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Construction of the Sydenham Wing, Providence Manor, ca. 1960. Providence Care Picture Collection V.20-SMOL, Providence Care Archives.
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Providence Manor
In 1959, the St. James and St. Joseph’s wings were demolished and replaced by a new building. Due to a dramatic increase in the number of extended care patients admitted to Providence Manor, the workers there expressed a desire to make life more homelike for residents.
In celebration of the Sisters’ Centennial anniversary, a renewed St. Joseph’s wing opened at the House of Providence providing new accommodations for the elderly including an auditorium, hospital services, and a cafeteria. In 1979 the Hildegarde Centre opened to provide day programs and care for seniors.
St. Mary's of the Lake
In 1954, the first expansion of the hospital was completed, adding a new wing and increasing St. Mary’s capacity to 200 beds. By 1959, the Ontario Hospital Care Insurance Program covered about 90% of the populace.
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| St. Mary's of the Lake Hospital, ca. 1956. Providence Care Picture Collection V.20-SMOL, Providence Care Archives. |
In the 1960s the Medical Services Insurance Act and Health Services and the Health Services Insurance Act removed a large burden of the debt of health costs and improved funding for medical resources.
In 1971, St. Mary’s of the lake became a part of Q.U.A.F.H.O.P. (Queen’s University Affiliated Hospital Council) in order to further education, research, and health services. Other members included Queen’s University, Kingston General Hospital, the Hotel Dieu Hospital, the Kingston Psychiatric Hospital, and St. Lawrence College. In 1977 St. Mary’s added a dental office to the building.
Mental Health Services
After the Second World War, Ethel Clarke, Director of Occupational Therapy, introduced an Occupational Therapy Assistant’s course to the hospital.
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Main Lobby of Westwood Building, Ontario Hospital - Kingston, ca. Early 1960s. 1021.8.2, on loan to the Providence Care Archives from the Archives of Ontario.
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In 1959, the Westwood complex opened under Homer McCuaig, the superintendent at the time.
During the 1960s, the hospital underwent many changes, making the atmosphere for clients more relaxed and positive. Brian Juniper introduced a music department for clients; John Pratten eliminated the hospital’s “locked door” policy; and a special unit for children and adolescents opened in the hospital.
In 1965 the name Ontario Hospital was changed to Kingston Psychiatric Hospital in an effort to encourage the people of Kingston to think about the hospital as a part of the community.
In 1971, the Ministry of Health eliminated the position of medical superintendent in provincial psychiatric facilities in an effort to democratize responsibility therein. The next year, Richard Van Allen introduced a series of co-operative homes to be run by patients with some help from students and hospital staff. 1975 marked a year of physical developments to the building itself: it was the year that the Beechgrove complex opened.
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