New Brunswick boasts a rich heritage with over 100 museums and historical sites. As part of our Museum Road Trip series this summer, CBC News is showcasing eight small-town historic destinations.
The Religieuses Hospitalières de Saint-Joseph, a nun order, played a significant role in the daily lives of Tracadie residents in northeastern New Brunswick. The nuns provided care for the sick, managed an orphanage, and educated children. Although the order is no longer active in Tracadie, its legacy is preserved at the Musée Historique de Tracadie.
Initially, the nuns primarily operated a lazaretto, a hospital for individuals with leprosy. Leprosy, a bacterial infection affecting various body parts, was first identified in Tracadie in 1828, possibly introduced by immigrants from Norway.
The first lazaretto in Tracadie was established in 1849, gradually evolving to offer improved care for leprosy patients from across Canada. However, the presence of the lazaretto tarnished Tracadie’s reputation in the 1800s.
In 1943, Dr. Guy Henry Faget discovered that promin, a known drug, effectively treated leprosy. This breakthrough led to the closure of the lazaretto in 1965, marking the end of an era.
While the lazaretto focused on leprosy care, the sisters also provided general healthcare services to the local community. Additionally, the lazaretto housed the first French-speaking hospital in New Brunswick in 1896, a unique feature for the predominantly francophone region.
The museum showcases artifacts from the general hospital, including historical medical equipment. Medical professionals visiting the museum are often amazed by the tools used in the past compared to modern practices.
Recognizing the lack of education in Tracadie, the sisters established a day school and later a boarding school to provide quality education to the children in the area. The boarding school attracted students not only from the local community but also from other parts of francophone New Brunswick and Quebec.
Although the Religieuses Hospitalières de Saint-Joseph continues its operations in various communities, including Montreal, the order officially departed from Tracadie in 2025, leaving behind a rich legacy of care and education.