Royal Victoria Hospital

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Location

Montreal, Quebec

Why it matters

Built in 1893 thanks to the philanthropic efforts of two local businessmen, the ‘Royal Vic’ grew into an elaborate complex of impressive stone structures. It has long been a prominent feature on the slope of Mont Royal, overlooking the downtown core. Over its long history on this site, the hospital housed pioneering medical research and practice, and was world-renowned as a teaching hospital.

Why it’s endangered

As part of the centralization of medical services in Montreal, the vast majority of the hospital’s departments were relocated to a new facility in 2015, leaving the Royal Vic largely abandoned. While neighbouring McGill University is studying how to integrate the site into its campus, the long-term future use and protection of the site remain unclear, and ad-hoc decisions made in the interim threaten the complex’s integrity.

Every year, the National Trust publishes its Top 10 Endangered Places List as part of its mission to raise awareness of the value that historic places bring to quality of life, local identity and cultural vitality.

First published in 2005, the Top 10 Endangered Places List has become a powerful tool in the fight to make landmarks, not landfill. The National Trust believes that historic places are cornerstones of identity, community and sense of place, yet every year, more are lost due to neglect, lack of funding, inappropriate development and weak legislation. By shining a spotlight on places at risk, the Top 10 Endangered Places List raises awareness about their plight and bolsters the efforts of local advocates working to save them.