About
Leadership & History
Rooted in Compassion. Guided by Community.
St. Paul’s Hospital is one of 13 health care facilities in Saskatchewan governed by Emmanuel Health. As a Provincial Hospital Affiliate, St. Paul’s works within the Saskatchewan Health Authority’s strategic plan, serving as a valued partner in delivering essential health care services to communities across the province.
Founded in 1907 by the Grey Nuns of Montreal, St. Paul’s has a deep-rooted history in Saskatchewan’s health care landscape. Established as a Catholic institution to provide care for the sick and vulnerable, the Grey Nuns’ commitment to serving the community laid the foundation for a health care institution that has grown to serve not only Saskatoon, but the province of Saskatchewan.
Explore our Hospital’s Programs & Services here to learn more.
Why Faith-Based Care Matters
From the very beginning, St. Paul’s has been inspired by the mission of Saint Marguerite d’Youville, the founder of the Grey Nuns. She served those who were the most vulnerable, and her example of dignity, compassion and justice continues to shape our approach to health care today.
Faith-based care means treating each person as a whole – body, mind, and spirit – recognizing the inherent dignity of every individual. It means providing comfort during life’s most vulnerable moments, guided by the belief that health care is a ministry of healing and human connection.
Today, St. Paul’s Hospital continues to serve Saskatoon and northern Saskatchewan as an acute care teaching facility, offering a broad range of services while upholding its Catholic health care legacy.
Leadership
St. Paul’s Hospital Local Council
The Local Council plays a critical role in identifying community health needs and serves as a vital link between the Hospital and Emmanuel Health leadership.
Pictured (l-r): Brian Berzolla; Dr. George Pylypchuk; Carrie Dornstauder, SPH Executive Director; Dr. Joanne Kappel; Maureen Preston, Chair; Lecina Hicke, SPH Foundation CEO; Katherine Stevenson; Dr. Bruce Berscheid; Kevin Sharfe, SPH Foundation Board Chair. Not pictured: Cecile Smith; Dr. James Barton.
St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors
Back Row (l-r): Kevin Sharfe, Chair; Larry Long, Vice-Chair; Alan Sklapsky, Treasurer; Lecina Hicke, SPH Foundation CEO; Lenore Howey; Grant Bossaer; Chris Donald. Front Row (l-r): Dr. Bruce Berscheid, SPH Local Council; Shane Biehn; Gwen Dueck; Carrie Dornstauder, SPH Executive Director; Carmen Levandoski. Not pictured: Dr. Sharmi Jaggi, Dr. Victoria Tian.
Emmanuel Health Board of Directors
Emmanuel Health oversees 13 publicly funded health care facilities in Saskatchewan, including St. Paul’s Hospital and the Hospice at Glengarda. Emmanuel Health offers acute, long-term and community care across Saskatchewan. Following the principles of Catholic social justice and service as inspired by the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, we address the unmet needs of vulnerable individuals and the communities we support. Our vision is to create “a vibrant community of health, healing and hope,” and we are dedicated to values of compassion, innovation and commitment.
Emmanuel Health Board of Directors, 2025-2026 (l-r): Colette Stang, Roxanne Frey, Pina Melchionna, Janice Therrien, Dr. George Pylypchuk, Mary Donlevy-Konkin, Corey Miller, Darryl Bazylak, Virginia Battiste, Brian Senchuk, Terrie Dumelie, Ed Hoffart. Not pictured: Wayne Blazieko, Del Thue.
Our History
A Legacy of Care Since 1907
The story of St. Paul’s Hospital begins with a crisis – and a calling. In 1907, a typhoid outbreak among railway workers in Saskatoon overwhelmed the city’s limited medical resources. Oblate priests caring for the sick in the Catholic rectory prayed for help. Their prayers were answered when two Grey Nuns – Sister Guay and Sister Phaneuf – passed through Saskatoon on their return to St. Boniface in Montreal.
Seeing the urgent need, the sisters chose to stay. With no hospital building available, Dr. J. H. C. Willoughby offered his own home to care for patients. This home, located near what is now the current visitor’s parking lot, became the first St. Paul’s Hospital.
A permanent hospital was built in 1912, setting the foundation for a tradition of service that has endured for more than a century. Today, St. Paul’s Hospital continues to serve Saskatoon and northern Saskatchewan as an acute care teaching facility, offering a broad range of services while upholding its Catholic health care legacy.
1907: First hospital opens in Dr. Willoughby’s home
1912: Permanent hospital constructed
1931: Nurse’s residence constructed (now SPH Administration offices)
1963: “B Wing” constructed, replacing the original building
1989: “A Wing” added to expand hospital services
1995: Affiliation agreement signed with Saskatoon District Health (now known as the Saskatchewan Health Authority)
1999: Ownership transferred from the Grey Nuns to Saskatchewan Catholic Health Corporation
2018: Ownership transferred to Emmanuel Health