Polio in Manitoba

Sources

Much of the research in this episode came from Leah Morton’s thesis “‘It has impacted our lives in great measure’: Families, Patients, and Health Care during: Manitoba’s Polio Era, 1928 – 1953”.

Leah Morton, “From Nose Sprays to Nursing Shortages: Managing Epidemic Polio in Manitoba, 1928-1953”, Manitoba Historical Society.

“The Great Polio Epidemic of 1953” Bruce Cherney (Winnipeg Real Estate News) Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

“Order of Nunavut honours late Arviat educator Mark Kalluak”, Sarah Rogers (Nunatsiaq News)

“The Middle-Class Plague: Epidemic Polio and the Canadian State, 1936-1937”, Christopher J. Rutty (Health Heritage Research Services).

Our Hospital Through the Years, Mary Shepard (Comet Press, 1958)

“Conquering the Crippler: Canada and the Eradication of Polio” Canada Public Health Association

“Hospital Histories: The Winnipeg Municipal Hospital” Sabrina Janke (Heritage Winnipeg)

Riverview Health Centre History

Manitoba Historical Society: Historic Sites of Manitoba: King Edward Memorial Hospital / King George Isolation Hospital / Princess Elizabeth Hospital / Winnipeg Municipal Hospital (Morley Avenue, Winnipeg)

Post Polio Network Manitoba

Chesterfield Inlet Crash

“Mercy Mission: When polio struck an Inuit community in the late 1940s, it led to a tragedy that shocked the country”, Christopher J Rutty (Canada’s History Magazine).

“Perspective: 57 years of Silence, Inuit relatives finally hear truth, details about crash of RCAF plane carrying polio victims”, Catherine Mitchell (Winnipeg Free Press).

“Inuit seek 1949 plane crash victims in Manitoba community” (CBC News)

https://connaught.research.utoronto.ca/history/article7/

In an attempt to be topical, Sabrina goes through the storied history of polio in Manitoba – from the early epidemic era, through bizarre treatment ideas and wonky science, to one of Canada’s largest vaccination initiatives. We promise, we didn’t want this episode to feel quite as relevant as it does.

Content Warning: This episode was recorded over a month ago, before the discovery of the bodies of 215 children at the former Kamloops Residential School. We are all heartbroken by the discovery, and unfortunately this episode contains a similar incident on a smaller scale. It is discussed from 54:46-57:03 so you can expect it or skip it if you aren’t in a space for it.

If you are rightfully horrified about the discovery and would like to learn more, and learn what you can do to help, here are some resources:

Read the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action

Take the University of Alberta’s Indigenous Canada course (it’s free and online).

Donate to Reconciliation Canada.

Listen to the full episode :

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