Essondale was a subject of a bit of discussion back in 2001 on this list. I think this address is probably still good. I had written for a relatives information back in 1999 and it was quite a process but I believe it is somewhat easier to obtain info through the Freedom of Information Act now. The other listers are correct that back quite a few years, a person, and women in particular, could be committed to a mental institution like Essondale just because someone convince a judge that this person was insane or a danger to the population in general, when that may not have been the case. My find was in this category also. When you write advise that you want to proceed under the Freedom of Information Act, they should send you a form to complete with the required details. Some of the file information is very useful genealogically, I even received a photograph in the bundle of documents that were released. A person can write to : Shirley MacDonald , HIP Freedom of information Analyst Clinical Records Services , Riverview Hospital , 500 Lougheed Highway , Port Cocquitlam, BC B3C 4J2