Prime Minister Stephen Harper at Crysler Memorial Service in pictures

On Thursday, February 21, 2012-2013, The Williamsburg BP Scouts gathered for their annual Thinking Day Celebration. 

The evening included the presentations of badges earned since the start of the year. Pictured are this year’s four groups. 

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Winchester District Memorial Hospital has long been a teaching hospital and in recent years they have formalized many educational partnerships that have put this rural hospital in a position that not many other rural hospital’s enjoy.

“Every hospital has a smattering of academic affiliations, but no other hospitals our size have an academics program the scale of what we have here,” said Cholly Borland, WDMH CEO when he spoke with local media December 6. WDMH has affiliation agreements with 17 universities and colleges.

In the last 2.5 years more than 700 students have spent time at WDMH thanks to its teaching program. They have included students in more than a dozen disciplines such as medical and nursing students, student paramedics, also those studying in the fields of administration, diagnostics, pharmacy, midwifery and nutrition.

Having all these students spending time at WDMH has a huge benefit to the community. 

The role of teacher taken on by the preceptors keeps our local health care providers sharp. “Fresh blood, a second set of eyes and new ideas that students bring keeps our preceptors on their toes,” said Borland.

The exposure of so many medical students to WDMH and family medicine practices allows students to decide if rural medicine is for them, and it allows areas served by WDMH an edge in the recruiting process.

Dr. Brian Devin, who acts as WDMH site director for family medicine, knows the importance of having an exposure to rural medicine, which is his field of choice even though he is from a large city. “We’ve recruited six family physicians. and four of them are still practicing here,” said Devin. “We could always use more, but technically, we are not under-serviced right now. That shows that our investment in education does pay dividends to us.”

The students of family medicine fully appreciate the experience that WDMH offers. 

Dr. Stehpanne Brassard, a second year family medicine resident said, “I have felt like part of the team from day one.” Brassard explains that city hospitals are often filled with “the weird and wonderful” but rural hospitals offer a special experience. He explained that while he has seen a little of the weird and wonderful here, he has had so much more of a patient experience and learned a lot about continuity of care. “It’s fun when you look after someone through pregnancy, deliver their baby and then get to take care of the baby,” said Brassard. “Family medicine allows you the opportunity to practice at the full scope of your education,” added Devin.

“The health care providers who accept to be preceptors and the patients in the community are key to the success of this program,” said Sylvie Forgues-Martel, chief liaison officer for academic and medical affairs at WDMH. “The patients are very often the teachers,” said Devin. “It’s an important part of our learning,” said Brassard. “The patients are incredibly accepting, very trustful and very happy to participate in our learning, which is great. The more exposure we get makes our learning more complete, and we get a lot of exposure here.”

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On the platform of Aultsville Station, where no doubt a British Home Child at one time sat with all their earthly belongings waiting for the stranger who was going to take them in, the British Home Child Day Committee of SD&G, announced plans for an event that will take place on the first ever British Home Child Day September 28.

The new organization, which has about 15 members mostly with ties to British Home Children, has been working at the planning the event which will take place at Upper Canada Village.

“Over 100,000 British Home Children came to our country to work in the homes and on the farms of Canadians. Overcoming incredible hardships, these children became contributing members of society,” said Carolyn Goddard, chairperson of the committee. “On September 28th, British Home Child Day in Ontario, we will have an opportunity to hear their stories and recognized the contributions they have made.”

This committee was inspired to organize this event after the British Home Child Day Act, a Private Members Bill brought forward in the Ontario Legislature by SDSG MPP Jim Brownell.

Brownell’s grandmother was a British Home Child.

“I am pleased that a group of locals have done the leg work to take this day and make is something special,” said Brownell at the Aug. 19 announcement. “I hope this day at Upper Canada Village will give Ontarians a sense of who these Home Children were and how they contributed to life in Ontario.”

“I foresee many people coming here to talk about their families’ stories, which were often stories not told,” said Brownell, adding that he hopes this will become an annual event.

Brownell will himself be donating a plaque and a tree that will be planted as part of the Sept. 28 event at Aultsville Station.

“This is a story that is just starting to be talked about,” said Judy Neville, a committee member descended from a British Home Child.

“Canada’s British Home Children are a part of our county’s history. They are part of our heritage. They represent a part of our past and their descendents represent a part of our future. Their stories need to be taught in our schools,” said Brownell.

Gabriele Thomas of Upper Canada Village said that they are pleased to have the collaboration with this committee for the upcoming event, hoping that in future it will expand.

Plans for the Sept. 28 event include the dedication of a maple tree at the Aultsville Station, displays from various Home Children organizations, an opportunity for friends and descendents to tell the story of their home child, and a specially planned British Home Child tour of Upper Canada Village. A theatre group from Metcalfe will perform a sampling of their upcoming production based on a Home Child story, and throughout the day, musicians will entertain. The day ends with a catered dinner at Willard’s Hotel.

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