One Team One Dream Magazine

A Salute to West Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s 75 Years of Service to Niagara West

Special Supplement to

2021

Dreams

Do Come True!

(Artists’s rendering of possible West Lincoln Memorial Hospital design)

Locally owned & operated, we are here to serve you!

905-945-4171

455 South Service Road Grimsby www.grimsbyford.com

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Downtown Grimsby share two things: Great people working to serve Niagara West as best they can & dedicated support from all corners of the community!

On behalf of every retailer and service provider downtown, the Grimsby DIA Board of Directors says

THANK YOU

to WLMH staff and the countless volunteers who are making the Save & Rebuild process possible.

All of Niagara West is better due to your dedication!

Downtown Grimsby...

We’re Friendly By Nature! www.friendlybynature.com

@friendlygrimsby

Thanks to the entire WLMH staff for all they do for our beloved hospital!

Tony and Ruthann Joosse & family

July 2021

Page 6 – We Go From Rags To Riches - Opinion

By Mike Williscraft

Page 8 – WLMH History Runs Deep

By Dorothy Turcotte

Page 14 – Petitions, Rallies & Community Spirit

By Dr. Gary Benson

Page 20 – A Thriving Hub For Education

By Dr. Martha Davidson

Page 24 – HHS Provides Best Of Both Worlds

It’s been a long time coming!

Thanks to all WLMH staff, front-line workers and the Save & Rebuild team for keeping our dream alive!

By Mary Volk

Page 28 – WLMH Foundation A Community

Cornerstone Since 1981

By Pamela Ellens & Kevin Antonides

Page 34 – Time To Take It To The Finish

By Andrew Smith

Page 37 – Palliative Care Team, 25 Years of Service

By Dr. Denise Marshall

Page 41 – Teamwork Makes The Dream Work!

By Charles Criminisi, HHS Board Chair

Page 42 – Activism Key to Preserving The Future

By Cindy Toth, Tony Joosse & Dr. Tom Estall

30 Main Street West, Grimsby • 905-945-5013 www.teddysgrimsby.ca

Page 48 – Care, Service Changed Greatly In 25 Years

Summer is Here!

Page 57 – Local Healthcare Keeps Residents Alive

By Dr. Joan Bellaire

Page 52 – Obstetrics Continues To Deliver

By Dr. Nwachukwu Nwebube

• Central Air • Gas Furnaces • Service • Ranges • Sales • Dryers • Installation • BBQ’s • Pool Heaters

Congrats to WLMH for the Rebuild!

DIAMOND AWARD

By Mona Irwin

ON THE COVER Three images of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital tell the tale of what was, what is and what will be thanks to the graphic talents of Michelle Long Bauman.

BEST WEST DIAMOND AWARD

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2015/2016 2015 IN THE

2019

BEST WEST DIAMOND AWARD

BEST WEST

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Page 62 – Auxiliary Ready To Get Back In Swing

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4 July 2021 One Team. One Dream. Magazine

100% Niagara owned, and operated by 1602207 Ontario Ltd. 1 Mountain St. Grimsby L3M 3G6 Ph: 289-235-9500 Email: info@wn3.ca

Publisher

Mike Williscraft General Manager Catherine Bratton Reporters Joanne McDonald Tristan Marks Advertising Sales Erica Huisman Graphic Design Donna Wisnoski

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Statements and opinions of writers do not necessarily represent those of the publisher or NewsNow. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article, artwork or photograph without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

MESSAGE FROM THE TOWN OF LINCOLN ON THE HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT

We are pleased to participate in this publication and are thrilled to see progress on the redevelopment of a new, state-of-the-art hospital in West Niagara.

Lincoln is a growing community and a leader in Niagara. As a municipality, we have been advocating for a new, rebuilt hospital for some time and believe it is a necessary investment that will serve the needs of local area residents.

Now more than ever, we recognize the value of high-quality health services to overall quality of life. This is an important investment at the right time for our community. We thank all contributors and look forward to continued collaboration with our partners to advance the next stages of this project.

It is certainly an exciting time to be living in Lincoln!

