Historic Sites of Manitoba: Misericordia General Hospital (20 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg)

Link to:
Photos & Coordinates | Sources

In 1898, four nuns from the Soeurs de Misericorde (Sisters of Mercy) came from Montreal to open a mission in Winnipeg to care for unwed mothers and fatherless children. Demand grew quickly so, between 1899 and 1900, they constructed a three-storey wood frame structure as a maternity hospital. In 1907, it was more than doubled in size with the construction of centre and north wings, both of which remain today, designed by architects Joseph-Azarie Senecal and Daniel Smith. (The original 1899-1900 south wing is gone.) In 1917, the Misericordia Maternity Hospital became the Misericordia General Hospital to serve the growing neighborhoods of Wolseley, West Broadway, Crescentwood, Fort Rouge, and River Heights.

Numerous additions to the original building have occurred through the years. A School of Nursing was inaugurated in 1916 and a nurses’ residence was built in 1930. The Maryland wing (designed by the firm of Northwood and Chivers) was added in 1950 and the Cornish wing was built in 1957. The Riverview Annex from 1971 provided a modern Emergency Room and Intensive Care Unit. In 1998, the facility was down-graded from an acute-care centre to the Misericordia Urgent Care Centre. Most recently, the Maryland wing, home of the Buhler Eye Care Centre, opened in January 2015 at cost of $43 million.

The former nurses’ residence was demolished in late November or early December 2020.

Photos & Coordinates

The original Misericordia Maternity Hospital, built between 1899 and 1900 (circa 1903) Source: An Illustrated Souvenir of Winnipeg Postcard view of the Misericordia Hospital after the 1907 construction of the centre wing and north wing at right (circa 1910) Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2014-0297 The centre and north wings of the 1907 expansion (October 2014) Source: Gordon Goldsborough The centre wing of the 1907 expansion (August 2022) Source: George Penner Misericordia Health Centre building (October 2015) Source: George Penner Morgue in the 1907 portion of the building (December 2016) Source: Holly Thorne Former swimming pool in the hospital basement (December 2016) Source: Holly Thorne Former greenhouse in the 1907 portion of the building (December 2016) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.87966, W97.16017 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Joseph-Azarie Senecal (1841-1917)

Memorable Manitobans: Daniel Smith (1840-1913)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: L. P. Court / Wilfred Apartments / West Gate Apartments / Misericordia Hospital Nurses’ Home (21 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Cornish Court / Misericordia Hospital Nurses’ Home (19 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg)

MHS Centennial Organization: Villa Rosa

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Abandoned Manitoba

Sources:

City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1906/1688, City of Winnipeg Archives.

Misericordia Hospital Winnipeg: 60th anniversary, 1924-1984, Misericordia Nurses Alumni, c1984. [Manitoba Legislative Library, RA893.W5.M5]

“Nurses pleased Misericordia saved,” Winnipeg Free Press, 21 August 1996, page 3.

“Misericordia’s new urgent care facility expected to be busy,” Winnipeg Free Press, 16 December 1998, page 6.

“Misericordia Health Centre opens its new $43 million Maryland building,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 January 2015.

“Misericordia Sisters asks Manitoba health minister to change his mind,” Winnipeg Free Press, 22 June 2017.

Misericordia’s Historical Chronology.

We thank Doug Chivers, George Penner, Holly Thorne, and Nathan Kramer for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 30 October 2022

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. SEARCH the collection 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!