Dr David Young, Medical
Superintendent in 1900.
David was a graduate
from Queens University in
Torornto.
Miss Euphemia McBride,
1900, the Matron, was
believed to have been
trained in Scotland as a
Royal Medico-
Psychological Attendant at
the Royal Edinburgh.
Dr Charles Barnes
organized the first nurse
training program in 1921.
First class to graduate
was in 1924.
Manitoba Asylum opened
in 1886. The building was
demolished in 1978.
Miss Alberta Hornibrook,
RN was the last Matron at
SMHC in 1962. Alberta
trained as an RN at the
Montreal General
Hospital.
Robert Burns, RN, RPN
appointed SHMC first
Director of Nursing in 1963.
Bob trained as a RN at
Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Birmingham and psychiatric
nursing at Selly Oaks, UK.
Mr William Baty was the
last Chief Male Nurse, 1963
before retiring after 41
years of service. He trained
at SMHC in the early
1930s’.
Maraget Solar, RPN,
Class of 1947.
Maragaret became the
first full time nursing
instructor at the school
of nursing in 1951.
Alfred Barnett, RPN, was
the founder of the Manitoba
Registered Nurses
Association of Manitoba in
1960. Served as the first
President of the Association.
John Martyniw, England
trained RN, RPN, ws active in
the formation of the College
of Resgistered Psychiatric
Nurses and served as the
second President from 1966
to 1971.
Dr Annette Thorimbert Osted
was the first Executive
Director of the RPNA and
continued as Director of the
CRPNA for 35 years. In June
2012 she was awarded an
Honourary Doctor of Law
Degree from Brandon
University for services to
psychiatric nursing. Alumna
Class of 1967
Gerald Pronyk, RN, RPN,
BScN, MBA, worked to
professionalised psychiatric
nursing by transforimg the 3
year program into a rigorous
2 year university credit
program in conjunction with
the University of Winnipeg.
Dr Edward Jhnson was the
Medical Superintendent at
SMHC from 1943 to 1959.
He was a pioneer in the
“Open Door Policy” for
psychiatric patients.
Dianne L Gaborieau,
RN,RPN,BA was a SMHC
Alumna 1968. In 1989 she
ws appointed Director of
Psychiatric Nursing
Education; a position she
held until the school closed
in 1992.
History of the Selkirk Mental Health Centre
Lorna Weiss worked for 30
years as a library technician
within the School of
Psychiatric Nursing’s library.
Lorna was also one of the
founding members of the
SMHC Archives Committee
and served as its first
Chairperson.
SMHC ARCHIVES Inc.