This morning I walked across Rutherford Park that lies adjacent to avenue du Docteur-Penfield and rue McTavish. The autumn colours of Mount Royal gave a nice backdrop to the Allan Memorial Institute perched on the side of the hill.

Allan Memorial Institute
ISO 100 – 70mm – f4.5 – 1/100 sec

Allan Memorial Institute
ISO 100 – 75mm – f4.5 – 1/125 sec

Allan Memorial Institute
ISO 100 – 270mm – f5.6 – 1/100 sec

The Allan Memorial Institute and the CIA

I’ve previously posted images and a short history of the Institute that was originally built in 1863 as the home of Sir Hugh Allan (the Scottish founder and president of the Allan Lines Shipping Company). The building was donated to the Victoria Hospital in 1940 and was renamed the Allan Memorial Institute in 1943. The building currently operates as a psychiatric hospital and research institute.

My previous post touches on the infamous period between 1957 to 1964, when it was part of the CIA’s Project MKULTRA experiments into mind control using drug-induced techniques.

Since it is now part of the Royal Victoria Hospital located next door I also grabbed a couple of shots of the main hospital building from a couple of angles I don’t think I have shot before.

Royal Victoria Hospital
ISO 100 – 70mm – f4.5 – 1/100 sec

Royal Victoria Hospital
ISO 100 – 185mm – f5 – 1/400 sec

The hospital is due to vacate the current location in the coming years and will be moving to the new MUHC. What the future use of the hospital will be is still in the air, although recent reports point towards the possibility of McGill University purchasing it and incorporating with their medical departments. McGill has proven itself as a good steward of historic buildings, and I trust they will receive the necessary backing to make the transition and preserve these wonderful buildings and Montreal heritage.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.

– Martin

Montréal in Pictures

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