The Renfrew Victoria Hospital was erected and commenced operation in 1897 with a 12 bed capacity specifically for contagious diseases. The hospital was expanded in 1912 to a 30 bed facility and became a Public General Hospital.
On this day in history, January 15, 1926, a massive fire broke out in the original Renfrew Victoria Hospital structure. The 22 patients in hospital were transported to the Renfrew Hotel, where emergency quarters were set up. Community members arrived to help try and put out the fire and tried to salvage some of the equipment which was relocated to the Renfrew Armouries. It was a raw and cold day, but everybody was thankful that the fire had not broken out during the night. The building could not be saved, thus a new hospital needed to be constructed. Work began almost immediately and the building erected after the fire in 1926 is the building that stands today.
Today, marks 100 years of rebuilding and innovation at the Renfrew Victoria Hospital. The first major expansion happened in 1963 when the Emergency department was expanded and semi private and private rooms were added followed by the expansion for the new Emergency Department and Ambulatory Clinic area in 2001. 2015 saw the largest expansion in the hospital’s history with the addition of the Nephrology wing, including a state of the art pharmacy, indoor solarium and the expansion of the Oncology department.
Throughout 2026, the RVH Foundation will be celebrating and paying tribute to 100 years of Growth and Innovation at the Renfrew Victoria Hospital and thanking our incredible community who have supported the expansion and development of RVH through all of those 100 years.
We celebrate the achievements and pay tribute to our greatest attribute, our RVH Team and our extended community!
We look forward to continuing to grow and innovate for another 100 years!