Riverview Hospital, Former psychiatric hospital in Coquitlam, Canada
Riverview Hospital is a former psychiatric hospital in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, spread across a large wooded site. The facility consists of several buildings of varying styles, including brick structures with tall windows and wide hallways, plus later additions for different treatment approaches.
The hospital opened in 1913 as a replacement for an older facility in Victoria and grew rapidly to house thousands of patients who worked and lived on the grounds. Starting in the 1960s, patient numbers declined due to new medications and community-based care, and the provincial government began closing buildings and downsizing operations.
The name Essondale for the hospital and surrounding neighborhood honors Henry Esson Young, a key supporter of the facility. Visitors can walk the paths of the old botanical gardens where patients once grew and tended plants as part of their treatment.
The site sits amid woods and gardens and offers quiet walks through the historic areas, though many buildings are closed or under redevelopment. The Red Fish Healing Centre opened on the grounds in 2021 continues to provide specialized care for mental health and addiction.
The grounds have been used as a filming location for numerous movies and television series, including Deadpool 2, thanks to its empty halls and historic architecture. The botanical garden from 1911 contains over 1900 tree specimens originally planted for patient therapy.
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