Grosse Île: The Quarantine Island

The quarantine station at Grosse Île was established in 1832 to prevent cholera from gaining a foothold in North America. This illness, already a global pandemic, was a serious threat to public health... and anticipated on ships arriving from Europe.

Cholera is a bacterial infection spread by contaminated food and water that causes severe dehydration through vomiting and diarrhea. If left untreated, it can lead to death in just a few hours. 

Unfortunately, the quarantine process failed to prevent the spread of cholera in North America and by the end of 1832, more than 3,000 people had died in Québec City.

From 1845 to 1849, Ireland experienced a devastating famine. In 1847 alone, 100,000 immigrants  arrived at Grosse Île, nearly four times the average annual number. The vast majority were Irish.

Originally designed to house healthy immigrants, the Lazaretto, the wooden building pictured here, was converted into a hospital. It is one of the oldest buildings still standing on the island.

In 1866, a new doctor named Frederick Montizambert arrived at Grosse Île, initially as an inspecting physician. He was promoted to medical superintendent in 1869 - a position he held for 30 years, overseeing a major modernization drive.

Dr. Montizambert was an early adopter of Germ Theory - one of the most important medical developments of the nineteenth century. The idea that microorganisms like bacteria, invisible to the naked eye, can cause illness was revolutionary at the time.

Dr. Montizambert was able to build modern, effective quarantine facilities based upon advances in science and technology. He introduced medical labs, disinfection procedures, and ensured that the ill were isolated to avoid infecting the healthy.

Dr. Frederick Montizambert is recognized as a Person of National Historic Significance for his many contributions to medicine and science. Many of the buildings and machines constructed under his leadership can be viewed at Grosse Île today. 

Thanks to some large leather-bound books in the Parks Canada collection, we know about the immigrants who were hospitalized after 1878. These Admission and Discharge Books record their names, ages, places of origin, and diseases.

Some immigrants were infected with smallpox. In 1904, part of the Lazaretto was converted to a ‘red room.’ Sunlight was considered harmful to smallpox sufferers with pustules on their eyelids and bodies, so the walls, blankets, and even windows were red to make it darker.

Smallpox is an infectious virus spread from person to person, with high fevers, body aches and a painful rash of open sores in the mouth and body. It became the first contagious disease to be prevented by a vaccine and was eradicated globally in 1980.

During the First World War (1914-18), there was a sharp drop in immigration. In the years that followed, an increase in medical inspections and vaccinations abroad meant immigrants were generally healthier when leaving their home countries.

In 1937, after 105 years of operation, the quarantine station closed, and the medical screening of immigrants was moved to Québec City.