The Legacy of the Galt Hospital

Every September an unusual kind of event takes place at the Galt Museum – the Galt Babies reunion. The people who were born at the Galt Hospital (up to 1955) come together to reconnect and commemorate their shared identity. This tradition is inextricably tied to the history of the Galt Hospital, the most prominent and storied health care institution in all Southwest Alberta.

The original 15-bed hospital was established in 1891. It was a private establishment aimed at providing health services to a small community of settlers, many of whom were employed by the Alberta Rail and Coal Co. The benefactor was Alexander T. Galt, the man behind the company, whose son Elliott would become the local manager and a prominent figure in the community.

In the early 20th century, Lethbridge (originally Coalbanks) experienced an explosive growth in population and infrastructure. The town was quickly booming into a city and the level of services -- education, health, utilities, fire safety – had to match the growing demands. Under these circumstances, the AR&C company forged a partnership with the City of Lethbridge to build a larger modern hospital facility.

In 1910, the new Edwardian-style wing of the Galt Hospital was complete. The new hospital was officially opened by the Prime Minister, Wilfred Laurier, on 1st September. The new building increased the bed capacity to 65 and provided much needed space for separate wards and functional areas.

The facility also provided home for the Galt School of Nursing. Hundreds of dedicated nurses studied and worked here during the school’s history. The program had many strict rules: students had to live in residence with work and study taking nearly all their time. As a result, strong bonds were forged between student nurses. The Galt Museum has a permanent exhibit commemorating this legacy.

The Galt Hospital continued to serve the community until 1955 when the Lethbridge Municipal Hospital was built to replace it. The red brick building became home to the Galt Museum & Archives. At present, the Galt Hospital remains a heritage hub, an architectural gem and a symbol of the health care history dating back to the time of early European settlement.

Written by Andrew Chernevych, Archivist

Galt Museum, Lethbridge

Images from 1896 to 1955 • Provided by The Galt Museum, Lethbridge