In the mid-20th century, the Catholic order Daughters of Wisdom founded a hospital in Ottawa, which was the only French-speaking hospital in the city’s eastern region. Despite its focus on serving francophone patients, the hospital also provided services in English. Later, it became known as Montfort. Read more on iottawa.net.
A Catholic Order’s Hospital
In the 1950s, the Catholic order Daughters of Wisdom initiated the construction of a hospital on Montreal Road. The project required substantial funding, leading the order to mortgage its Canadian properties to secure the necessary resources.
The hospital was completed in Ottawa’s east end in 1953 and was initially named Saint-Louis-Marie-de-Montfort. However, the name was later shortened to simply Montfort. The hospital remained under the management of the Catholic order until the late 1960s, when it transitioned to municipal ownership.
Development of Montfort Hospital
In 1970, Montfort Hospital ceased being affiliated with any religious denomination and became a regular municipal hospital accessible to all Ottawa residents. From its inception, it operated bilingually in French and English, making it the only bilingual hospital in Ottawa’s east end.
Over time, Montfort underwent several modernizations to meet contemporary healthcare standards. In addition to its emergency, surgical, radiology, and laboratory services, the hospital introduced several specialized departments:
- Psychiatric Unit
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Orthopedic Department
- Electroencephalography Unit
- Cardiopulmonary Unit
- Palliative Care Department
The hospital was initially designed with a capacity of 200 beds, including a pediatric wing with 50 beds. Its bilingual services and comprehensive medical care quickly made it a vital institution for residents in Ottawa’s eastern neighborhoods, eliminating the need to travel downtown for specialized treatment.
Montfort Hospital in the 21st Century
Throughout the 20th century, Montfort underwent multiple renovations, successfully operating until the early 2000s. However, by that time, the facility and its equipment had become outdated. In response, the Government of Ontario launched a major reconstruction project in 2005. With significant investments, Montfort was transformed into a world-class medical centre, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and innovative technologies.
Originally consisting of a single main building in the 1950s, the hospital gained five new wings during the reconstruction. The comprehensive renovation expanded its capacity to provide francophone residents of Ontario with a broader range of medical services comparable to those offered at Ottawa’s leading hospitals.
The 2005 upgrades included:
- A modernized emergency department
- A new surgical ward
- A laparoscopic surgery unit
- Cutting-edge MRI technology
- Advanced digital mammography equipment
In the 21st century, Montfort Hospital has become one of Ottawa’s most visited healthcare facilities, continuing its tradition of bilingual service. Over decades of development, the Catholic-founded hospital has evolved into a cutting-edge, multi-specialty institution. Each year, Montfort serves more than one million patients from eastern Ontario, Quebec, and Gatineau, cementing its role as a cornerstone of bilingual healthcare in the region.