Sandra Easton Mayor, Town of Lincoln On Behalf of Council

Michael Kirkopoulos Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Lincoln On Behalf of Staff

The Town has launched a new engagement platform, SpeakUpLincoln.ca. Here, we are sharing information and welcome your feedback on corporate initiatives that have an impact on our community. We want to hear from you, and this digital platform allows you to share your thoughts when it’s most convenient for you. Please take a look and see what’s happening in Lincoln!

@TownofLincolnON One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 5

We’ll go from rags to riches

By Mike Williscraft here can be no more stark an example of the feelings toward West Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s story than the two photos inset above.

The photo on the left - utter devastation after a January 1948 fire which levelled the original hospital building.

On the right, you have a vision of what awaits.

Both spectacular and unbelievable on opposing ends of the scale - this for the single most fundamental component to life in Niagara West - our hospital!

Having covered every single, solitary bump in the road, every inhale, every exhale, every gasp, every tear of the entire 25-year ordeal, I can assure you, the level of exhaustion many have felt in recent years is 100 per cent real.

Soon, it will all be worth it.

There are so many people I think about as the days click by to the Spring 2022 groundbreaking for the new build.

Sitting in the current site’s board room through much of January 1997 with the rest of the Save Our Hospital committee, a charged up Rev. Jim Dowden, the late Rev. Jim, taking the lead. Remember that healthcare bus cartoon?

Most recall the 15,000 or so frozen souls on the football field at Grimsby Secondary on Feb. 3, 1997, the exact moment in time when the heart of the do-anything-to-preserve-thehospital entity started beating.

That heart has been on life-support a few times over the years, but the sole driving force to keep that precious organ beating has been you - the residents of Niagara West, the people who know what they have in a smalltown

T

hospital and simply refused to let it of how every facet of the operation drift away on a whim of a Queen’s runs and how things will be set for Park bureaucrat and sharpened the future. knife or a provincial government’s That is a gift and I humbly thank finance minister. all for their efforts!

Along the line of unique perspecThere have been several turns tives, I offer up a few examples. in the road when many - maybe Both Dr. Denise Marshall and Dr. most - thought a rebuild, or even Martha Davidson were contributors the continued existence of WLMH MIKE would never happen. There was WILLISCRAFT to the 1997 Save Our Hospital section, dealing with palliative care and genuine reason for the skepticism.

WLMH’s teaching component respectively.

Yes, somehow, here we are today, on the How cool is it that both can fulfill the same edge of something that is truly miraculous for content with 25 years more experience to give our community. added perspective?

Back in 1997, when the future was most As well, I tracked down my good friend bleak and WLMH was slated for full closure, Mona Irwin. She was a reporter for me in I put together a 24-Page Save Our Hospital Goderich and was editor of the Lincoln Postsection for the old Grimsby Independent Express. She did the feature in 1997 about about all things hospital. It was all put together with a full staff of reporters, sales team the West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary then, and she fulfills that content again. and a couple of key submissions from the For human interest, how about Mathew medical community.

Boltz, the “miracle boy” feature in the 1997 This One Team. One Dream. Magazine feature? He was 18 at that time thanks to care -– full credit to Tony Joosse for the tag line at WLMH after he fell through the ice on – was assembled with a handful of dedicated the lake as a four-year-old in 1982. He was staff, content powered by the people who make and have made the whole place run. underwater for 10-15 minutes before being rescued. We update the story of Mathew and It was completely by design to have the his family today. people who have lived the last 25 years of And who else but the incomparable WLMH be the ones to tell you the story.

Dorothy Turcotte could provide the WLMH A reporter could conduct interviews history – 25 years apart? and relate findings to readers. It would be There may be some who still don’t think it fundamentally sound and all good, but to will happen, but it’s going to happen. get the unfiltered insight and opinion from After decades of fighting, crawling and begthose who deliver healthcare to Niagara West ging - at times - political will has changed and on a daily basis is an invaluable asset to this this new build will reveal itself to all. publication and a treasure for decades to Congratulations to residents of Niagara come. In 50 years, one could pull out this West for keeping the dream alive. magazine and get a detailed snapshot in time

6 July 2021 One Team. One Dream. Magazine

What a journey it’s been!

Our community showed strength and resolve working together.

