Letter to the Editor: 26 Years Later: Health Board Memories

I’ve always been a bit of a pack rat, and while going through some of my treasures recently, I came across a photo and memo from my time on the Prairie West District Health Board.

I represented the Dodsland area when the new regional health system was first being formed — I believe we were among the very first district boards created. Looking back 26 years later, at age 94, I don’t remember all the names, but I’ll do my best:

Back Row: Marcie Delday, ?, Bill Frey (Luseland), Fran Swan, ?, Morley ?
Front Row: Kelly Kimble, ?, Erhart Poggmiller, and myself, Fran Babiuk

It was a very stressful time. The government was closing many small rural hospitals, and the public meetings we attended were often tense. We were not always warmly received, to say the least. Emotions ran high in every community we visited, as people were afraid of losing vital health care close to home.

I thought some readers might be interested in this little piece of local history — a reminder of how difficult those decisions were and of the many people who stepped forward to serve their communities through it.

— Fran Babiuk