Previously published in Examiner
The very first hospital in Montreal still in existence is called Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal.
We briefly mentioned the founder of Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal a layperson by the name of Jeanne Mance. She established the first nurses in Montreal in the 1600’s and today the hospital remains a training center for nursing.
We then looked at Margaret Bourgeoys, who established the education in Montreal. Today we have the French catholic school commission in Montreal, Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys – Montréal | These great women became the foundation of Montreal and Quebec. We will now turn to another dynamic woman by the name of Margaret D’Youville.
Margaret D’Youville and the Sisters of Charity
In 1737, the Sisters of Charity also known as the Grey Nuns, were founded by Margaret D’Youville. Their nunnery was at the top of Atwater Ave in Montrealuntil twenty years ago. The Grey Nuns sold the land and buildings to Dawson College. The Grey Nuns gave charity to the poor and downtrodden. They too educated, provided shelter, and provided a hospital for people of New France who are the descendents of the french Montrealers today.
Some English Montrealers would be descendants as well as English and French families have intermingled through the centuries to follow. However, at that time in history long before Canada was a nation and long before there was a province of Quebec, the inhabitants of the great city that would be known as Montreal were exclusively french speaking.
Montreal was first given the Native name, Hochelaga which was the name of their village. It was believed to mean Big Rapids, as Montreal is situated along the Lachine Rapids, a part of the St. Lawrence River.
“In the Iroquois language of today, the city of Montréal is called Tiohtià :ke; Tiohtià :ke Tsi and Ka-wé-no-te are used to designate the island of Montréal. In many native languages, including Algonquin, Moniang is the name for Montréal”.
Before Montreal was given the name Montreal, it was once called Ville Marie; This name was given to the village by De Maisonneuve in 1642. The time the emergence of health care surfaced in New France.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_Hospitallers_of_St._Joseph
http://www.marguerite-bourgeoys.com/en/chapel/marguerite-Bourgeoys.asp
http://www.sgm.qc.ca/sgm/anglais/a_frameset.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Osler
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Canada
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/medical-cost-disability-11/slideshow-top-11-medical-expenses?ecd=wnl_day_062511
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