Historical Note
In 1897, the heirs of the late William G. Perley conveyed the family property on Wellington St. for the care of persons who needed shelter and treatment over an extended period. A Certificate of Incorporation was registered in The Carleton County Court for the Perley Home for the Incurables (hereafter referred to as the Perley Home). The Governor General and Lady Aberdeen officially opened the Perley Home on 1 January 1898, and a provincial maintenance grant of 7 cents per patient day was authorized. When the Perley Home’s property was expropriated in 1912, a new facility was built on Aylmer Avenue.
By 1941 the Perley’s capacity had grown to 95 beds, and in the 1950s it was further expanded to 215 beds. As a hospital, the Perley took on added responsibilities for physiotherapy and orthopaedic rehabilitation.
The Rideau Veterans Home (RVH) was built by the federal government as a temporary residence for the rehabilitation of service personnel returning from the Second World War. It gradually grew into a 139-bed long-term care facility for veterans.
In 1988, the Perley Hospital was invited to submit a project plan to Veterans Affairs Canada to combine with the RVH and the Veterans Wing of the National Defence Medical Centre in a new 450-bed facility. Construction began in 1994 with financing being shared among Veterans Affairs Canada (55%), Ontario Ministry of Health (30%), Regional Municipality of Ottawa Carleton (10 %) and a community fundraising campaign (5%). The first residents were relocated to the new combined facility in 1995. At about the same time, the Ministry of Health designated the new facility as a long-term care home.
All the objects and provisions of the original Declaration of Incorporation (dated 18 October 1887) were deleted and revised provisions were substituted in Supplementary Letters Patent dated December 29, 1999. Inter alia, these provisions changed the name of the corporation to The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre, and permit the Health Centre to solicit and receive donations, bequests, legacies and grants as a Registered Charity with the Canada Revenue Agency. In providing the highest practicable quality of life for its residents, the Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre has always depended on charitable contributions and volunteers for the well being of its residents.
HISTORY OF PERLEY 1897 - 2008.pdf