The story of the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre is one of unwavering community spirit, commitment and collaboration.
In fact, if not for the drive and passion of more than 230 Sundre and surrounding area women, the construction of a hospital in town might very well have taken many years longer to materialize — if at all.
The facility’s milestone 50th anniversary was celebrated last week with a ceremony attended by more than 100 people. Click here for that story.
Among the delegates who addressed the crowd was Jason Nixon, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA, who hails from Sundre and is not shy about boasting of his love for the community.
“This hospital is critical not just to my family, but to families all across our community, to the viability of the community, and it’s so important.”
The MLA implored everyone when reflecting about the hospital’s history to think about two crucial groups of people who played such critical roles in making the facility a reality.
“The first of course, is the group of ladies, who 50 years ago marched on the county seat and said, ‘We, west of the 22 out here, want a hospital too!’ Let me tell you, that reeve and that county council did not stand a chance,” he said.
Second is the people who have tirelessly worked in the facility over the years and continue to do so to this day, he said, also praising the efforts of support organizations such as the Sundre Hospital Auxiliary as well as the Sundre Futures Hospital Committee.
Sundre’s mayor Terry Leslie said the hospital is but a shell without the dedication, passion and talent of those who work there. He further added that a hospital is an invaluable foundation building block for any community.
We could not possibly agree more.
So we salute the efforts of the initial group of gutsy women who were not intimidated by the prospect of challenging elected officials.
Their success will forever live on as part of Sundre’s legacy and we look forward to documenting the next 50 years of evolving medical care delivery in the community.
— Ducatel is the Round Up’s editor
