A Haunting Legacy in Coquitlam, B.C.
Location:
Pine Terrace, Coquitlam, BC
In the serene suburbs of Coquitlam, less than 15km outside Vancouver, British Columbia, lies the Riverview Hospital
This once-bustling mental health institution, overshadowed by towering trees and surrounded by the natural beauty of the area, stands as a testament to a complex and often dark history. Established over a century ago on 405 hectares of land, the hospital’s massive, now mostly vacant, structures and network of underground tunnels evoke an eerie sense of the past.
What happened at Riverview Hospital?
A Century of Care and Controversy:
Riverview Hospital, opened in 1904, was initially seen as a beacon of modern psychiatric care. Intended to offer therapeutic treatment in a beautiful, natural setting, including its own farm, Colony Farm, the hospital rapidly grew, expanding its facilities to accommodate a growing number of patients.
By 1956, it housed over 5,000 individuals, many of whom would not be considered in need of psychiatric care by today’s standards, including women committed for not adhering to their gender roles and men suffering from conditions like depression.
Barbaric Treatments and Haunting Legacies:
The hospital’s history is marred by now-discredited treatments and practices. From the 1940s to 1968, the B.C. government, embracing eugenics, frequently performed sterilizations, particularly on female patients, under the misguided belief of improving society.
The introduction of psychiatric medications and a shift in societal views on mental health in the 1980s led to a gradual decline in patient numbers and the eventual crumbling of the institution.
However, the closure of Riverview and similar asylums across Canada often led to former patients becoming unhoused or entering the prison system, a tragic outcome of an already troubled history.
Riverview in Film and Popular Culture:
Beyond its historical significance, Riverview Hospital has garnered fame as a sought-after filming location for horror and suspense films and series, including “X-Files,” “Smallville,” “Riverdale,” and “Shutter Island.”
Its imposing architecture and the haunting ambiance have made it an ideal backdrop for stories that explore the darker aspects of human nature.
Ghost Stories of Riverview Hospital
Eerie Encounters and Ghostly Presences:
Amid its decaying buildings, Riverview Hospital is awash in negative energy, riddled with the ghosts of its tumultuous past.
Film crews, security guards, and former staff have reported chilling encounters with shadow figures, apparitions of former patients and staff, and even a phantom dog.
Mysterious lights, moving objects, disembodied footsteps, echoing voices, banging doors and windows, and the eerie sound of patients’ bells ringing in empty wards contribute to its reputation as a hotspot for paranormal activity.
The West Lawn building, abandoned since 1983, stands out as particularly chilling, encapsulating the haunted essence of the entire hospital.
Controversies and Criticisms:
In the 2000s, Riverview Hospital faced heavy criticism for its continued use of controversial treatments like electroshock therapy, hydrotherapy, and induced insulin comas.
An inquiry into the hospital’s practices revealed an alarming rate of electroshock therapy being administered, coinciding with doctors receiving extra compensation for the procedure. These revelations have added to the hospital’s haunting legacy, casting a shadow over its past and present.
Conclusion:
Today, Riverview Hospital stands mostly empty, a relic of a bygone era in psychiatric care.
Its history, intertwined with tales of suffering, controversial treatments, and a shift in societal understanding of mental health, leaves a haunting imprint on the landscape of Coquitlam.
As plans for the future of the site remain uncertain, the legacy of Riverview Hospital continues to provoke thought, discussion, and a sense of eerie fascination.