Heartfelt thanks to the community, Government of Ontario, MPP Sam Oosterhoff, Towns of Grimsby, Lincoln & West Lincoln, Niagara Region and HHS for saving our beloved hospital and getting the new build started next year.

From Save & Rebuild Community Action Group Co-Chairs: Tom Estall, Tony Joosse & Cindy Toth

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 7

Hospital’s history runs deep in the community A Jan. 29, 1948 fire destroyed the original WLMH site, the former clubhouse for Deer Park Golf Club, which was donated by C.J. Eames.

(Photo provided by John Allan)

By Dorothy Turcotte hen the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital opened on Jan. 6, 1946, residents of the surrounding area were elated. When seriously ill or injured, they no longer had to rely on homecare from their family doctor or make a long, painful journey by car or train to a hospital in the city. No longer need they be separated from family and friends when they needed them most. At last!

They could receive the best medical care right here in their own community.

It all began on Dec. 6, 1942. Two of Grimsby’s best known citizens stopped by to chat on the steps of the post office. They were Dr. J.R. MacMillan and Alexander (Sandy) Globe. In the course of their conversation, the need for a hospital in the community was discussed. It was all an idea that had been “going around” for a long time. Now, it seemed that its time had come. Both men left the brief encounter with an agreement to pursue the matter.

Sandy Globe was a member of the Lions Club, and his enthusiasm for the project rubbed off on the entire group. When C.J. Eames, owner of both the Hamilton department store and the Deer Park Golf Club, offered the clubhouse for a hospital, plans for fundraising began immediately. The Deer Park property got its name from the days when it was owned by the Hewitt family who had fenced it in and turned it into a private deer sanctuary. Mr. Eames had later turned it into a golf course, and now he offered to donate the club house for use as a hospital, providing the community could raise enough money to

W

Sandy Globe, who had worked so convert the building. hard to make this dream a reality, It was wartime, when manwas presented with the Lions Club power and supplies of almost Citizenship Award, in honour of his everything were in short supply. part in establishing the hospital.

Yet the people of Grimsby and the The first patient was admitted on surrounding area began to offer Jan. 7, 1946. During the balance of their help as soon as they heard of that month a total of 46 patients were plans for the hospital. treated. Eleven were from Grimsby, In Sept. 1943, the first fund18 from Beamsville, two from Smithraising drive was announced with DOROTHY ville, five from Grassies, five from the goal of $15,000. Further TURCOTTE Winona and five from Clinton. drives were held, to raise a total of In Oct., 1947, it was announced that the $50,000 to cover the necessary alterations and hospital would need to expand. equipment. Everyone, including local doctors, During the first nine months of the year, gave generously. Local municipalities - Beams1,111 patients had been treated, compared ville, Winona and the townships of North to 927 for all of the previous year. Plans were Grimsby, South Grimsby, Caistor, Louth and underway for a new 10-bed wing.

Clinton – were asked to provide an annual On Dec. 18, the following advertisement grant, and they all came through. appeared in The Independent under the heading The Women’s Auxiliary was formed in 1944 “The Hospital on the Hill”. with 39 members. Another auxiliary was “The directors and staff and Ladies’ Auxiliary organized in Beamsville, and eventually the of YOUR hospital extend best wishes for a two groups became one. They provided the Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. new hospital with 300 bed sheets, 200 pillow Another utility owned and operated by the cases, 56 baby blankets, 181 bath towels, 49 people of West Lincoln.” bedspreads, 89 crib sheets, 100 bedgowns and The need for a new wing soon became 24 doctors’ gowns. redundant. On Jan. 29, 1948, a patient in the The Deer Park clubhouse was to be conobstetrical ward heard flames crackling in the verted to an 18-bed hospital with an operwalls of her room. In spite of prompt action by ating room, X-ray facilities, and labor and the fire department and hundreds of citizens delivery rooms. There were to be ten general who came out in the below-zero Fahrenheit staff and ten nurses. It was decided to call it weather, the building could not be saved.

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital to honour Within an hour it was reduced to rubble. the memory of past generations who laid the Eighteen patients and babies were quickly foundation for the development of Grimsby and the surrounding area.

