Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation

The Saskatoon City Hospital School of Nursing played a pivotal role in shaping healthcare in Saskatchewan, educating generations of nurses who served in hospitals, communities, and beyond. Established in 1909 – just a year after Saskatoon City Hospital became the first municipal hospital in Western Canada – the school was created to meet the city’s growing need for trained nurses. Students lived in hospital quarters and trained under rigorous conditions, balancing long shifts with classroom instruction.

In 1969, the final class of nurses graduated from the Saskatoon City Hospital School of Nursing, closing a 60-year chapter that saw more than 2,000 graduates. By the 1970s, nursing education had transitioned from hospital-based training to college and university programs. Today, the original nursing quarters still stands as the Nursing Alumnae Wing, now home to various health programs and administrative offices for the hospital and the Saskatchewan Health Authority.

For 50 years following the graduation of the last class in 1969, Saskatoon City Hospital graduates were active through the Nursing Alumnae. Until 2019, a member served on the board of Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation. The alumnae created an endowment to ensure upkeep of the onsite chapel; members also worked to maintain a display and collection of nursing school memorabilia. While the alumnae are no longer active, retired nurses continue to serve as teachers, role models and mentors. They remain an inspiration to those wanting to follow in their footsteps.