History of St. Joseph Hospital School of Nursing, Glace Bay, Nova Scotia

The History of St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing by: Mary Chiasson

First Graduating 1905

Left to right Front row - Governor General of Canada, Earl Gray and his wife;

Behind Earl Gray is the Lady in waiting for Mrs. Gray;

The lady in the centre with the big hat, is Superintendant - Janet Cameron;

Mayor Burchell on the left, (Bald)

Six graduate nurses - two Siters of St. Martha and four lay nurses: ANNIE MACASKILL; ISABEL CHISHOLM; ANNIE MACDONALD; LETTIE KAYEMBERG, SISTER ANNE; SISTER M. REMIGUS

Others in the picture unknown.
The first student nurses entered St Joseph's in 1902 - the same year the hospital was officially opened.

It was the first school of nursing on Cape Breton Island. This class of six, including two nuns and four lay women graduated in 1905.

They received their diplomas from Earl Gray, the Governor General of Canada.

The nurses residence was erected in 1905 to house the student nurses.

Janet Cameron was the first Superintendant of Nurses followed by Margaret Conway. In 1915 the administration of the hospital and the School of Nursing was taken over by the Sisters of St. Martha.

Sister Maris Stella was the first Sister, to be Superintendant. Others were: Rev. Mother Ignatius, Sisters Mary Rita, Paul of The Cross, Marie Barbara, Mary Jovita, Mary Peter, Mary Beatrice, Mary of Calvary, Ann Marie, Hugh Teresina, and the last being Sister Clare Marie.

From its first graduating class in 1905 until its final graduating class in 1970, St. Joseph's continued to train and graduate nurses, including the years of the depression and through two World Wars.

St. Joseph's graduates had an excellent reputation and were readily accepted by hospital throughout Canada and the United States.

A quote from the book, "Nova Scotia's Part in The Great War", by M. Stuart Hunt (1915) is a testimony to St. Joseph's School of Nursing.

"The selection of the Medical and Nursing personnel and the recruiting of other ranks then commenced in earnest and the response was wonderful.

For a Stationary Hospital only twelve medical officiers and twenty-seven were required; but thirty medical men and eighty nurses applied.

The material was also excellent that it was a delicate and difficult task to select.

Preference was given, however, to Dalhousie graduates and those connected with the University; and among the nurses preference was given to graduates of the two outstanding Nova Scotia nurses training hospitals, Victoria General Hospital, and St. Joseph's Hospital, Glace Bay".

Many entered the nursing profession because nursing was considered a noble profession, the cost of training was considered cheap, actually it was exchange of labour for learing. Most of us remember no days off except for an annual vacation period.

Change of shifts was considered a "day off". Manpower was supplied by the students who received a well rounded education which encluded Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Surgery, Medicine, and Emergency (remember those mine accidents!).

Students were even called upon to administer Anaesthesia at times. It was an excellent training we received under the capable direction of the Sisters of St. Martha.

In the years between 1905 and 1970, St. Joseph's graduated a total of 1,073 including, 1,030 nurses from the Three year nursing program; 33 x-ray technicians who were part of a Two year program of theory and practice which began in the late 1940's and continued until 1968; and ten Lab technicians who did their theory in Halifax and their practical work at St. Joseph's during the 1960's.

Following are pictures of the Reunion of the 100th Anniversary of the First Graduating Class.