Work therapy introduced in British Columbia’s asylums

1883. Work therapy was first introduced at the Provincial Asylum for the Insane under the supervision of Dr. Bentley. It is unclear exactly what type of work patients did during their stay at the institution in the early days but it is very likely that they worked outside. Perhaps doing jobs such as landscaping of the asylum grounds, and gardening. It was believed such work would benefit patients and was widely employed across institutions.

The year 1905 marked the beginning of land clearing project that would eventually lead to the establishment of a Colony Farm. Under the supervision of Dr. C.E. Doherty, the patients at the New Westminster asylum experienced “moral treatment.” This form of treatment emphasized empathy and kindness toward patients. All patients were allowed to work, as well as engage in recreation and amusement. Many worked on the Colony Farm helping with crops, working in barns, and learning to work dairy equipment, while others did various forms of work in the shop.

-Erna Kurbegovic

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

  • Bickers, S.H. (1910). Treatment of the Insane: Farming as a Cure for Madness—British Columbia’s Novel Experiment. Man to Man, 7, 1051-1059.

Work therapy introduced in British Columbia’s asylums

1883. Work therapy was first introduced at the Provincial Asylum for the Insane under the supervision of Dr. Bentley. It is unclear exactly what type of work patients did during their stay at the institution in the early days but it is very likely that they worked outside. Perhaps doing jobs such as landscaping of the asylum grounds, and gardening. It was believed such work would benefit patients and was widely employed across institutions.

The year 1905 marked the beginning of land clearing project that would eventually lead to the establishment of a Colony Farm. Under the supervision of Dr. C.E. Doherty, the patients at the New Westminster asylum experienced “moral treatment.” This form of treatment emphasized empathy and kindness toward patients. All patients were allowed to work, as well as engage in recreation and amusement. Many worked on the Colony Farm helping with crops, working in barns, and learning to work dairy equipment, while others did various forms of work in the shop.

-Erna Kurbegovic

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

  • Bickers, S.H. (1910). Treatment of the Insane: Farming as a Cure for Madness—British Columbia’s Novel Experiment. Man to Man, 7, 1051-1059.