Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, a proud Ottawa resident and longtime community advocate, knows firsthand the incredible impact the Civic Campus has had on our city over the last 100 years.

But did you know it was also an Ottawa mayor, Harold Fisher, who fought hard to make the Civic Hospital a reality a century ago, despite significant pushback?

We are grateful for Fisher’s foresight all those years ago and thankful that today, Mayor Sutcliffe is both a supporter and advocate of our hospital.

In this personal video — which marks moment 99 of our 100 Moments series — he shares his thoughts on The Civic’s remarkable legacy and The Ottawa Hospital’s bright future in our community.

If you’re looking for the person who knows the Civic Campus best, it might just be Fred Kendall. You could say he knows the building right down to its bones.

Fred has worked on our facilities team for nearly 25 years and is currently The Ottawa Hospital’s Capital Projects Manager.

Fred knows all the nooks and crannies of the Civic Campus — and despite the challenges an old building poses to a person who works in facilities management, Fred still has a lot of love in his heart for this old girl.

Take a few minutes to meet Fred. One of the Civic Hospital’s longest-serving caretakers.

“My best memory of the Ottawa Civic was November 22, 2019.  

My older brother, Glenn, who was 60 at the time, had just had a heart attack in Kemptville. He was rushed to the Civic by ambulance from Kemptville General.  

When we got word, our family quickly gathered at the hospital — full of stress, anxiety, and fear. The staff were incredible with us all, but especially with my sister-in-law, Donna, and, most importantly, my brother. They saved his life.  

The staff, whatever role, but especially the doctor and nurses, were amazing. Caring. Thoughtful. Considerate. Sympathetic. Funny. Patient. Knowledgeable. They explained what transpired, what to expect, and what was next.  

God bless them all and thank you for all you do daily, but selfishly, thanks for saving my big brother on November 22, 2019.” 

Distinguished broadcaster, Shelagh Rogers, not only grew up in Ottawa, but was born right here at the Civic Campus in 1956. She went on to have an illustrious 43-year career with CBC Radio and became a beloved figure in Canadian media. She is particularly cherished for her ongoing commitment to Canadian storytelling and public service, her warm, engaging interview style, and her deep appreciation for Canadian culture. 

However, Shelagh’s contributions extend far beyond broadcasting. She is highly regarded for her work to destigmatize mental illness and has raised awareness and funds for adult literacy initiatives.  

She is a member of the Métis Nation of Greater Victoria, and in 2011, was inducted as an honorary witness for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. 

Her work has earned her numerous accolades, including induction into the Order of Canada, a Transforming Lives Award from The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, and the inaugural Margaret Trudeau Award for Mental Health Advocacy.  

Shelagh served as the Chancellor of the University of Victoria from 2015-2021, and most recently, in July 2024 she became the 16^th Chancellor of Queen’s University, where she graduated in 1977. 

Halloween is Bryde Fresque’s favourite day of the year. So when his appointment with Dr. Carolyn Nessim in 2013 got moved to October 31^st, he knew what he had to do – dress for the occasion. Bryde showed up in a head-to-toe in his homemade Iron Man costume!  

Bryde ended up in Dr. Nessim’s care after developing an unbearable pain in his side while driving home from Napanee on Boxing Day 2012. The pain was so intense he made his way to the closest ER where he was quickly transferred to the Civic by ambulance.   

By the time he arrived, he was hemorrhaging from a spontaneous rupture of his left adrenal gland. Thankfully, Bryde was in good hands and our interventional radiologists performed an emergency embolization procedure.   

In the months that followed, Bryde experience more unusual symptoms that were hard to explain, including a large mass in his abdomen.   

A panel of experts at our hospital ultimately diagnosed 32-year-old Bryde with a pheochromocytoma — a rare tumour that left his future uncertain.  

But Bryde has a zest for life that sets him apart, so when he showed up in a full Iron Man costume for his pre-op appointment, Dr. Nessim knew Bryde’s positive attitude was going to help him through the very serious and extensive surgery that lay ahead.  

The complex procedure lasted 12 hours and required a large team of experts across many disciplines. Ultimately, it was a success, and Bryde spent the next 40 days recovering in hospital.  

While his love for Halloween hasn’t wavered — in fact, Bryde and his wife’s annual Halloween bash has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research at our hospital and for the Canadian Neuroendocrine Tumor Society — it’s his triumphant recovery and comeback that needs to be celebrated. Since his surgery, he’s lived life to the fullest: climbing some of the world’s most famous mountains, getting married, and becoming a dad.  

“When I arrived at the Civic, I was hemorrhaging. I thought my life might be ending before I had the chance to fully live it. But The Ottawa Hospital saved me, and when my son was born at the Civic in 2020, it was an incredible full circle moment for me.” 

His journey also inspired his wife to become a doctor and is now a medical student. The hospital went from a place of pain for Bryde to a place of joy after the birth of his son.