Curated by Aimee Benoit
The Sisters of St. Martha travelled from Nova Scotia to Lethbridge in 1929 to operate what would become known as St. Michael’s Hospital. Discover the unique history of the hospital, known for its compassionate care founded in a faith-based tradition, and explore the facility’s lasting impact on health care in southern Alberta.
As the population of Lethbridge expanded, “St. Mike’s” evolved to meet the needs of the community. An east wing was added in 1951, providing 83 more beds to the facility; this brought the total to 181 beds and 18 bassinets.
For the next ninety years, the Sisters were involved in all aspects of nursing at St. Michael’s from teaching to administration to patient care. They were respected for their discipline and compassion.
To meet the growing demand for nurses, the Sisters of St. Martha applied to the University of Alberta to open a new school of nursing, which was approved in November 1950.