The Sisters of St. Martha have officially ended their sponsorship of St. Martha’s Regional Hospital in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, marking a significant shift in the facility’s religious affiliation and healthcare services. As of October 1, the hospital was renamed Antigonish Memorial Regional Hospital and ceased to operate under Catholic oversight, a change that allows the institution to reconsider previously prohibited services such as abortion and medical assistance in dying (MAID).
Founded in 1906 by the Sisters of St. Martha, a Roman Catholic congregation, the hospital has long maintained policies aligned with Catholic doctrine, including bans on MAID and abortion. The nuns’ withdrawal from the sponsorship agreement follows increasing public and legal pressure over access to these services in publicly funded institutions with religious affiliations. The hospital served roughly 100,000 residents from Antigonish, Guysborough, and surrounding areas and had been the only publicly funded hospital in Nova Scotia with religious restrictions on certain healthcare services.
Sister Brendalee Boisvert, Congregation Leader of the Sisters of St. Martha, expressed that the decision to step away was deliberate and based on the congregation’s shifting capacity and focus. She noted the litigious nature of hospital administration has made continued involvement challenging, especially given the nuns’ limited expertise in managing complex legal and medical landscapes. The sisters had attempted to pass sponsorship responsibility to Catholic Health International of New Brunswick, but the provincial government and Nova Scotia Health Authority declined the proposal, leading to the removal of religious oversight entirely.
Under Catholic sponsorship, MAID had been prohibited at St. Martha’s since the procedure’s legalization in Canada a decade ago. Following the sisters’ departure, the hospital no longer restricts medical services based on religious doctrine, potentially eliminating the need for patient transfers to external clinics for procedures such as MAID or abortion. Advocates, including legal experts and organizations like Dying With Dignity Canada, welcomed the change as enhancing access to comprehensive healthcare within the community.
Nova Scotia Health Authority spokesperson Jennifer Lewandowski indicated that the hospital is currently in a transition phase, with no immediate changes to services but ongoing reviews to align policies with other provincial hospitals. The health authority emphasized continued prioritization of patient access to care in collaboration with clinical staff.
The issue of religious influence in publicly funded healthcare remains contentious nationwide. While Quebec removed religious affiliations from health facilities years ago, Nova Scotia’s move is viewed by some advocates as reflective of changing societal values emphasizing individual autonomy and access to care regardless of institutional beliefs. Legal challenges in other provinces continue to address whether religiously affiliated health facilities can legally refuse MAID and related services without violating patients’ rights under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Antigonish County, where nearly 60 percent identify as Catholic, has deep historical ties to the Sisters of St. Martha, who initially established the hospital amid public health crises and established nursing education in partnership with St. Francis Xavier University. Sister Boisvert acknowledged the congregation’s lasting legacy, noting plans to install a stone carving at the hospital entrance to commemorate the sisters’ century-long contributions to healthcare and community welfare.
“This is a new beginning,” Sister Boisvert said, underscoring the transition from religious sponsorship toward a broader public health mandate in the region.