INNISFAIL - For more than half a century, Dr. Clifford Tym has given his all to the town of Innisfail and beyond.
For every one of those years Tym established the bar for the highest dentistry standards. He paved the way for young students to set their own mark in their chosen careers though the Innisfail High School's work experience program. Tym has volunteered his services for underprivileged children at the DOoR clinic (Dental Outreach of Red Deer) in the Johnstone Crossing Community Health Centre, and even spent more than a year in Africa's Malawi on a missionary dental trip.
Fifty years since he opened his first dental office on Oct. 11, 1968 in rented space at the Co-op store on Main Street four months after graduating from Loma Linda University in California, the Alberta Dental Association and College honoured Tym on May 24 with a Recognition Award saluting his five decades of dedicated service to the dental profession.
"It is humbling. I thank the Lord for good health. I want to attribute my success to staff I've had work with me," said Tym last week at his Innisfail Dental Centre office. "Of course the patients are an integral part of the business. If they have regular care it pays off for them."
The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants who came to Canada in early 1900s, Tym's commitment to the countless people he served is best illustrated by the fact he still has loyal patients who stuck with him since beginning in town as a 25-year-old rookie dentist. It's an impressive feat as he was taking over the practice of retiring Dr. Charles Greene, who made his honourable mark in dentistry for 43 years.
Tym is quick to pull out a half century-old appointment book to show the name of a current patient that is listed from his first week of his practice.
"I have others that might might be two or three weeks later," said Tym, who seemingly has a perpetual radiant smile. He has also kept Dr. Greene's old business sign, a clear sign of professional respect, as well as pride that he was faithfully able to carry on with the highest quality of service.
But while he was quick early in his career to retain loyal patients, he was forced in 1971 to move his local office. Co-op wanted to expand their business to its current location and Tym had to find new quarters.
"I had to either dig in and stay in Innisfail or move away," he said. He opted to dig in and stay. Tym purchased a lot at 4935 - 49 Street from Dr. Ken Graham, now retired but still residing in Innisfail. He then had a new building constructed.
"A lot of people think it is a house, which is interesting. There is a bit of psychology in that," said Tym. "I wanted to make it inviting...to have people feel more relaxed when they come into the building."
What is especially interesting about the construction of his current building is that Bill Peters, the well-known contractor back in 1971, adorned the front with the last bunch of bricks that came from the decommissioned railway roundhouse in Mirror.
"(Peters) said, 'we have this brick from there would you like it? That was the last of it,"' recalled Tym of the offer from Peters, who is recently deceased.
On June 30, Tym will turn 75. In September, he will celebrate another half-century milestone - 50 years of successful marriage to his wife Ann, a retired nurse. Together they raised four daughters, all university graduates. His oldest, Carina, was once his dental hygienist in the mid 1990s before moving to Kelowna. "There are even patients today who ask about her. They remember her," he said.
As for his own professional future, the always smiling Dr, Tym is coy about how long he wants to continue.
"For a while," he said chuckling. "I don't get bored. I like to see people. People are very appreciative of what we can tell them to turn things around.
"Dentistry can be done painlessly. I can give a painless needle. I have had patients who have told me, 'Did you freeze it already?'" he said. "My objective is that when they leave the office they are better than when they came in."