8 July 2021 One Team. One Dream. Magazine

CONTINUED FROM Page 8 moved to safety in nearby homes. Citizens who rushed to help were able to save thousands of dollars worth of precious equipment.

The superintendent, Miss Douglas MacRobbie, telephoned Pearl Walker in Florida to ask for permission to use Nixon Hall as a temporary hospital. The Walker home had been used for farmerettes, but at that time it was standing empty. Permission was quickly given.

By Monday, Feb. 23, Nixon Hall had been converted into a temporary hospital, and opened its doors to patients. There were two four-bed rooms and one three-bed room. The operating room was set up downstairs, with delivery and nursery upstairs. Local people brought fruit, vegetables, eggs and staples to supply the kitchen.

Some utensils were boiled on the kitchen stove, but the Grimsby Distillery on Oak Street helped with sterilization. Operating Room instruments were kept on the mantelpiece of the OR which had been the living room. Conditions were far from ideal, but staff and patients alike took to it all in good spirits.

Fundraising began all over again. Encouraged once again by Sandy Globe’s enthusiasm, 160 canvassers set out to cover the area from Jordan to Winona, and south to St. Ann’s and Gainsborough. Among the first to donate was J.A.M. Livingston, son of James Livingston, the founder of The Independent, who sent a donation from Toronto. The London Life Insurance Co. gave $1,000.

Radio Station CHML broadcast a three-hour appeal which brought pledges of $5,600 from all over the province, and

Remnants of the 1948 fire.

Photo provided by Grimsby Archives

even from across the border.

N.J.M. Lockhart, MP for Lincoln, sent a large cheque, along with a letter that said “I was always proud of the people of West Lincoln for their aggressive and progressive action in establishing West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. Please accept my ‘Widow’s Mite’...It is in times like this that I wish I were a millionaire.”

In spite of blizzards, the canvassers plunged on through snowdrifts to cover the surrounding countryside. On March 31, the Grimsby Branch of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians presented a special program in the high school auditorium. The guest speaker was the Hon. Russell T. Kelley, Minister of Health, with music and dancing provided by the Hamilton AUUC String Orchestra and dancers in national costume.

Admission was $1 for adults, 50 cents for children, with all proceeds to the hospital building fund. It was well attended.

In May, the Main Street East site for the new hospital was approved.It consisted of three acres, with a 400’ frontage. The Board had unanimously agreed that the new hospital should not be “on the hill.”

Although the old site had been perfect for convalescence, there had been many disadvantages. Low water pressure, difficulty in obtaining gas and sewage systems, and the hazards of vehicles negotiating the icy hill were all good reason for having the

new building in a more central location.

Plans were prepared by architect Chester C. Woods. The new hospital would cost about $180,000.

Stone salvaged from the fire ravaged Deer Park building was to be used around the entrance to the hospital, and can still be seen today. Fortunately, the previous building had been fully insured.

Sod was turned on Aug. 12, and the cornerstone was laid on Oct. 3, with the Hon. Russell T. Kelley, Minister of Health, doing the honours.

The cornerstone contains a jar of wheat from Smithville, a bottle of wine made from Grimsby grapes, a jar of peaches from Beamsville, and a bottle of tomato sauce from Winona – tokens of the importance of this new building to all those communities.

To remind future generations of “things spiritual”, a copy of the New Testament, salvaged from the fire, was also put in the cornerstone.

More than 1,000 interested people attended the ceremony.

Originally, plans did not include a basement. However, the government insisted on a full basement in the interest of civilian defence.

So soon after the devastating Second World War, Ottawa was very aware of the need for civilian protection against disaster. An extra $33,000 had to be found for the addition of the basement.

Only a small section of it was finished as a laundry, a maintenance shop and fruit storage room. The rest was left with a dirt floor, with watercourses running through the space in some places.

Meanwhile, plans were made for operation of the new hospital. Some of the 15 nurses hired would be from out-of-town, so a nurses’ residence was arranged in the Aitcheson home, two doors west of the hospital. Local residents donated furnishings.

Members of the Dietary and Maintenance staffs worked hard all summer canning and preserving food for future use. Some of this food was donated. Some was picked by the staff in their spare time.

