The legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph’s Hospital took center stage at the 2025 Southeast Women of Distinction Awards in Estevan, where they were named this year’s Trailblazer Inductee.
The 2025 Trailblazer Memorial Walk proudly recognized the lasting impact of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada and their pivotal role in establishing and operating St. Joseph’s Hospital in Estevan. Their induction was announced during a heartfelt ceremony that also celebrated past honourees Shirley Carson, Melodye Pierson, Shirley Orsted, Ida Petterson.
As explained by Mary Anne Veroba, during the ceremony, trailblazers are women who courageously forge new paths and create opportunities for others to follow. The Sisters of St. Joseph exemplified this spirit when they responded to a call for help in Estevan during one of its darkest times. After a hospital fire in 1936, and amid the Great Depression, the Sisters chose Estevan—deemed the poorest and most in need—as the place where they would help build and staff a new hospital.
The original 40-bed, four-storey St. Joseph’s Hospital was completed in just five and a half months, opening on November 26, 1938. The Sisters didn’t just manage the hospital—they lived and worked there, dedicating their lives to providing compassionate care, often under challenging conditions. Over the decades, the hospital grew to meet the community’s needs, always guided by the Sisters’ values of gentleness, peace, and joy.
Veroba shared stories of Sister Priscilla, Sister Eden, and Sister Roseanne—three of the original sisters who arrived in 1938—as well as Sister Patricia, whose compassion toward a vulnerable young mother left a legacy that touched generations. These stories highlighted the personal and community-wide impact the Sisters made in Estevan.
Sister Irene Baker took the stage to speak on behalf of the Sisters, expressing gratitude for the honour.
"Oh, my goodness. It is hard for me to come up with the right words that would adequately express our appreciation for this. It was so unexpected, and we were so excited to learn about it. And you know, one of the greatest parts of it was it gave us an excuse to come back to Estevan," said Baker. "We haven't been here in a long time, so this is such a treat, and it's been so wonderful to be back among all of you."
She recalled how, in the early days, hospital bills were often paid with farm produce. One especially memorable moment was the unexpected arrival of a $10 bill—an extraordinary sum at the time—that symbolized the community’s generosity and resilience.
Other guests of honour Sister Elaine McManus, and Sister Sandra Boyer—former nurses and administrators at St. Joseph’s. Their presence underscored the enduring connection between the hospital and the community.
The legacy of the Sisters of St. Joseph remains deeply embedded in Estevan’s health-care history—a tradition still carried forward by the hospital and its foundation today.
Alongside the Trailblazer ceremony, the Women of Distinction Awards recognized outstanding women from across the southeast for their leadership, innovation, and impact.