Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebrates the Echoes of Healing Commemorative Garden at Aberdeen Hospital

The Aberdeen Health Foundation is excited to share the news release below from the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing announcing the creation of the Echoes of Healing Commemorative Garden at Aberdeen Hospital.

 

News Release

Groundbreaking Ceremony Celebrates the Echoes of Healing Commemorative Garden at Aberdeen Hospital

A tribute to the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing and a lasting space for reflection and renewal

New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, March 21, 2025 – The Aberdeen Hospital Archives Society, in partnership with the Aberdeen Hospital Auxiliary and Nursing History Nova Scotia, is proud to announce the creation of the Echoes of Healing Commemorative Garden. This project honours the incredible legacies of the Aberdeen Hospital Schools of Nursing, Radiology and Laboratory Technology and their graduates while creating a peaceful space at Aberdeen Hospital.

Alumni of the nursing school are coming together to recognize the school’s long-standing impact on healthcare in Pictou County. Established in 1897, the school trained generations of nurses, radiology, and laboratory professionals before its closure in 1995. This year marks 30 years since that closure, yet no visible tribute exists to commemorate its history. The Archives Committee is changing that by creating something more meaningful than a plaque – a garden that embodies the spirit of care, healing, and renewal.

“A garden is a perfect symbol of the compassion and dedication at the heart of nursing,” says Andrea Robertson, Aberdeen Hospital Archives Convenor and long-time volunteer. “It honours the past while offering a place of peace for those who work, volunteer, visit, or receive care at Aberdeen Hospital.”

The project has already seen incredible community support, with two major donations announced at the sod-turning ceremony on March 21, 2025.

Former student and committee member Cathy Gibson, alongside her family, shared their $5,000 donation in honour of family members who attended the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing between 1923 and 1977. “I strongly believe in this project, as it honours our school and continues our legacy of caring in the Pictou County community,” said Gibson at the event.

The Aberdeen Health Foundation also stepped forward with a $50,000 commitment to help bring the vision to life. “This project reflects the deep connection between the hospital, its caregivers, and the community,” says Lisa MacDonald, Board Chair of the Aberdeen Health Foundation. “Our hope is for the garden to not only honour the history of the School of Nursing, but also to create a space that will provide comfort and reflection for future generations.”

With these generous gifts, the project is now halfway toward its $100,000 fundraising goal.

A Tribute to Generations of Nursing Excellence

The garden will be located at the former site of the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing and will feature a commemorative stone installation as a permanent tribute to the school and its graduates. Recognizing that health care experiences can be stressful, the space will offer an area for contemplation and respite, welcoming all who walk through Aberdeen Hospital’s doors.

The Echoes of Healing Garden will officially open on September 4, 2025, with a special unveiling ceremony.

 

How to Support the Project

Community members who wish to contribute can donate online through CanadaHelps or by cheque made payable to the Aberdeen Hospital Auxiliary at:

Aberdeen Hospital Archives
c/o Barbara Young
PO Box 1582, Stellarton, NS
B0K 1S0

 

Quick Facts About the Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing

• In November 1895, an appeal was sent to residents of New Glasgow, Stellarton, Westville, Trenton, and across Pictou County, highlighting the urgent need for a general hospital and a contagious disease annex. In response, the people of Pictou County came together to establish the Aberdeen Hospital and Nursing School.
• The Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing opened in 1897 and operated for 98 years before closing in 1995, serving as a vital training institution for the Pictou County community.
• It was the fourth of 25 nursing schools established in Nova Scotia.
• A total of 1,889 students graduated from the school, including 26 from the Radiology Program, 36 from the Laboratory Program, and 1,837 from the Nursing Program.
• In 2025, the school will mark the 30th anniversary of its closure.
• The Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing archives are housed in the basement of Aberdeen Hospital. Aberdeen Hospital and Victoria General Hospital are the only two facilities in the province with permanent onsite nursing school archives.
• Since 2015, the Archives has been working on a digitization project to preserve and catalogue all artifacts.

 

Media Contact

Kim Chisholm
Aberdeen Hospital School of Nursing Archives
AHSON.archives@gmail.com