Jeanne Mance Monument

The Jeanne Mance Monument is a bronze sculpture depicting the founder caring for an injured colonist, mounted on a granite base beside the Hôtel-Dieu hospital building. The work displays realistic details of early care work and stands in a position where it can be easily seen by people passing through the area.

The monument was created and unveiled by artist Louis-Philippe Hébert in 1909 to commemorate 250 years since the arrival of the first hospital sisters in Montreal. That arrival occurred in the 1640s and established the foundation for medical care in the early city.

The monument honors Jeanne Mance as founder of Montreal's first hospital and reflects her importance in shaping healthcare during the early years of French colonial settlement. The statue stands in a prominent location and is recognized as a meaningful symbol of female pioneering work in the city.

The monument is located on Saint-Urbain Street next to the Musée des Hospitaliers, which displays collections related to medical history. The location is easy to reach and allows visitors to explore both sites during a single visit.

The monument ranks among the earliest Canadian statues honoring a real woman and recognizes a less well-known historical figure. The fact that Jeanne Mance acted at a time when women's contributions were rarely documented makes this recognition particularly noteworthy.