Permission was received from the Department of Highways to pick crab apples from the trees in the median of the Queen Elizabeth Highway. This produced a beautiful jelly which was called Queen Elizabeth Crab.

In March, 1949, the Hon. Paul Martin announced a grant of $77,332 to help build the hospital. Half of this sum would be provided by the provincial government. In making his announcement, Mr. Martin pointed out the importance of this hospital, which would serve 10,000 people.

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 9

CONTINUED FROM Page 9 The new 34-bed hospital opened on Oct. 23, 1949. There was a religious dedication

by Rev. R. Leonard Griffith of Trinity United Church, then a brief address by Sandy Globe.

The key to the hospital was then presented to Miss MacRobbie by Warden of the Lincoln County and Reeve of Caistor Township, Leslie M. Lymburner. Over 5,000 people toured the hospital, having a look at the spanking new facilities which included two operating rooms, X-ray department, laboratory, a Quiet Room, and the modern feature of Oxygen in every patient’s room.

On May 12, 1954, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday, a new nurses’ residence was opened in the Alexander Globe Building next to the hospital.

The residence housed 12 single rooms, as well as a large living room. The building is now called the Alexander Globe Social Services Building, and houses offices of the Niagara Regional Health Services Department, Family and Children’s Services of the Niagara Region, Canadian Red Cross and the Victorian Order of Nurses.

B Ward with 25 new beds was opened in 1961. That same year, an elevator was added, giving the hospital the distinction of being the only building in Grimsby with a passenger el-

Later that year, C Ward opened, making 32 evator. Over the next 10 years, hospital expanmore medical beds available. Expansion was sion was rapid, taking place in three phases. complete, including the new emergency and A new Emergency Wing was added, as well admitting wing, by the end of 1969. as an Intensive Care Unit, two X-ray rooms, Of course there have been many changes two emergency rooms, two general operating rooms, a physiotherapy department, renovated since. New equipment added, new services provided. Several doctors have located their laboratory and an additional 68 beds.

Once again, dedicated offices in the hospital so men and women set out that they can practice Whole wards, services & their specialties “on the to raise $495,000 toward equipment have been this massive project. spot”.

Federal and Provincial Deer Park Villa retireadded to the mix over the ment grants through OHSC and nursing home years, making WLMH was added at the rear were $1,595,335, while the county debenture was of the hospital in 1986. what it is today. $360,000. The balance of Wards have been closed, the nearly half a million or converted to other uses. dollars was to come from the community.

Through it all, from the very first struggle With the assistance of more than 400 volunto get that 18-bed hospital established, the teers, the goal was reached. devastating fire, rebuilding and expansion, the In 1968, the cafeteria was opened, as well as staff, past boards of directors of West Lincoln D Ward with 26 surgical beds and a four-bed Memorial Hospital and now the board of Intensive Care Unit. That year, Grimsby was Hamilton Health Sciences have provided Nicelebrating 101 years of Canada’s Confederaagara West and the surrounding communities tion, and the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, with the finest health care services one could W. Ross MacDonald came to officially open hope for. the festivities. He also made point of visiting Our hospital is our heart.

(Dorothy Turcotte is a noted Grimsby historian, the hospital where he enjoyed afternoon tea, a published author and long-time contributor to tour and a happy time spent in the Children’s Niagara West community newspapers.)

Ward.

Every time West Lincoln Memorial Hospital needed

the residents of Niagara West, our friends and neighbours delivered.

The result of thousands of hours of behind-the-scenes work has put us in a position to see a ground-breaking for a new WLMH next Spring.

Our community and all hospital staff are very deserving of this new facility! Congratulations to all.

We are very proud to say we live and work in a community as great at Niagara West!

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10 July 2021 One. Team. One Dream. Magazine

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Proud to support West Lincoln Memorial Hospital & all our front-line workers Thanks for all you do!

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West Lincoln is proud to stand with our neighbours in supporting West Lincoln Memorial Hospital!

Staff, HHS, provincial government & our dedicated residents are all deserving of credit in making the rebuild happen.

Proud to Support West Lincoln Memorial Hospital All your hard work is appreciated!

www.westlincolnchamber.com • 905-957-1606 PROUD NEIGHBORS OF WLMH FOR 27 YEARS!

