Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital in Ste. Anne, Manitoba, resumed full services today after a 9-day closure caused by a broken cooling system during an extreme heat wave, Southern Health-Santé Sud and Mayor Yvan St. Vincent announced.
The hospital closed July 13 after its air cooling system sprang a freon leak and could no longer keep indoor temperatures safe. Outside temperatures were hitting the mid-30s Celsius at the time. The mechanical failure forced hospital staff to evacuate all 21 patients to Bethesda Regional Health Centre in Steinbach and Boundary Trails Health Centre near Winkler-Morden.
The health authority has been working around the clock to fix the system. In-patients began returning Wednesday, July 22, and the Emergency Department opened its doors today, July 23. Residents are urged to check the Southern Health-Santé Sud website for the latest updates.
Mayor Yvan St. Vincent praised community members who stepped in during the fast-moving event. “A special thank you goes to the Ste. Anne Police Service Auxiliary members and our firefighters for their willingness to serve, assist with the evacuation efforts, and support healthcare teams during a rapidly evolving situation,” the mayor said in a statement posted on the town website.
This is not the first time the hospital has faced service pressures. In recent years, doctor shortages forced a reduction in Emergency Department hours and a pause in obstetrics services. Most surgeries have also been suspended since October 2025. The province created a working group in September 2025 to look at making Ste. Anne Hospital a regional facility, which could bring more competitive wages and expanded care to the community of about 3,000 people.
