The Ottawa Civic Hospital was an integral part of the Peart family. Douglas Peart, my father, became the CEO of the Ottawa Civic in 1954, the first non-physician to be hired in this position. He remained as CEO for 24 years, guiding the Ottawa Civic into a world-class health institution. As a master of remembering faces and names, he would speak to staff personally, interested in their families and lives. Christmas mornings at the Peart household would start only after Dad had gone into the hospital, donned his Santa suit, and distributed toys and good wishes to the children on the pediatric ward, before CHEO came into being.
Dad would sometimes go into his hospital office on weekends to finish up necessary work, and I would often go with him. I loved the hushed tones of the nurses’ shoes and the efficiency and purpose of the staff as they kept that institution running 24/7, 365 days a year. It was then that I decided I wanted to go into nursing. My first job, after becoming a registered nurse, was at the Ottawa Civic Hospital in 1982, and all three of my children were born at the Civic.
Congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the Ottawa Civic Hospital! Our community has much to be proud of.
– Mary Devitt, community member.
