Our History

Riverview Health Centre History

Riverview Health Centre: Evolving with Innovation and Care

Riverview Health Centre – Honouring Voice, Respecting Choice.

Historical picture of riverview
Nurse picture from history
Picture of lung device from the 1900s
Riverview Heritage Museum

Riverview Heritage Museum

Nestled in Room 238 of the Princess Elizabeth Building, the Riverview Heritage Museum is a testament to the rich history and bright future of Riverview Health Centre. It’s a place where the past meets the present, and the future is embraced with open arms.

The museum is a treasure trove of artifacts, photographs, and stories that weave together the Centre’s century-spanning narrative. It’s an organized showcase of our heritage—ranging from the poignant iron lungs of the 1950s polio epidemic to the medical paraphernalia that marked the advances of the time.

A Story of Resilience

Visitors to the museum are transported back in time through a visual chronicle of significant events like the Red River Flood of 1950. The imagery is powerful, capturing moments of resilience—like the barely visible ambulance submerged in floodwaters and the rows of cribs holding children battling whooping cough.

A Foundation of Innovation

From Ruins to Renaissance The museum also marks the evolution of healthcare at Riverview. Where once stood the Winnipeg Municipal Hospital, now rises the modern Riverview Health Centre—a symbol of medical progress and compassionate care. The transformation from the old to the new is documented in vivid detail, celebrating the Centre’s commitment to innovation.

A Legacy of Learning

Beyond its historical artifacts, the museum highlights Riverview’s pivotal role in shaping nursing education in Canada. From its early days of focusing on communicable diseases to its current emphasis on geriatric and rehabilitative care, Riverview has been a beacon of learning and practice for generations of nurses.

The Riverview Heritage Museum is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm (closed on statutory and recognized holidays).

Treatment Chair
Life care machine
Picture of iron lung

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