St. Joe’s celebrates 125 years

St. Joseph's Care Group has been meeting the need of people in Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario for 125 years.

It all began in 1884 when five Catholic nuns from St. Joseph's of Sault Ste. Marie enlisted to open a school at Prince Arthur's Landing (now Thunder Bay). It soon turned into a mission to develop a hospital in order to meet the needs of the men building the Canadian National Railway.

"The strength of these women was incredible," said Tracy Buckler, CEO and president of St. Joseph's Care Group. "One-hundred twenty-five years ago they were single, independent women with strength of character, vision and a commitment to doing the right thing."

After tending to some injured men on the railroad and recognizing the need for health care, these enterprising women went out on the railway lines in hand cars and asked for money from the workers, offering health care in return. They not only began the first form of health insurance, but they raised enough funds to build a hospital, which has since developed into a fully accredited organization comprised of nine sites, 1,700 employees, and an annual operating budget of $115 million. It is Thunder Bay's fifth largest employer.

"We work very hard to maintain our reputation for care and service because of the sisters who were here and because there is a very high expectation in this community that St. Joe's will be there and provide what is needed," Buckler said.

Like the sisters before them, St. Joseph's Care Group staff continue to live that legacy, filling the gaps in health-care service in the community.

The hospital was the first established site. Over the years, the Care Group has grown and evolved to include a variety of services in complex care and rehabilitation, long-term care, supportive housing and mental health and addictions.

Restructuring

One of the most significant changes in programming and services occurred in 1997 when the provincial government launched the Health Services Restructuring Commission (HSRC). Thunder Bay was the first place to be restructured and streamlined.

"It was a significant change for St. Joe's because we used to be an acute care hospital," Buckler explained. "When the restructuring occurred, there were five hospitals. We had already engaged in talks about partnering with the other hospitals and about who ought to do what. We knew our role would be more for rehabilitation."

Despite the fact that the change was inevitable and necessary, it was still challenging and had a significant impact on the workers at both sites who had to change workplaces and readjust to a new environment and colleagues.

 "People were feeling very conflicted in that they wanted to be part of St. Joseph's but they knew what kind of nursing care they wanted to provide," Buckler said. "There were people from the existing rehab and complex continuing care hospital that were upset too because they had to move to a new place they knew nothing about."

One of the unique features of St. Joseph's Care Group is the fact that it is a faith-based organization that promotes inclusiveness and holistic care.  "We care for your body, mind and spirit," said Buckler. "You're not just a knee replacement coming in for rehab therapy or the resident in long-term care in room 105. The body, mind and spirit connection is integral to healing and making people whole. We really believe that and try to approach it from an interdisciplinary, holistic manner of caring."

Proud of the culture and history established over the years, Buckler said the majority of the celebrations will take place throughout the fall, highlighting different programs and services. A book on the last 25 years is being written by a local author to complement a 100-year book written in 1984.

The opening of the new Sister Margaret Smith Centre for addictions programming for youth and adults will be celebrated. Sister Margaret Smith, recipient of the Order of Canada for providing and caring for people with alcohol addictions, will be attending the grand opening in October.

Once that move is completed, future projects involve $120 million worth of capital development. The old nurse's residence of St. Joseph's Hospital (the space presently occupied for mental health and addictions treatment) will be torn down to make room for a new wing for mental health rehabilitation.

The Hogarth Riverview manor, a long-term care facility which currently hosts 96 beds, will be transformed into the Centre of Excellence for Integrated Senior Services by increasing its space to include 336 more long-term care beds and 132 supportive housing apartments. 

As new projects come on board today and into the future, St. Joseph's Care Group will continue to offer dedicated services entrenched in the legacy established 125 years ago by women who served their faith and the people who needed them.

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