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Bruyère Continuing Care
On September 12, the SCO Health Services took on a new name – Bruyère Continuing Care- and a new logo during the course of an official unveiling ceremony in the Atrium of the O’Brien Family 100 Club at St. Vincent Hospital.
During the course of this ceremony, Sister Gisèle Vadeboncoeur, sco, offered the following remarks:
Ottawa, September 12, 2008
BRUYÈRE CONTINUING CARE
Premier Dalton McGuinty
Doctor Robert Cushman
His Worship Mayor Larry O’Brien,Distinguished guests,
It was with pleasure that I accepted to say a few words on our Foundress, Mother Elisabeth Bruyère, and the role she played in the development of the city of Ottawa with the challenges she encountered along the way.
In 1845, at the request of the Bishop and of the Oblate Fathers, especially Father Telmon, the Grey Nuns of Montreal accepted to send Sisters to Bytown where the population was in urgent need for someone to establish social services and schools for the children. Mother Bruyère was only 27 years old when she was chosen to be the Superior of a community of 5 Sisters. Having left Montreal on February 19, via the frozen Ottawa river, on horsedrawn sleighs, they arrived in Bytown the following day. Despite the cold and the rain, many Catholics and Protestants, French and English speaking adults and children had gathered in a spirit of joy to welcome the Sisters as the Church bells rang and the applause could be heard everywhere.
It was Mother Bruyère’s charism of compassion and great faith in God that made her accept this very demanding mission. And it did not take her long to perceive the enormity of the task and the need to start working as soon as possible.
The very next day, she started by visiting the sick in their homes already thinking about buying a house where they could be cared for and also a place to set up a school for young girls.
Within six months, she established a bilingual school, the first of its kind for girls, she opened a bilingual hospital and an orphanage. From the onset, she insisted on serving all people regardless of their language or religion; the same principle is applied today.
Mother Bruyère was always preoccupied with the ideal of the congregation : the Gospel motto surrounding the emblem of the community was ever present in her mind and heart : “I was sick and you visited me; I am the support of the weak”
Mother Bruyère was an exceptional leader, a charismatic figure. She was a leader for her Sisters; she is still our leader today for the apostolic orientation of the Congregation.
I cannot help but underscore her determination once she was convinced of the need for a certain project.
For example, in 1847, a typhus epidemic spread terror in Bytown and hundreds of sick Irish immigrants arrived, stripped of all their meager belongings and literally thrown pell-mell into government barracks, and no one would volunteer to care for them for fear of contracting the disease. Mother Bruyère and her Sisters volunteered to care for the victims of this dreaded disease. She had much difficulty getting permission from the government to take in these sick people on her premises. There were 163 deaths registered, and the Sisters themselves became ill. Mother Bruyère also became ill, but, fortunately, none of the Sisters died.
During her 30 years of incessant labour in Ottawa, Mother Bruyère succeeded in establishing a new Religious Congregation, several institutions for the care of the sick, regular schools and boarding schools for girls, orphanages for poor children, residences for the elderly and countless services for the poor.
However great the challenge, she would never give up. Her faith in Divine Providence knew no bounds! Her community has become a big tree, a tree that has continued to grow not only here, but has spread its branches in ten other countries in the world.
Today, her spirit of compassion is still very much alive in the hearts of the members of her Congregation.
In Mother Bruyere, our beloved Foundress, we find a spiritual guide, a source of the compassion and dynamism that still animates our works. Mother Bruyère may belong to History, but she is still alive today. And we are proud that today, the name selected is Soins continus Bruyère, Bruyère Continuing Care. We are truly honoured and wish to express our congratulations and thanks to the persons who were involved in that decision. It is very comforting to realize that the mission of compassion and excellence of our Foundress is still very much alive in our institutions to this day.
May God bless you all!
Sr. Gisèle Vadeboncoeur
Mr. Larry O’Brien, Mayor of Ottawa, officially declared September 12 Elisabeth Bruyère Day in Ottawa.
For additional detail on this day and on the services of Bruyère Continuing Care
The flower below presents the spectrum of services offered by Bruyère Continuing Care.
