Riverview Hospital.

I confess, a recent family tragedy has raised questions to an unrelated family event, that happened 25 + years ago. I've done my fair share of digging around, out of curiosity, and I really want answers. I've done a genealogy search in to my family history, on my mothers side, and I'm beyond confused as to why my grandmothers death certificate states, "STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION"....with NO conclusion. That was back in 1987 and STILL to this day no answers !. My grandmother was a patient at RIVERVIEW HOSPITAL, for many years, since the early 1960's, and she died there. I've never forgot my visits with her, as child, and how terrifying it was, all of the sights, smells and inhuman sounds, I'll NEVER forget it, I really wish I could !. I can't even begin to imagine the horrific and hellish torture she, and others, endured there, but I CAN logically imagine and conclude that she didn't die peacefully. I'm not sure if she died accidently, or committed suicide, was murdered by a staff member or riverview patient. I just know, without a shadow of a doubt, that she did not die of "natural causes". I'm NOT rich and can't afford to hire a team of expensive private investigators or greedy rip off lawyers, but I am willing to go to any length and I'm willing to go down any road to seek answers and (most importantly) justice !, IF need be, no matter how long it takes. Over the years in the local B.C. media, I CONSTANTLY hear about court cases and lawsuits and settlements with natives and the abuse they've endured at residential schools and even people suing for abuse endured at the woodlands, WHAT ABOUT THE PATIENTS, SURVIVORS, AND FAMILIES OF RIVERVIEW ?. Have there (ever) been any lawsuits, court cases or criminal charges in regards to RIVERVIEW HOSPITAL ?. Are there ANY (local) resources, or ANY support groups (online?), or advice !.

14 Comments

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CanLII

Mar 2, 2014 at 4:51pm

Google search CanLII Canada. It's a database of all law suit cases in Canada. There is a search engine on the website. Do a search of Riverview Hospital to see what comes up.

johnny2bad

Mar 2, 2014 at 6:40pm

the media!
you need to speak to local b.c. media!
perhaps your local m.p.
good luck!

*Original Poster*

Mar 2, 2014 at 6:47pm

I searched it,
CanLII, and nothing of any immediate interest came up. I will keep this website in my records for any future use, I'm sure it will be useful at some point. Thank you, sincerely !. I'm hoping to find any sort of documents, records, photos or archives, from the 1960's, 1970's and the 1980's !. I'm even looking to hear from ANY survivors, families or staff members !. I just want to blow the lid off the old can of family worms !.

*Original Poster*

Mar 2, 2014 at 9:42pm

@Johnny2bad, the thought has certainly crossed my mind, countless times over the many years, I'm just worried about burning bridges, with family or upsetting anybody at all, and any sort of backlash and or emotional/psychological/physical, retaliation. I may be crazy and overreacting, BUT, this is a VERY sensitive issue with my mothers side of the family. I.E. Her father, sister, brother, aunts and uncles, etc and so on !. I want to make sure I know exactly what I'm talking about, and continue on with my personal investigation, when I have detailed documents proving something is off, I just have to wait, to contact the media. I will contact mg local m.p. and ask questions !. Thank you for the really great advice !.

Oh it wasn't good.

Mar 3, 2014 at 4:13am

Even seen all the ghosts in that place, fun stuff, good times, 10/10 would sneak in again.

seen it all

Mar 3, 2014 at 10:35am

my grandfather died there too-it was a long time ago.
he drank-they put him in a locked room, no medication, until he died.
nothing was ever done.

*Original Poster*

Mar 3, 2014 at 6:05pm

@ Oh it wasn't good.

I'm NOT religious I believe in the afterlife !. Thank you for the heads up, but, I am, already, very aware of how spooky Riverview is and of all of the tormented souls left behind, because they can't find the peace they ALL truly deserve.

*Original Poster*

Mar 3, 2014 at 6:08pm

@Seen it all,
My deepest and sincerest condolences to you and your family. I'm sorry to hear that your grandfather passed away in this HELL HOLE. I don't mean to be harsh, but, that's what this place was, when my grandmother was there, it was a complete sadistic torturous hell hole. By all means if you wish @ SEEN IT ALL, you can view your grandfathers death record, for yourself if you haven't seen it already (or For ANYBODY ELSE WANTING TO SEARCH FAMILY GENEALOGY), at
http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/basicSearch

This is the website that I viewed my grandmother death certificate on.

Rez

Mar 3, 2014 at 9:46pm

I can feel your pain. But, only because my entire family was destroyed by residential schools. I grew up without my brothers or sisters, my parents. All because our goverment decided to take away my grandparents the right to educate their own children. In all, about 150,000 First Nation, Inuit and Métis children were removed from their communities and forced to attend the schools. 30,000 native children died. Belittling our pain doesn't seem fair pain no matter how you want to quantify it. Before you spout off about someone else's pain, I would highly suggest you experience their pain firsthand, then spout.

*Original Poster*

Mar 4, 2014 at 1:47am

Wow, REZ, talk about being very presumptuous and foolish. My father and I just finished planning and attending my uncles funeral, my fathers brother !. My father and my aunts and uncles are all PROUD MIXED BREEDS, their father was of native descent and so was their mother. My uncle and countless other relatives, on my fathers side, were also in residential schools and institutions. I'm ALWAYS a human being, FIRST, everything else is ALWAYS secondary IE., race, education, social and financial status and so on. REZ, It's beyond RIDICULOUS for you to TRY and twist MY words around, NOT ONCE have I "belittled" anyone's pain, or "spouted off" !. I ONLY CLEARLY stated that:
Over the years in the local B.C. media, I CONSTANTLY hear about court cases and lawsuits and settlements with natives and the abuse they've endured at residential schools and even people suing for abuse endured at the woodlands, WHAT ABOUT THE PATIENTS, SURVIVORS, AND FAMILIES OF RIVERVIEW ?.

REZ, I ONLY made a comparison, I did NOT BELITTLE ANYBODY OR SPOUT OFF, So shove it and go kick rocks !.

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