Almonte’s Nurses
Nurse Gertrude Shields
When trained nurse Gertrude Shields signed on with the Victorian Order of Nurses in 1905, she was assigned to Almonte’s new Victorian Hospital. The small facility consisted of two private rooms and a public ward with two beds. For 25 cents, a nurse would make house calls; maternity visits cost $1.
Almonte Victorian Hospital Annual Report, 1905
In rural areas with few medical services available, visiting nurses like Shields wore many hats. As the hospital’s sole nurse, she provided a range of care to the entire community.
When the Rosamond Memorial Hospital was constructed in 1907, Shields became its first Hospital Superintendent. She was well respected and known to give her all to her profession.
Shields resigned from her position at age 31 upon marrying Dr. John Kelly. At the time, this was a common practice for married women. Shields is mentioned in the February 1908 issue of Canadian Nurse, where she is recognized for her hard work and commitment to the nursing profession.
Nursing Education in Almonte
By the 1920s, Almonte had instituted its own hospital-based training, modelled after the first training school for Canadian nurses at the St. Catharines General and Marine Hospital in 1874.
The Rosamond Memorial Hospital School of Nursing was established in 1922 and operated until 1928. Using an apprenticeship system, student nurses received training and experience as they staffed the hospital and delivered medical services to patients.
In 1924, an affiliation with the Montreal General Hospital sent students to the city for one year of training. The first nurses to graduate in October 1925 were Lillian Conroy, Edna Shiels, and Gertrude McDougall.
Edna Shiels, Gertrude McDougall, and Lillian Conroy graduate from the Rosamond Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1925
Helen Grace, 2021
Nurse Helen Grace
Nurse Helen Grace worked in healthcare for 32 years in Almonte, first at the Rosamond Memorial Hospital and then at the new Almonte General Hospital. “It was a great place to work,” says Grace. “We had a lot of fun, and everybody worked together.”
Helen Grace reflects on her experience working as a nurse in Almonte.
Enjoy this audio clip with an English transcript.
Nurses at the Almonte General Hospital, 1966
Peggy Horton, Dr. Donna Vilis and Marjorie Weir participate in a mock disaster exercise at the Almonte General Hospital, 1978
The contributions of nurses have played an essential part in the community’s long legacy of innovative healthcare, from Almonte’s first nursing services to the many dedicated nurses providing care at Almonte’s hospitals.