Honouring our past, celebrating our present, building our future
ST. CATHARINES, ON — On August 8, 2025, Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre marked a significant milestone — 20 years to the day since the hospital was established as Niagara’s rehabilitation and complex care centre.
The anniversary was celebrated with a special barbecue in the hospital’s Healing Garden, bringing together staff, physicians, volunteers, board members, retirees, community partners, former patients, and dignitaries. The lunchtime event was filled with food, music, and reflections on two decades of compassionate care and innovation.
Hotel Dieu Shaver was founded on August 8, 2005, when the former Hotel Dieu Health Sciences Hospital assumed governance and management of the Shaver Hospital and Niagara Rehab Centre. Since then, the organization has grown into a leading healthcare provider, serving patients from across Niagara and consistently earning some of the highest patient satisfaction scores in Ontario and Canada — reaching 99% and beyond.
“What began as vision and hope has evolved into a leading health-care organization that continues to serve as a beacon of healing for patients across the Niagara region,” said Dr. David Ceglie, Chief Executive Officer. “This progress is the direct result of the dedication, passion, and commitment of everyone here today, and of those who came before us.”
The celebration also recognized the hospital’s long legacy of caring for Niagara residents, dating back to the original Hotel Dieu Hospital founded in 1945, as well as the St. Catharines Consumptive Sanatorium (which became known as the Shaver Hospital in 1984) established in 1909. Staff and guests reflected on the hospital’s unique culture of teamwork and patient- and person-centred care — qualities that remain steadfast even as the hospital has grown and evolved.
Looking ahead, plans for a major expansion are underway. The project is currently in the Functional Program stage of the Ministry of Health’s capital planning process, with a targeted opening in 2033. The expansion will enhance capacity for rehabilitation, complex care, and seniors’ care, helping to meet the needs of Niagara’s aging population.
As Dr. Ceglie told the crowd during Friday’s celebration: “On behalf of our entire leadership team, thank you for celebrating this important milestone with us. Here’s to the next 20 years of excellence in care, hope, and healing at Hotel Dieu Shaver.”
About Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre:
As the only rehabilitation hospital in Niagara, Hotel Dieu Shaver provides exceptional clinical outcomes in rehabilitation and complex care through the expertise of skilled staff and physicians, state-of-the-art equipment and compassionate care. Driven by a mission to restore health, rebuild lives, and renew hope, Hotel Dieu Shaver is proud to treat more than 1,100 inpatients and see more than 22,000 outpatients every year, reaching the highest level of patient outcomes and restoration of quality of life.