1949
Crease Clinic of Psychological Medicine opens in the newly constructed second half of the building. A Veterans' Unit known as Riverside building opens on the Colony Farm grounds. Dr. Crease, director of Mental Hygiene for the province, retires.
1947
1947 A small group of graduate psychiatric nurses meet to discuss and plan the formation of a professional organization which was registered under the Societies Act in September 1947 as the B.C. Psychiatric Nurses Association. Their objects were: to promote, improve and maintain an enlightened and progressive standard of psychiatric nursing and to develop an active public interest in the treatment and care of the mentally ill. to work in… Read More »1947
1946
The first female physician is hired at Essondale but the hospital itself remains gender-segregated until the early 1960s.
1942
Psychiatric Treatment is expanded to include Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT) pharmacology (sulfa drugs) and psychosurgery. Complaints emerge that B.C.'s mental health facilities are overcrowded.
1940
B.C.'s Mental Hospital Act is amended, deleting all references to "lunatic" and "insane". The first male psychiatric nursing students graduate from the school of nursing.
1936
The Essondale Home for the Aged, later known as Valleyview, is opened in what was formerly the Boys' Industrial School (built in 1920).
1934
The Veterans' Unit, later known as Crease Clinic, opens at Essondale.
1932
The first graduates from B.C.'s School of Psychiatric Nursing receive their diplomas.
1930
The 675-bed Female Chronic Unit, later called East Lawn, opens. The majority of the females at the Public House for the Insane are transfer to the Female Chronic Unit. B.C.'s first training School for Psychiatric Nurses is established in the new building. The Public House for the Insane focuses solely on the care of the cognitively disabled, especially children.
1924
The Acute Psychopathic Unit, later called Centre Lawn, opens at Essondale.