Inside
◆ Council Notes - pg 2 ◆ Letters - pg 4
◆ Theatre Project - pg 5 ◆ Women Connect - pg 6
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WEDNESDAY, November 4, 2015
Fort St. James doctor receives top doc award
NEWS BRIEFS Calling all music students It’s time to warm up those vocal chords. The 38th annual Festival of the Performing Arts is on its way. The festival will be held on March 7-20, 2016 at the Nechako Valley Senior Secondary School. Norma Hoy is a piano teacher in Fort St. James. “It’s such a great opportunity for kids here in Fort St. James. There’s lots of talent here, so what better way to show it off,” she said. “It’s a great friendly competition. It gives kids exposure and they receive feedback from outside sources. It’s educational as well because they can learn from seeing others perform,” Hoy said. Students can enter three different categories. Those playing piano will perform March 14-17, speech arts will be held on March 7 and strings on March 11. The festival concert will be take place on Sunday, March 20 at 2:30 p.m. Hoy has seen the benefits of music in children’s lives. “The festival is such a great opportunity for them to showcase their talents,” Hoy says. “These days, there is so much research on the benefits of music for children’s minds, their character and it provides discipline,” she said. Online registration begins Dec. 1 and closes Jan. 11. No entries are accepted after January 22. To view the festival syllabus and for more information view: www. musicfestivalweb/nechako
VOL. 38 NO. 36 $1.30 inc. GST
BARBARA LATKOWSKI Caledonia Courier
For Dr. Anthon Meyer, It’s all about the patient and providing them with the best local care possible. It is this passion for people that has led to Meyer receiving the honour of being B.C.’S family doctor of the year by The College of Family Physicians of Canada. “This has been a humbling experience and I value the opportunity. We are making change in the community and it’s so exciting,” Meyer said. Meyer, originally from South Africa, moved to Fort St. James three years ago. He will be honoured in Toronto on Nov. 10 along with nine other doctors from across the country. “I had a vision when I arrived here. And because of the support I’ve received in the community, my vision has been embraced. The community was prepared to entertain the need for the recruitment and retainment of physicians and this is what brought me to Fort. St. James,” Meyer said. Prior to this, Meyer spent his entire career in rural, under-serviced communities in Manitoba and in Northern Ontario. “My focus is community based local care by bringing the care to the patient,” Meyer said. Dr. Meyer is the founder of AMDOCS, a unique primary care model that has led to the recruitment of health care providers and the establishment of full-service, rural general practises with ER skills particularly in First Nations communities. It was this care that Meyer remains dedicated to. “This is where I find the most connection,” he said. And this is where Meyer realised the need for various programs. Since arriving in Fort St. James, Meyer has developed outreach first nations clinics, a chronic disease management program and hospital emergency is now available 24/7. Plans for a new hospital are also in the works. “We, along with Northern Health have seen tremendous change. It speaks to their dedication,” Meyer said. “It has been a team approach. We have a chance to make real change and it’s happening along with what I value most and that is to care.” Meyer, 58, has settled in to life in Fort St. James. He is now the medical director in the Fort St, James Medical Clinic where he practises family medicine and emergency care with Stuart Lake Hospital.
Dr. Anthon Meyer Meyer works alongside six physicians and two nurse practitioners. The hospital has recently been approved as a training site where new doctors can see the impacts of good local care. “Physicians can see the changes in the community and they can see the positive outcome. This will encourage doctors to stay in these communities and will help resolve this revolvingdoor mentality,” Meyer said. “I’m so proud to be a part of this community, in knowing their dedication and contribution in supporting the well-being of everyone here. It’s
very special,” Meyer said. Meyer’s 30-year-old daughter and son-in-law are also local physicians. They are expecting their first child in two months. “I am happy to call this home now,” Meyer said. He has just recently had his contract extended for another five years. All in all, it is the patient what matters most to Meyer. “To touch the soul of my community and of my patient, to help them become more powerful on their management program, this is what’s special for me.”
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