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From birth and illness to stitches and broken bones, members of The Lynn Fee Team owe a lot of their health to Grimsby’s amazing

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital!

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My fellow residents and neighbours, It is with great anticipation that our community is watching the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital begin to move from concept to reality.

The past year-and-a-half has underscored the importance of our healthcare workers and community based healthcare which WLMH continues to successfully deliver.

Like many of you, WLMH has always been an important institution for both myself and my family.

I was born at the hospital in 1962, my grandfather was a former Chair of the WLMH board and my grandmother was a long-time president of the WLMH Auxiliary. I have regularly participated in the many important community events for the hospital including the February 1997 candlelight vigil at GSS. Alongside with the other mayors of West Niagara, I have focused that life-long commitment to WLMH and a passion for our community into ensuring the new build is delivered on-budget and on-time.

Together we successfully secured an important contribution, amounting to $10.5 million towards the new build from the Region of Niagara.

Both as Mayor and resident, I will continue to do my utmost and make certain the new WLMH comes to fruition and delivers the high-level of care residents of Grimsby and surrounding areas have come to expect.

Sincerely,

Mayor Jeff Jordan Town of Grimsby 12 July 2021 One Team. One Dream. Magazine

As your Niagara Regional Councillors, we continue our many years of dedicated support and service to our communities.

We made the case and ensured the Region provided a fair share contribution to the building of our new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital of $10.5 million.

ONE TEAM / ONE DREAM

Albert Witteveen

Wayne Fertich

Robert Foster

WEST LINCOLN

GRIMSBY

LINCOLN

Petitions, rallies & community spirit work to sustain WLMH The scene at the 2012 rally from the rooftop at Grimsby Secondary School. Williscraft - Photo

By Dr. Gary Benson eb. 3, 1997 is a day many of us will never forget.

It was on that day a candlelight vigil was held on the football field of Grimsby Secondary School.

Thousands of men, women and children attended the rally, to show their support for West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH) after word had spread that our hospital might be forced to close as part of a plan by the Conservative government of the day to close many of the community hospitals in Ontario to reduce government spending.

Standing in the cold winter air that evening, and listening to speeches, one could not help but feel a deep sense of pride in our community, one that was passionate and ready to fight for something we felt was so important in our lives.

The rally was followed by a letter writing campaign with many citizens writing the government to express their opposition to the proposed closure.

Among the letter writers was one of our local internal medicine consultants, Dr. Jonathan Ginsburg, who not only wrote, but asked for, and received a meeting with Dr. Duncan Sinclair, who had been appointed head of the Hospital Restructuring Committee, responsible for recommending which

F

care planning. WLMH was hospitals should be closed. He met informed by the LHIN that planwith Dr. Sinclair for an hour, giving ning had to be paused until they him the reasons why the closure of completed a study of our LHIN WLMH would be a mistake. region, and how WLMH would He also noticed the stacks of fit in that plan. letters in the office, the majority The study was finally comof which were from residents of pleted in 2009, with the LHIN West Niagara. recognizing the important role Our protests were being noticed DR. GARY WLMH played in the LHIN and were successful.

BENSON region and we were then able to The provincial government resume the planning process. decided not to close our hospital.

The original hospital was built in 1948 By 2012 planning for a new WLMH had and named in honour of the men and advanced to the point where we were Numwomen of our communities who served ber 2 on the Infrastructure Ontario list of and gave their lives for our country during new hospitals to be built in the province.

WWI and WWII. The 50-year-old buildHowever, our plans were shattered in April ing was showing its age and needing major of that year when the Liberal provincial repair and upgrading. A study at the time government budget was announced. We estimated the cost of upgrading to be $17 were shocked to hear it stated in the budget million and rebuilding would be $25 milspeech that the rebuild of WLMH was canlion. The decision was made to rebuild. celled. There was no warning that this was The community would need to raise about to happen, and no reason given to $12.5 million and a campaign was started explain why or how this decision was made. by the WLMH Foundation to raise that DREAM SHATTERED amount. The campaign was an overwhelmTo many of us, it was an unjust political ing success, exceeding its goal. decision. Our dream had been shattered.

