New Brunswick boasts over 100 museums and heritage sites, with the northeastern town of Tracadie being home to the Musée Historique de Tracadie, which pays tribute to the Religieuses Hospitalières de Saint-Joseph, a former order of nuns. Initially focused on operating a lazaretto for lepers, the nuns provided care to those afflicted with the bacterial infection that could lead to severe health issues.
The first case of leprosy in Tracadie was traced back to immigrants from Norway in 1828. The disease spread, leading to the establishment of a lazaretto in 1849 to accommodate lepers from across Canada. However, the town suffered from a tarnished reputation due to the stigma associated with leprosy.
In 1943, a breakthrough in leprosy treatment with the drug promin marked the beginning of the end for the lazaretto, which eventually closed in 1965. Despite its focus on leprosy patients, the sisters also ran a general hospital that catered to the local community, making it the first French-speaking hospital in New Brunswick in 1896.
The museum at Musée Historique de Tracadie showcases historical medical equipment, including artifacts from the general hospital. Medical professionals visiting the museum are often amazed by the tools used in the past compared to modern medical practices.
The nuns also recognized the need for education in Tracadie and set up day and boarding schools to provide quality education not only to local children but also to students from other regions. While the Religieuses Hospitalières de Saint-Joseph order continues to operate in various communities, their presence in Tracadie officially ended in 2025.