Page 4 - May 4, 2017

Editorial
Thank you
Petrolia and Central Lambton owes a debt of gratitude to 10 people who waded into the middle of a political mess and made our community better because of it.
ose 10 are the members of Charlotte’s Task Force and it is because of their work over more than a decade, Bluewater Health o cials stood outside the heritage hospital donated by Charlotte Eleanor Englehart’s hus- band a er her death to declare the hospital will con- tinue to serve the region well into the future.
While it is true, there are many people who have worked to make CEEH a viable entity, without the tenacity of the members of Charlotte’s Task Force and their commitment to work with the health care leaders instead of simply protest, it is likely the province today wouldn’t recognize the value of CEEH now.
Over a decade ago, it seemed the grand old lady was in desperate straits as early as 1994, then MPP Ellen MacKinnon was presenting a petition at Queen’s Park to save CEE.
By 2004, the threats had not abated with the amal- gamation of CEE into Bluewater Health so Charlotte’s Task Force was formed. Carol Boyd, Ila Campbell, Dana Churchill, Leo Dupuis, Sylvia Fairbank, Mary- Pat Gleeson, Jim Monteith, Norm Sutherland, Jane Stevenson and Rosanne Orcutt formed the core of that group and began organizing open meetings to talk about health care and getting people to Queen’s Park to protest cuts to health care.
Later in 2011, reports called for the hospital’s emer- gency department to be downgraded into an urgent care centre, and task force members rallied the com- munity again, getting nearly 1,000 people to come to LCCVI to stand up to the Erie St. Clair LHIN’s leaders who were planning the move. But the protest weren’t always loud. Several task force members worked behind the scenes going to board meetings and talking about the good in the local hospital. All of that work, that time and frustration has paid o for all of us with the announcement the province is nancially supporting the redevelopment of CEEH for the future.
To those on Charlotte’s Task Force who were relentless and helped bring our concerns to the people in power we say thank you. e community is better for your work.
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Page 4
The Independent
Thursday, May 4, 2017
Our Story
An early view of Charlo e Eleanor Englehart Hospital in Petrolia. It was rst opened in January 1911. At one me the nurses, whom you see on the balcony in this photo, stayed in residence at the hospital. April 26, Bluewater Health an-
nounced the province has provided cash to con nue improving Charlo e’s legacy.
Petrolia Heritage Photo
Celebrating today and letting tomorrow look after itself
by as well.
The Olympic marathoner told
her home church north of Dresden recently that life
has its ups and downs, but she remains thankful
and grateful to
God for what she has. It is a good
way to live. Too many of us are waiting for the
next big thing without seeing
what is in front of us.
We celebrated my mom’s birthday this week. She turned 75. It’s really hard to believe my mom could be 75, but it’s true. I can remember very clearly when she turned 30 and at the time thinking that was old. How strange that seems now that 30 is a distant memory for me.
seem 100 to me. I don’t want to stereotype people, but I think most people would expect 100 to be wrinkles and maybe even sour faces. But that’s not what I found. Mr. Gall, while hard of hearing, still rides his bike an hour a day to stay limber
As we celebrated, we talked about getting older and mom made the statement that people never think
they are as old as their age. I think that’s true. I can hardly wrap my mind around the idea of turning 49 this year.
and Mrs. Jacques and I had a lovely conversation about her life and times and music.
When I talked to David Gall and Thelma Jacques, they never thought about turning 100, but they were, celebrating 100 years of life with the people they live with at Park Street Place.
And neither of them thought about what turning 100 would be like, with Mrs. Jacques telling me she didn’t think about it because she was too busy living today and letting tomorrow worry about itself. That’s what my mom did as well - live each day without thinking about what the next milestone is like, trying to be thankful for what is in front of you now.
Heather Wright
Neither Mr. Gall nor Mrs. Jacques
It’s a policy Krista Duchene lives
It’s far better to enjoy family, friends and good health than worrying about tomorrow.
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