ABOUT MOUNT ST. MARY HOSPITAL
Mission
Vision
Values
Compassion & Caring
Respect & Dignity
Fairness & Justice
Competence & Excellence
Responsibility & Accountability
Managing resources effectively and maintaining transparency in our actions.
Hope
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
At Mount St. Mary Hospital, we value equity, diversity and inclusion. We embrace the uniqueness of all individuals and believe that every person has the right to equal treatment. Together, we are strengthened by our diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. To build an equitable, diverse and inclusive organization requires us to be collaborative.
We strive to foster a diverse and inclusive environment by continuous and active engagement of all our staff and volunteers. We create, support and maintain a living and working environment free from discriminatory and intimidating behavior. We continuously address issues that include, but are not limited to, those represented by race, sex, age, physical abilities, sexual orientation, gender, identity, neurodiversity and socioeconomic status. In the spirit of reconciliation, we also strive to develop and enhance relationships with Indigenous Peoples.
Philosophy
We believe that:
- Our core values of Compassion and Caring, Respect and Dignity, Fairness and Justice, Competence and Excellence, and Responsibility and Accountability, best reflect the healing ministry of Jesus and all who are involved with Mount St. Mary shall be guided in their actions by these core values.
- First consideration is given to the needs of the residents.
- Holistic, quality care for each resident is best provided through an interdisciplinary team that supports the centrality of the resident.
- Our primary purposes are to relieve suffering, support a sense of hope and to create a supportive environment where residents can attain their maximum potential or a peaceful death.
- Palliative care which provides compassionate care directed toward improving the quality of life for the dying is integral to our Mission.
- Special emphasis on spiritual care services for residents of all faiths is a primary need.
- All residents are entitled to undisturbed time and a place where they may have privacy when their desire for privacy is consistent with their care program, and when it does not endanger their safety. Privacy includes the security of personal possessions.
- Family, friends and the wider community provide an essential contribution to the well-being of the residents.
- Each employee and volunteer makes an important contribution to the quality of life for our residents.
- Employees who are involved in decision-making about their work and working environment are more creative and accountable in providing quality care and solving problems on behalf of residents, co-workers, and visitors.
- In order to serve our community we must be fiscally responsible, committed to environmental sensitivity, and work in collaboration with other components of the healthsystem.
History
Mount St. Mary Hospital has a rich history rooted in the pioneering work of the Sisters of St. Ann, who arrived in the gold rush boomtown of Victoria, BC, in 1858. They quickly immersed themselves in the education of local children, the care of the sick, and the laying out of the dead without regard to color, creed, or nationality. This commitment to serving the community naturally led to the opening of St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1876, followed by the establishment of a School of Nursing in 1900. Over the next century, the Sisters extended their compassionate care across British Columbia, operating five additional hospitals.
Mount St. Mary Hospital was born from these beginnings, opening as an annex to St. Joseph’s Hospital in 1941. Located at the corner of Burdett and Vancouver Streets, it was originally intended to be a home for “the aged and incurables.” Patients were admitted from the Marpole Infirmary in Vancouver, and private patients were also accommodated. Despite the challenges of wartime, the hospital provided for its residents through careful economies and the generosity of local benefactors—a tradition of community support that continues to this day.
In 1965, Mount St. Mary transitioned into an extended care facility, offering skilled nursing services and 24-hour medical supervision for patients who needed long-term care but did not require acute hospital care. By the turn of the century, the need for a new, modern facility became apparent. When the Sisters of St. Ann generously donated St. Joseph’s Hospital to the people of southern Vancouver Island in 1972, they stipulated that the property must always be used for healthcare. This foresight led to lengthy negotiations between the Sisters and various governing bodies, ultimately resulting in the construction of a new Mount St. Mary Hospital on the site of the former School of Nursing at the corner of Fairfield and Quadra Streets. This new facility, officially opened in March 2003, was designed with a multi-dimensional model of care that continues to reflect the values of compassion and excellence instilled by the Sisters.
The history of Mount St. Mary came full circle in November 2012, when fourteen Sisters of St. Ann, needing complex care services, moved into the hospital as residents following the closure of St. Ann’s Residence. These Sisters now reside on the very grounds where their tradition of compassionate healthcare first took root, continuing to embody the mission and values that have defined Mount St. Mary Hospital for over a century.