Looking back to the local impact of the Spanish Influenza

Pype believes Medicine Hat in a lot of ways was well prepared for the Spanish Influenza

Although there were many tragedies and fatalities during that time.

He says three nurses, for example, were treating patients and passed away.

Pype says before the pandemic arrived, residents were somewhat able to prepare locally.

But when it became a reality here, the city really had to pull together and react to minimize the impact on the community.

He says historical records tell us how people adapted to that major occurrence and event.

“But Medicine Hat had really well established medical facilities with a hospital that was here since 1889 and a nursing school to really draw nursing care for patients. The community reacted in a positive way in that everybody was required to wear masks, but also theatres closed down, schools closed down and Montreal Street School was actually used as an overflow hospital.”

Back in the 1918/1919 era, Pype says Medicine Hat had a population of 12,000 people.

Courtesy Esplanade Archives – Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, when Hatters gathered to celebrate the end of the First World War.

Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, when Hatters gathered to celebrate the end of the First World War.

by Chantal Wagner

Looking back to the local impact of the Spanish Influenza

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