Planning for the new building proceeded WLMH had always been an indepenuntil 2005, when the Local Health Integra- dent community hospital governed by its tion Network (LHIN) was created. The own Hospital Board. Following the events LHINs were responsible for regional health

14 July 2021 One Team. One Dream. Magazine

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14 WLMH with improved patient care by Premier Ford indicated his support and of 2012, we realized that - as a small hospi- allowing easier access to levels of care we promised a decision within weeks. Sam tal - we had very limited political influcould not provide in areas such as cardiac and Tony followed up frequently over the ence. Any hope of rebuilding could only care, neurosurgery and cancer care. next few weeks until our development was be achieved by a relationship with another The merger was agreed on and we beapproved. health care institution. came part of the HHS family.

HHS KEPT PROMISE Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington One of the first goals after joining HHS With the approval in place, HHS kept was an obvious choice. WLMH and JBH was the start of planning for the rebuild of the promise it had made when we became were both community hospitals, providing WLMH. part of the HHS family and began the similar services to our communities.

The expertise of the HHS planning process.

We also had a long history of shared team in hospital redevelopFundraising the final Planning for a hospital medical staff, especially in the subspecialties ment proved invaluable and rebuild is a complex process leg of a 25-year of E.N.T., urology and general surgery. At soon we were back to the requiring approval from the journey for the that time JBH officials were also attempttask of seeking government Ministry of Health for varicommunity ing to get approval for the redevelopment approval for our plan. ous stages of the plan. Final of their hospital, so a partnership between Like any relationship, approval normally takes JBH and WLMH seemed like a natural fit. being part of HHS has had its ups and several years.

The amalgamation of our two hospitals downs.

With the support of the planning diviwas approved by our respective boards of On Oct. 17, 2018 I was informed that sion of HHS, this has been advanced with directors. We started with the integration senior management at HHS had decided record speed. We are now in the final stages of our clinical departments which was very that our obstetrical and part of our surgical of the planning process with “shovel in the successful, starting with Diagnostic Imagprograms would be closed for up to one ground” expected in 2022. ing (DI) and a joint Chief of DI. year to allow for critical upgrades to be Overall, being part of HHS has been a Our amalgamation with JBH lasted until made to our hospital infrastructure. positive experience for WLMH. 2014 when the government approved the Neither I nor our senior administrator We are now part of a highly respected redevelopment of JBH, but not WLMH. had been consulted in advance of the deci- organization, one of the few such organizaOur hospital Board asked the JBH Board sion. It placed these services in jeopardy tions that has a community hospital as part to request the government support a joint and I was not prepared to accept or be part of its services, which also includes tertiary development of the two hospitals but the of administering its implementation. care, cancer care and pediatric hospitals.

JBH Board declined, probably in fear it I had no choice but to resign as Medical It is exciting to see the plans for the new might jeopardize their redevelopment.

Director at WLMH. building and the services it will contain.

Again, our dream was shattered and our When news of this became public, our We will have a state of the art facility amalgamation with JBH ended. communities once again rallied to support that will provide our children, grandchilSo, in 2014 we had to their hospital. dren and great grandchildren the care they start over again with a Within days a public deserve.

“With the support of goal to find a new partner meeting was held at Trinity Our fundraising, too, is in the final the planning division of to support WLMH. For United Church in Grimsby, stages. As a community we are responsible HHS, this (rebuild) has attended by several hundred to provide a total of $50 million dollars. several years WLMH had been advanced a long-standing affiliation people - with many more The community is responsible for 10 with Hamilton Health per cent of the building cost and 100% of with record speed” - participating on line. A Sciences (HHS), which Dr. Gary Benson, petition was started which the cost of equipping and furnishing the provided us with technical eventually included about hospital. former WLMH 20,000 signatures. and administrative supWe have had excellent support from our Medical Director This petition was port. Negotiations began local and regional governments, plus $11 with HHS to formalize our presented to the governmillion dollars raised in recent years by relationship and make WLMH part of the ment at Queen’s Park by our local Niagara our WLM Foundation. We need to raise HHS family of hospitals.

