On a historic day for the Hotel Dieu Shaver, the public was invited to an Open House to connect the past with the future at the hospital on Glenridge Avenue on October 21. A time capsule was opened to revive artifacts treasured since the 1950’s.
The unveiling of the St. Joseph Statue in front of the Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre was followed by another historic event as Mountainview Homes presented a $750,000 cheque. It is the biggest donation ever made to help Hotel Dieu Shaver Foundation build for the future.
Bishop Gerard Burgie blessed the relocated sculpture that was a fixture since 1952 at the once Hotel Dieu Hospital site on Ontario Street. Although the original Hotel Dieu Hospital in St. Catharines opened in September 1953, the sculpture of St. Joseph was installed during the construction of the building on Ontario Street in 1952. Two workers on the building crew, John Gazzola and William Romagnoli signed the back of the stone sculpture, eventually covered by the wall after it was installed in 1952. A Thorold resident at the time, John Gazzola, as well as Romagnoli autographed the sculpture in April 30, 1952 to leave their mark on the statue.
2016-10-21