Historic Sites of Manitoba: Brandon General Hospital / Brandon Health Centre (McTavish Avenue, Brandon)

Link to:
Presidents | Superintendents | Administrators | Photos & Maps | Sources

The Brandon General Hospital was established in 1883, the year following the founding of the City of Brandon. Its Provisional Board of Governors included: Rev. J. Boydell, Thomas Mayne Daly, Rev. John Ferries, Alexander Fleming, Loftus Morton Fortier, James A. Johnson, Rev. Thomas Lawson, Dr. John McDiarmid, D. M. McMillan, Dr. L. M. More, Dr. F. W. Shaw, John Wright Sifton, Dr. Richard Spencer, William James White, William Winter, and Joseph Edward Woodworth. The hospital opened for operations in 1891.

The original hospital building, designed by Brandon architect William Richard Marshall, was constructed in 1892 by contractor John Hanbury at the intersection of McTavish Avenue and Russell Street. Two years later, a residence building for nurses was erected nearby. An isolation hospital, built in 1901, was renovated into a Childrens’ Hospital in 1950. A hospital building constructed in 1922 was demolished, along with the 1892 hospital, in 1962.

Presidents of the Board of Directors

Period

President

1891-1893

John Wright Sifton (1833-1912)

1894-1895

C. A. Moor

1896

Robert Hall (1849-1911)

1897-1898

Spencer Argyle Bedford (1851-1933)

1899-1900

Thomas Dickey Cumberland (1853-1939)

1901-1902

John Dickson

1903

Henry Meredith (1844-1917)

1904-1918

Charles Whitehead (1836-1919)

1919-1932

Robert Darrach (1855-1943)

1933-1935

Oscar Lavelle Harwood (1881-1945)

1936-1937

Col. W. J. Whillier

1938-1940

N. W. Kerr

1941-1942

Stephen Emmett Clement (1867-1947)

1943-1946

Edmund Fotheringham (1879-1960)

1947-1949

Joseph Cameron Donaldson (1891-1973)

1950

J. E. Elviss

1951-1952

Myheer Crystal

1953-1954

W. W. Fotheringham

1955-1956

D. R. Doig

1957-1958

G. R. Rowe

1959-1960

G. M. Cumming

1961-1962

D. W. Clement

1963-1964

Rt. Rev. I. A. Norris

1965

E. R. McGill

1966-1968

H. J. Knowlton

1968-1970

Johnn English

1970-1972

R. W. Hawley

1972-1974

G. W. Manson

1974-1976

R. G. Martin

1976-1978

J. E. Harrison

1978-1980

Kenneth Oswald Bicknell (1928-2015)

1980-1982

H. H. Nikkel

1982-1983

Zella Mills

Superintendents

Period

Superintendent

1892-1896

Miss Margaret McVicar

1896-1898

Elizabeth Monteith Shillinglaw (1865-1950)

1898-1902

Mary Ellen Birtles (1858-1943)

1902-1903

Miss Eudora M. Hunter

1903-1919

Mary Ellen Birtles (1858-1943)

1919-1923

Miss S. Persis Johnson

1923-1945

Miss Christina M. Macleod

Superintendents of Nurses

Period

Superintendent of Nurses

1946

Miss Eva G. McNally

1946-1949

Miss Olive A. Thomas

1949-1974

Miss Marjorie E. Jackson

Administrators

Period

Administrator

1949-1950

Dr. G. W. J. Fiddes

1950-1951

Mr. J. R. Morton

1951-1963

Mr. A. K. McTaggart

1963-1966

Charles Grierson

1966-?

Mr. G. E. Chapman

Resident Staff

Period

Names

1917-1918

E. H. Alexander, W. E. Anderson, J. S. Armison, K. J. Backman, W. G. Beaton, R. Black, J. H. Buchanan, A. P. Cameron, R. E. Dicks, R. H. Edminston, D. W. Ganton, W. A. Keyes, G. Leith, W. N. Maines, H. A. Matheson, E. N. McDonald, Sidney J. S. Peirce, L. M. Rogers

Photos & Coordinates

Postcard view of the Brandon General Hospital showing, from left to right, the nurses’ residence, hospital building, and surgical building

Postcard view of the Brandon General Hospital showing, from left to right, the nurses’ residence, hospital building, and surgical building (no date)
Source: Rob McInnes, BR0037

Postcard view of the Brandon General Hospital

Postcard view of the Brandon General Hospital (no date)
Source: Rob McInnes, BR0134

Postcard view of the Brandon General Hospital

Postcard view of the Brandon General Hospital (no date)
Source: Rob McInnes, BR0070

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84046, W99.93562
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: William Richard Marshall (1854-1909)

Memorable Manitobans: John Hanbury (1855-1928)

Sources:

BGH-100: A History of the Brandon General Hospital, 1883-1983 by F. Madeline Perry, Brandon General Hospital, 1983.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 4 September 2023

Historic Sites of Manitoba

This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.

Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | Other

Inclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.

Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.

Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.

Search Tips | Suggest an Historic Site | FAQ

Help us keep history alive!