44 hours.

The total admissions reached 7,000 since the San’s establishment in 1910, averaging 200 admissions per year. The average stay was seven months and the age of patients ranged from infancy to well over 70 years of age.

1950 – The hospital’s water tower was erected, ensuring a good water supply and adequate fire protection. As the first such water tower in Ottawa there was considerable opposition from residents, who considered it a monstrosity. The tower’s 56-metre height broke all existing height restrictions at the time.

1953 – The new Infirmary building, later known as the Carmichael building, was built and provided an additional 135 beds.

1958 – The Rehabilitation Institute of Ottawa was formed and opened an outpatient facility on Bank Street to provide services to the physically disabled in the Ottawa Region.