The Government of Canada recognizes the national historic significance of the Contributions of the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec to Health Care in Canada
News Release
August 1, 2017 Quebec City, Quebec Parks Canada Agency
Canada’s national parks, historic sites and marine conservation areas enable Canadians to experience their rich and varied history in a special way. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to experience nature and learn more about our history.
Rémi Massé, Member of Parliament for Avignon–La Mitis–Matane–Matapédia, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, today highlighted the national historic significance of the Contributions of the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec to Health Care in Canada. A ceremony was held in Quebec City with members of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, government representatives, and members of the Fédération des monastères des Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus.
The Government of Canada is committed to connecting Canadians to the significant people, places and events that contributed to our country’s diverse heritage. The Augustines de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec were Canada’s first nurses and women pharmacists, and no other religious community performed hospital service for as long a period or was as singularly focused on the care of the sick.
Through their work, the Augustines de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec pursued their ideal of women committed to the delivery of quality nursing care, responsive to the needs of society and respectful of advances in medical science. They contributed to the professionalization of nursing, and their work as a whole, left an indelible mark on the history of Canadian hospitals in general and on Catholic hospitals in particular.
2017 also marks the centennial of national historic sites and Parks Canada invites Canadians to discover and be inspired by the stories of the people, places and events that shaped the Canada of today. Take advantage of free admission to national historic sites in 2017, and discover truly Canadian places and stories with Parks Canada!
Quotes
“The Government of Canada is very pleased to commemorate the national historic significance of the contrbutions of the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus de l’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec to Health Care in Canada. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, I encourage all Canadians to take this opportunity to learn more about the remarkable story of this nursing order of nuns and the important role they played in our country's history.”
Rémi Massé,
Member of Parliament for Avignon–La Mitis–Matane–Matapédia
“Since August 1st, 1639, date of our arrival in ‘Kebec’, and filled with great faith, courage, boldness and tenacity, a beautiful story of hospitality took form in the heart of this country and continues up until today. From one generation to the next, the Augustines have kept on serving the Christ passionately by healing souls and bodies, with great respect towards the person, regardless his condition, race, culture or religion. On behalf of the Augustines of today and from the past, I would like to express my gratitude to the Government of Canada for recognizing the Augustines’ work towards the population and making them feel honored.”
Sister Lise Tanguay
Superior General of the Fédération des monastères des Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus
Quick Facts
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Through their close relationship with Laval University, the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus à Québec supported progress in medicine and helped to professionalize nursing care. The Hôtel-Dieu de Québec hospital, which they managed up until the 1960s, attests to their contribution to the development of hospitals and to health care in Canada.
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August 1st, 2017 marks the 378th anniversary of the arrival in Quebec City of the Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus à Québec, as well as the second anniversary of the opening of the Monastère des Augustines museum.
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Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people and events that have marked Canada’s history.
Associated Links
Contacts
Kimberly Labar
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Quebec Field Unit
Parks Canada Agency
418-648-4444
Kimberly.labar@pc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca