City Hospital's Nurses Residence

Description of the Historic Place

The City Hospital's Nurses Residence is a large five storey brick building located adjacent to Saskatoon City Hospital. The building is situated in the City Park neighbourhood at 701 Queen Street.

Heritage Value

The Nurses Residence is representative of health care education in the first half of the 20th century. Designed by architect John M. Morrison, the building was constructed in 1930 to be used as a residence for Saskatoon City Hospital nurses enrolled in the school of nursing. In 1949, City Hospital expanded and the nurses' residence was renovated with the addition of three stories. Saskatoon City Hospital's school of nursing was closed in 1969 with the introduction of centralized Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (SIAST) nurses training. With this change the nurses residence was no longer needed at the hospital, and as a result was converted for patient accommodation and renamed the Nurses Alumnae Wing.

During City Hospital's 75th anniversary in 1984, all original brass name plates, room numbers, and light switch covers were given to former nurses who came for the celebrations as a memento of the residence. Between 1984 and 1985, the hospital spent $1.9 million renovating the building to better house mental health services for Saskatoon. Today, the Nurses Residence continues to be symbolic of early nursing care in the city.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:

• Those elements that reflect its historical importance as an institution including its brick façade, castellated roofline, main arched entrance, the inscription ‘NURSES RESIDENCE’ on the facade, and the buildings’ original location and close proximity to Saskatoon City Hospital.