Sir:Over the years, I have been privileged to work with many outstanding
gifted people. The individuals whom I admired the most were from
Wallaceburg and surrounding area.
H. W. Burgess was the driving force to build a hospital in Wallaceburg
to serve the population of our area and Walpole Island.
Mr. Burgesswasa renowned and successful businessman who gathered the
capital and volunteer labour to build our hospital.
He was the first chairman of the board of directors.
Next was Wilfred Webber who owned a farm just west of Wallaceburg in
Chatham Gore Township.
He almost lived on the site while the construction of the hospital took
place.
Don Benn was the third chairman, a well-known businessman of Wallaceburg
and owner of Benn Iron Foundry.
Malcolm Crawford was a farmer, owning property in Dover Township and
area. Al Cousins, a Wallaceburg businessman was next.
Then came Dean MacDonald, a Wallaceburg businessman and owner of Mac
Construction, Elric Construction, etc.; Dean Ewing, a farmer in Chatham
Township and Chatham Gore; Tom McGregor a lawyer with a home in Chatham
Township; Jackie Dalgety, a successful businesswomen; and Peggy
Lombombard, a high school teacher and granddaughter of H. W. Burgess.
There were so many board members over the years I cannot list them all.
Their heart, and dedication to the Sydenham District Hospital were
unlimited. They were not paid money for their positions; their reward
was to see the hospital grow and expand to be successful in service of
health to all the people of Wallaceburg, Walpole Island and area.
Having been on the board of directors for several years, I look back
with pride and thank those who not only donated money, but volunteered
their time and energy. For more than 40 years it was a family --
doctors, nurses, staff and board members that gave many, many hours of
volunteer work to keep this hospital always in the black. What I enjoyed
the most was the happy felling of being part of the family.
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I have been to the hospital several times in the past two weeks and I do
not get the feeling of family.
I do not see the pictures of the past chairmen or directors, or plaques
of the donators and the volunteers.
Frank Martin, with donated supplies, built the beautiful gazebo out
front.
There are so many people who donated money, time and supplies to the
Sydenham District Hospital.
I am proud of Jeff Wesley for his fighting stance on what is happening
to the Sydenham District Hospital.
I am also proud of Chief Joe Gilbert protecting Walpole First Nation and
the citizens of our area.
We need more men of their calibre to lead the masses.
To sit back and watch the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and the LHIN rape
our hospital and tear our family apart is a crime.
The LHIN is a buffer for the minister of health and the premier.
When things go wrong the LHIN will get the blame and the minister and
his office will offer their regrets.
We have a beautiful country that is being taken over by bureaucrats on
every level; municipal, provincial and federal. We are complacent, but
someday people will say enough is enough and rebel.
We are losing our rural control to Toronto. I cannot understand how a
board of Torontonians can tell us what is best for our area.
Stand alongside Jeff Wesley and Chief Gilbert and save our Sydenham
hospital!
To see the hard work, dedication and donations over the years being
destroyed by the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and the LHIN is not only
depressing, but disgusting. When Jeff Wesley and Chief Joseph Gilbert
call on you for help, please support them immediately!
Speaking of help, where are our members of our federal and provincial
Parliament?
They should be alongside Chief Joseph Gilbert, Jeff Wesley and the
community-minded citizens who are fighting for the health and safety of
Wallaceburg, Walpole Island and surrounding area.
-- Rex Crawford Dover
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