Reflections

Reflecting on important milestones of Deer Lodge Centre, we continue to build our future.

1857

John Rowand Jr., son of a wealthy retired Chief Factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, acquires a tract of land along the Assiniboine river and builds an elegant house - "Silver Heights".

1859

James McKay marries Margaret Rowand and builds his own elegant home "Deer Lodge" adjacent to that of his brother-in-law.

1871

The Honorable James McKay, Speaker of the House in the first Manitoba Legislature, leases the property to the Manitoba Government as a summer residence for Adams Archibald, the first Lieutenant-Governor.

1873

The property is bought by Donald A. Smith, Lord Strathcona, and becomes a centre for hospitality in the Red River Settlement.

1882

H.A. Chadwick purchases the property and renovates it as an elegant roadhouse known to Winnipegers of the day as "Chad's Place."

1892

Fire claims the main building which is rebuilt and repoened as the "Deer Lodge Hotel."

1907

Fire again destroys part of the hotel. It is rebuilt on a grand scale with financial assistance from Roderick MacKenzie, son of Sir William MacKenzie.

1916

May 31 - Canada votes for Prohibition. When causalities mount from the First World War, Roderick MacKenzie offers Deer Lodge to the Military Hospital Commission.

June 29 - The Deer Lodge Military Convalescent Hospital is officially opened by the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Princess Patricia. Eighty-five soldiers are housed in the facility.

1919

End of World War I. The Hospital is purchased and converted to acute-care use by the Department of Soldiers Civil Re-Establishment. Capacity is reduced to 75 beds.

1929

The Department of Pensions and National Health adds 75 beds.

1930

The facility is expanded by one hundred beds. Capacity remains at 250 beds until the start of World War II.

1934

A three-storey extension is added to house the Central Registry, Prosthetic Services and the Pension Commission.

1939

World War II - Two"temporary" wooden buildings are constructed to care for the wounded repatriated from Europe. Capacity increases to 550 beds.

1943

A fire-resistant wing is added for laboratory services, operating rooms and expanded dental services.

1944

The Department of Veterans Affairs builds twin three-storey active treatment units with a total capacity of 300 beds (North and South Pavilions).

1945

A new kitchen and powerhouse are added.

1946

Facility capacity is severely taxes with over 1100 wounded patients.

1955

The "temporary" wooden buildings are demolished to allow construction of a new, eight-storey hospital.

1958

September 24 - The opening of the new "Lodge" building brings the total beds to 640.

1958-83

The focus of the hospital changes as there is less need for acute care veterans' services. As the veterans age, the need for geriatric services and programs is identified.

1983

March 31 - Following prolonged negotiations with the Federal Government, the Deer Lodge Hospital is finally transferred to the Province of Manitoba. $30 million is provided to finance renovations and new construction. As part of the agreement, 155 personal care beds are reserved for veterans.

1988

May 10 - Residents are moved into the newly completed 200 bed Personal Care Tower.

1989

June 7 - The total reconstruction and renovation program is completed. The new complex of 406 beds is officially opened by the Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba, the Honorable George Johnson.

The focus of the Centre changes to encourage specialized outreach programming to maintain the elderly in the community and to create an empowering, holistic care environment for those who come for temporary or long term care.

1990

May - A twelve bed Psychogeriatric unit opens, focusing on assessment and treatment of individuals with mental health problems.

July - The Minister of Health, the Honorable Don Orchard announces the opening of 90 beds in the Lodge Building and 60 interim Personal Care beds in the South Pavilion. The 90 beds incorporate an expansion of the Centre's Respiratory program, a doubling of Assessment and Rehabilitation beds and a new unit for the severely brain injured. With this announcement, Deer Lodge Centre becomes Manitoba's major facility for Geriatric Rehabilitation.

1991

March- The Deer Lodge Foundation for Geriatrics is formally constituted.

May 5 - A 23 bed Neurosupportive unit opens, providing care to individuals who have sustained severe neurological impairment. This brings the total bed status to 417.

December 19 - The Tower Building is renamed the "John Osbourne VC Tower" in honor of the World War II heroes.

1992

January 30 - The J. W. Crane Memorial Library of Gerontology and Geriatrics officially opens. The library is Canada's largest and best known special library on aging.

1993

April- With the opening of 44 beds on 6 West and 6 East, the Centre's rated bed capacity is 461. The new beds include the TACT program (Temporary Acute Care Treatment), providing short-term medical intervention to elderly individuals whose needs exceed the care available in personal care homes.

The Communication & Environmental Systems Library (CESL) is fully operational. The library leases equipment to individuals with difficulties talking and/or accessing controls in their environment such as turning on the TV or lights.

1994

Two new programs started: Peritoneal Dialysis and Chronic Care Respite.

1995

The Collaborative Research Centre opens, focusing on the practical impact of treatment, care-giving methods and life enrichment.

1996

Anderson House Prosthetics and Orthotics relocates to Deer Lodge Centre.

1997

Deer Lodge Centre is now part of the Winnipeg Hospital Authority (WHA) and the Winnipeg Community Authority (WCA).

1998

Deer Lodge Clinical Oxygen Services was created, allowing us to share our expertise in providing state of the art portable liquid oxygen systems to other WRHA facilities in a cost effective manner.

December - 36 more personal care beds were opened on Lodge 7, making a total bed capacity of 497.

1999

Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, visits Deer Lodge Centre during the Pan Am Games. WHA and WCA merge to form the WRHA (Winnipeg Regional Health Authority).

2000

Program management unfolds with the Assessment & Rehabilitation program.

2001

December - The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada visits Deer Lodge Centre.

2002

January - The Life and Learning Centre opens, housing a Learning Resource Centre and a large Worship Centre. This new 10,000 square foot facility was built in response to a growing demand for education services, spiritual growth and an increasing awareness of our services to the community.

August - Deer Lodge Centre merges operations with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. The Board of Directors of the Centre devolves and the WRHA Board of Directors takes over the Governance of the Centre. Deer Lodge Centre becomes an Operating Division of the Region.