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Vol. 14, No. 31, Wednesday, June 19, 2019 www.LamontLeader.com
CEO Harold James retires after over 40 years at Lamont Health Care Centre MAUREEN SULLIVAN After over 50 years in the field of medicine Harold James said goodbye to staff, friends and family on June 17, in the Lamont Health Care Centre (LHCC) Courtyard /Healing /Meditation Garden. In his time at LHCC James always had a vision of what rural healthcare should look like, said Kent Harrold, Chair of the Board. “He has always worked toward a goal of complete healthcare being available in one place.” James has worn many hats over the years and was instrumental in many of the upgrades in health care over the years. In the 1970s James looked at the cost of transferring patients from the Auxiliary Hospital to the Acute Hospital in Lamont, a move that required calling for an ambulance, so he suggested building a connecting link between the two. That link paid for itself in a year, reminisced Harrold. He oversaw the amalgamation of the church hospital with the district board of health in 1992. On May 30, 1995 when the hospital burned in a fire, James oversaw the rebuilding of the hospital, setting up the doctors’ offices in the county building and sending long term care patients to stay with the Sisters of Mary Immaculate in Mundare and Willingdon. James played a significant role in the planning and building of Morley Young Manor in 1998 and the replacement of the Beaverhill Pioneer Lodge in 2018. In November of 2003 James initiated the Community Newsletter to inform Lamont County and surrounding area of the services offered at LHCC. He has been the CAO for the Lamont County Housing Foundation since 2005. The LHCC Board is in the process of setting up criteria for a Scholarship in
Harold James with his wife Josie Harold James’ name as a legacy to this humble man. Following are some excerpts from letters submitted with his nomination by Assistant CEO Shahad Bharmal to receive the Alberta Medical Association Medal of Honour 2019 Achievement Award. "Harold James has played a significant role in building and maintaining the exceptional accessible medical services that not only Lamont but the entire region have relied on for over a century," wrote Dr. John G. Sunley, retired MD, Former Medical Superintendent (AMH). "Harold has exemplified what it means to raise the standards of health care across the province. His contributions to the community and to Alberta's health care system are an invaluable legacy of innovation and compassion," wrote former Premier Ed Stelmach, Board Chair of Covenant Health. "Whether it has been his attention to the mundane, his thoughtful guidance, his deep insight or his advocacy for the
vulnerable, he has given of himself generously, thoughtfully and willingly to bring his vision to reality. It is a vision that has enriched the lives of many people and Harold has been the inspiration behind that," wrote Kent Harrold, LHCC Board Chair. James and his wife Josie are looking forward to taking some time off this summer and plan to winter at their family home in St. Lucia. "I have no plans for the immediate future, except sleeping in the first day of retirement. I will re-evaluate my plans come September," laughed James when asked about the future. A man who was always looking to learn more, he spent many years acquiring education. In May of 1968 James immigrated to Canada to work at the Archer Memorial Hospital in Lamont. He career started in 1966 at St. Jude Hospital on his native island of St. Lucia, West Indies. From 1969 to 1975 he earned an Honours in Biological Laboratory Technology in Toronto. In 1971 he returned to St. Lucia work-
ing as a Laboratory Technologist and was appointed as the Assistant Hospital Administrator. In 1973 he earned a World Health Organization Scholarship to attend the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica where he studied and earned a Registered Technologist Certification and a Diploma in Medical Microbiology. In July of 1975 James returned to Archer Memorial Hospital in Lamont becoming Laboratory Supervisor until 1978. Through distance education he earned his Certification in Health Care Administration from the University of Saskatchewan. From 1978 to 1979 James served a brief stint as Administrator & CEO at the Brock Union Hospital in Arcola, Saskatchewan. James returned to Lamont in 1979 at the invitation of Dr. John Sunley (Medical Superintendent of AMH at the time), becoming the Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of AMH. Through distance education he earned a diploma in 1980 and a B.A. in 1983 in Health Services Administration from the Canadian School of Management and by 1989 completed his Master of Science & Administration with Central Michigan University. He is a former Health Services Director/Manager of Health Services Lakeland Regional Health Authority#12. He served as a Board Member on Alberta Labour Health Disciplines Board, initiated Lamont and District Ambulance Services, served on Accreditation Canada, a member of the Canadian & American Colleges of Health Service Executives, Board Director on Catholic Health Association of Alberta and Affiliates and has served as a Commissioner for Oaths in and around Alberta since 2005.