History

The Early Years

The story of hospital care in Campbellford reaches back to 1918, when records show a small maternity hospital operating on Bridge Street West. During the same period, an isolation facility was set up at the fairgrounds to care for those affected by the Spanish Flu pandemic. These early efforts showed a strong community commitment to local health care, long before a permanent hospital existed.

That permanent care arrived in 1935, when the town approved the conversion of a residence at 123 Front Street North into the first Campbellford Hospital. The new facility opened with just two beds, an operating room, and one nurse, who lived onsite and was on call around the clock. Despite its size, the hospital filled a critical need. Before then, residents had to travel to Peterborough or Belleville for care — a far more challenging journey than it is today.

Building Campbellford Memorial Hospital (1945-1953)

By the mid-1940s, as the community continued to grow, it became clear that the small hospital could no longer keep pace with local demand. In 1945, conversations began about constructing a new and larger hospital, one that would serve not only as a centre for health care but also as a living memorial to the men and women from the region who lost their lives during the Second World War.

The eight years that followed were marked by extraordinary community spirit. Volunteers organized fundraising campaigns, service clubs purchased medical equipment, and committees worked tirelessly to plan a modern facility capable of supporting a growing rural population. Their collective effort culminated on August 23, 1953, when Campbellford Memorial Hospital was officially opened before a crowd of nearly 3,000 residents. The new hospital represented not just improved health services, but pride, remembrance, and hope for the future.

Growing to Meet Local Needs - Second Floor Expansion (1963-1971)

As patient volumes continued to rise, the hospital once again needed additional space. Plans to add a second story began in 1963, and over the following years, the hospital acquired surrounding properties to ensure enough land for expanded parking and the structural support required for vertical construction. The project unfolded carefully to minimize disruptions to patient care. After years of planning, preparation, and staged construction, the second floor was officially opened in 1971.

This expansion increased the hospital’s capacity and allowed for improved patient services within the growing community.

Emergency Department, Laboratory & Radiology Addition (1984-1987)

By the early 1980s, advances in medicine and increased emergency demand made further redevelopment essential. Construction on a major addition began in 1984, focused on modernizing the Emergency Department, Laboratory, and Radiology services. The work was completed in 1987, creating improved patient flow, dedicated diagnostic treatment spaces, and faster access to urgent care; enhancements that had an immediate and lasting impact on the region’s ability to respond to high level care.

Helipad Construction (2002)

In October 2002, a new helipad opened in the community, providing rapid access for Ornge air ambulance transfers to major trauma centres in Toronto and Kingston. While the helipad is not located directly on the hospital site, it significantly improves emergency response times for patients requiring highly specialized care. This addition strengthened CMH’s role within the wider regional health network and underscored the importance of maintaining strong emergency and critical care capacity in rural communities.

Campbellford Memorial Hospital Today

Today, Campbellford Memorial Hospital operates as a 38-bed rural acute care hospital and serves as a central health care hub for approximately 40,000 residents across Northumberland, Peterborough, and Hastings Counties. The hospital continues to provide a wide range of services, including:

• 24/7 Emergency Department
• Special Care Unit
• Endoscopy Surgical Suite
• Diagnostic Imaging (X-ray & Ultrasound)
• Laboratory and specimen processing
• Out-Patient Clinics
• Community Mental Health Services
• Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network (GAIN)
• Supportive Housing and outreach programs

For more than a century, the people of Campbellford and surrounding communities have come together time and again to support quality care close to home. That same spirit — neighbourly, determined, and forward-looking — is guiding the next chapter: the development of a new hospital as part of a Campus of Care to meet the needs of generations to come.

Thank you to the Campbellford-Seymour Heritage Society whose book "Campbellford Memorial Hospital: 50 Years of Care Beyond Compare," was the source of much of the historical information on this page.