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

The Royal Ottawa Hospital was originally built in 1910 as a sanatorium for people with tuberculosis and the first patient was admitted to the Lady Grey Hospital in February of that year.

At that time the facility was better known as ‘The San’ and it became the main treatment centre for tuberculosis in Eastern Ontario.