British Columbia’s Victoria Asylum closed, and the Provincial Asylum for the Insane is opened in New Westminster.

1878. British Columbia’s Victoria Asylum is closed due to overcrowding. The patients from that institute were moved to a new Provincial Asylum for the Insane, located in New Westminster. This institute would eventually become the Woodlands Institution.

The keepers of new asylum were Superintendent James Philips, and Medical Officer R.I. Bentley. While this institution was somewhat larger than the Victoria Asylum, it soon proved to be inadequate as well. The patients were exposed to poor living conditions, including overcrowding, lack of heat in the winter, and cruel treatment from the asylum staff. In 1895, Dr. Bentley was forced into retirement following a Royal Commission inquiry that confirmed the mistreatment of patients by Bentley and his staff.

Bentley was replaced by Dr. Boddington, who focused on “humanizing” the institution by reducing physical restraints, encouraging patients to be active, and improving the living conditions of individual patients. In 1897, the institution was renamed the Provincial Hospital for the Insane.

-Erna Kurbegovic

  • Foulkes, R. (1961). British Columbia Mental Health Services: Historical Perspective to 1961. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 85, 649-655.

British Columbia’s Victoria Asylum closed, and the Provincial Asylum for the Insane is opened in New Westminster.

1878. British Columbia’s Victoria Asylum is closed due to overcrowding. The patients from that institute were moved to a new Provincial Asylum for the Insane, located in New Westminster. This institute would eventually become the Woodlands Institution.

The keepers of new asylum were Superintendent James Philips, and Medical Officer R.I. Bentley. While this institution was somewhat larger than the Victoria Asylum, it soon proved to be inadequate as well. The patients were exposed to poor living conditions, including overcrowding, lack of heat in the winter, and cruel treatment from the asylum staff. In 1895, Dr. Bentley was forced into retirement following a Royal Commission inquiry that confirmed the mistreatment of patients by Bentley and his staff.

Bentley was replaced by Dr. Boddington, who focused on “humanizing” the institution by reducing physical restraints, encouraging patients to be active, and improving the living conditions of individual patients. In 1897, the institution was renamed the Provincial Hospital for the Insane.

-Erna Kurbegovic

  • Foulkes, R. (1961). British Columbia Mental Health Services: Historical Perspective to 1961. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 85, 649-655.