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

2000-present

2000 – Brockville Psychiatric Hospital transferred governance from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care as a provincial facility to the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group.

2001 – The government of Ontario announced the complete redevelopment of the Royal Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research to become the first teaching hospital in Canada to deliver public health care in a facility designed, built, financed and maintained by a private sector consortium. The decision was made to replace the century-old psychiatric hospital with a new, state-of-the art facility to promote healing and foster research and education.

An architectural rendering of the front entrance of the new hospital at 1145 Carling Avenue in Ottawa.

2002 – The Rehabilitation Centre was transferred from the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group to The Ottawa Hospital.

2003 – The 100-bed Secure Treatment Unit, the province’s first designated hospital for Ontario inmates, opened on the Brockville campus in a unique partnership between the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group.

2004 – Royal Ottawa Place, a new long-term care facility for people with mental illness and the first of its kind in the province, officially opened its doors with 96 beds.

Exterior photo of Royal Ottawa Place.

In February, the honourable James L. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was recognized for his patronage of the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research and for being a courageous champion in helping those who live with mental illness.

Also in 2004, construction of the new facility began. Throughout construction the project remained ahead of schedule and on budget, and workers were commended for maintaining a safe, accident-free worksite.

The honourable James Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was presented with a commemorative plaque by Murray Elston, then Chair of the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research.

Construction of the new hospital begins.

October 27th, 2006 – At a national news conference, The Royal Ottawa Hospital officially unveiled its new name as the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre and introduced the country to the result of the redevelopment project, North America’s first wireless hospital.

Architectural rendering of the new mental health centre including office tower.

Beautiful spacious area for patient crafts and activities.

Artist’s rendering of the Winter Garden in the atrium which allows an enormous amount of natural light into the building.

November 1st, 2006 – The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre officially opened its doors as the provider of specialized mental health services in Eastern Ontario for people with serious, complex and recurring mental illness.

The new leading-edge facility is a teaching hospital of the University of Ottawa pursuing excellence in care, advocacy, research and education within integrated systems with a vision of mental health and well being for all.

View of the front of the new Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.

View of a typical patient lounge for one of the inpatient programs.

One of the many nursing stations on the wards.

View of a typical office in the new tower.

Each one of the 12 landscaped gardens surrounding the hospital was designed with the needs of patients in mind; this Zen garden was developed specifically for patients in the Anxiety Disorders Program.