St. Mary's honours 100 years with celebrations that reflect on the past and look to the future

Kitchener, ON – Oct. 18, 2024 – St. Mary’s General Hospital marks its century-long legacy this October with a series of events showcasing its impact in Waterloo Region and beyond.

For many, the Hospital has always been more than just a building — it’s been the symbolic heart of care in the community. First opening its doors on October 21, 1924, the Hospital celebrates a century of compassionate and inclusive care to patients locally and beyond while looking to Build the Future of Care Together.

“In the early 1900s, the Sisters of St. Joseph saw an unmet need in Kitchener to care for the sick, injured and vulnerable,” says Mark Fam, President, St. Mary’s General Hospital.

“These objectives remain foundational to our work today, as we work to create safe, welcoming and inclusive care experiences for all. As we reflect back, we also look forward, as we innovate, plan and grow to meet the current and emerging needs of our quickly growing and increasingly diverse communities. Together with Grand River Hospital, our valued healthcare partner for more than 90 years, we’re entering a new chapter of care. Through Building the Future of Care Together, we’re working to build a new system of health that continues to deliver exceptional patient-centred care for all. Through the ongoing dedication and support of our teams, volunteers, community partners and donors, we’re proud of the legacy of care we’ve built upon and are excited for what the next century of care will bring.”

Highlights of the anniversary include:

A museum exhibit, “Beyond the Bricks: 100 Years of Compassionate Care at St. Mary’s General Hospital,” curated by Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum. Opening October 18 and running until April 22, 2025, it features untold stories, photos, artifacts and interactive activities.
An original documentary, “Heart of Care,” offers an intimate look into the Hospital, celebrating the people, culture and expertise that has defined St. Mary’s for a century.

“Celebrating the history and legacy of St. Mary's General Hospital allows us to honour the past and embrace the future," says Karen Redman, chair of the Region of Waterloo. "With our community poised to become home to one million residents by 2050, we will continue to work with St. Mary’s and our many partners across the region to make this community stronger than ever - fulfilling our promise of a prosperous, thriving Waterloo Region for all. Congratulations on this milestone."

Both the exhibit and documentary are a true celebration and testament to the original mission of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and the continued support of community members. That legacy of working together to improve care continues to beat strong today.

“As we celebrate 100 years of care, we acknowledge and thank a century of committed donors for ensuring that patients and families continue to have access to the best care possible when they need it the most,” says Susan Dusick, President & CEO, St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation.

The activities are made possible through funding from core partners St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation, Grand River Hospital Foundation and Region of Waterloo. Visit smgh100.ca for more information.

Media contacts

Victoria Ott
Integrated Director, Strategic Communications
Grand River Hospital & St. Mary’s General Hospital
victoria.ott@grhosp.on.ca
519.588.4687

Alyssa Lai
Director, Communications & Marketing
St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation
alai@supportstmarys.ca
519.489.0751

Lynsey Slupeiks
Manager, Corporate Communications
Region of Waterloo
lsupleiks@regionofwaterloo.ca

About St. Mary’s General Hospital

Located in the heart of Kitchener, St. Mary’s General Hospital is home to the Regional Cardiac Centre, Regional Chest Program, and Regional Eye Program. As globally recognized leaders in our field for world-class, innovative healthcare, our vision of “Inspiring Excellence. Healthier Together” is not just about our approach to patient-centred care, it’s also about our commitment to our staff.

For a century, St. Mary’s has provided compassionate care to the communities of Waterloo-Wellington, and beyond, serving over 1.4 individuals every year. We are the second-largest acute care hospital in the St. Joseph’s Health System with a team of over 2,000 staff, physicians and volunteers dedicated to ensuring patients receive the highest-quality care possible.

Learn more about Our Mission, Values and History and the Future of Care at SMGH.ca.

About St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation

St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated solely to generating financial support for the life-saving care provided by St. Mary’s General Hospital. Funds donated by the community through St. Mary's General Hospital Foundation go toward vital equipment, construction and resource requirements for St. Mary’s General Hospital which are not covered by or exceed funding provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health.

For more information, visit supportstmarys.ca 

About the Region of Waterloo Museums & Archives

The Region of Waterloo Museums & Archives operates four experiential sites throughout Waterloo Region. Together, Doon Heritage Village, Schneider Haus, McDougall Cottage and the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, tell stories from this region through educational and public programming, events, and over 60,000 artifacts.