West MPP Sam Oosterhoff. Sam and an additional $7.5 million, so please give While it would mean giving up our Tony Joosse also arranged a meeting with generously so we can reach our goal. independence to become part of the second Premier Doug Ford. During a visit to Our 25-year struggle to save and rebuild largest health care organization in Niagara, our three mayors, community WLMH is close to an end, and our dream, Ontario, HHS also had a large capital plan- leaders and I met the Premier to present a reality. ning division with a successful track record our case for WLMH and the need to get (Dr. Gary Benson served as a long-time of hospital reconstruction. speedy approval from the government for physician. In 2018 he retired as WLMH’s As part of HHS it would also provide the rebuild.

Medical Director.)

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

15

After decades of work and unrelenting effort, it is great to see Niagara West on the right track and headed to a new West Lincoln Memorial Hosptial!

Thanks to our front-line workers and congratulations to all involved in making the wishes of so many come true!

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On behalf of Regional Council, I want to extend my sincere congratulations and deep appreciation for all who have been involved in moving this important project forward.

The redeveloped West Lincoln Memorial Hospital will be a genuine asset to the people of West Niagara, and indeed, all who reside in the region.

The quality of health care in Niagara will be enhanced significantly with the completion of this health care facility.

Jim Bradley, Chair Niagara Region

niagararegion.ca 16 July 2021 One Team. One Dream. Magazine

Not all news is good news.

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital is testament to that!

For all the ups, downs, ins & outs NewsNow is there for our readers in Niagara West.

Just as others in the community, we are ecstatic about what the future holds for WLMH. Stories and opinions may not have all been positive over the years, but all those doing very difficult jobs have always been held in high regard.

Mike Williscraft Catherine Bratton Publisher Now, we are on the brink of something truly amazing. General Manager The NewsNow team looks forward to telling you all the stories which come to light as the process unfolds, just as we keep you in the loop on all things in our area.

A most sincere thank you to all the people who have put in countless hours making the rebuild happen – whether that be the provincial government, Erica Huisman regional government, Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln Donna Wisnoski Advertising Sales officials, Hamilton Health Sciences staff, WLMH staff, Graphic Design dozens of volunteers AND every citizen who showed up at a rally, bought a draw ticket, sent in a Letter to the Editor or did anything to keep the push toward a rebuild moving.

They say “it takes a village”...this needed every volunteer we could muster from all three of our “villages”.

Tristan Marks Reporter

Congratulations to us!

Joanne McDonald Reporter

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18 July 2021 One Team. One Dream. Magazine

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Educational component thriving at WLMH

By Dr. Martha Davidson ur community may not be aware that West Lincoln Memorial Hospital is a thriving hub of teaching for our physician trainees and other professionals.

The future physicians learning medicine here are a source of enthusiasm and quality care and allow us the opportunity to recruit new physicians to our area.

WLMH is a training site for many nursing and midwifery students as well and many graduated physicians getting on the job training (which is called residency) by family physicians and specialists.

As a family physician my wonderful experience as a Family Practice Resident working in Smithville and at WLMH in 1987 led me to work in the community and eventually open my practice in 1989 and work here for over 30 years.

In 1997, when the community was rallying to save the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital due to drastic cuts by the Conservative government, I wrote an article describing the importance of our hospital in teaching medical students and residents.

Since then the volume and scope of teaching has expanded significantly and the role of education in recruiting and retaining high quality physicians to work

O

here permanently continues to community prepares students and grow. residents for practice in smaller Medical education at West communities across Canada.

Lincoln Hospital provides The development of the unique opportunities for expoNiagara Regional Campus of Mcsure to the full range of care that Master University’s Michael G. family physicians can provide as DeGroote School of Medicine in 2008 has increased the role of our our local family physicians are active participants in the care of DR. MARTHA community in medical training. their patients in the hospital.

There are now nearly 100 DAVIDSON At WLMH, family physicians students and residents based in admit their own patients to hospital when Niagara for the whole of their medical necessary, work in the ER, deliver babies training and our local physicians are active and provide newborn care as well as faculty members teaching these trainees. assisting in the operating room and In fact, we know that over 1000 hours of teaching happens annually every year in working as anesthetists.

Our family physicians are pleased to work our local West Niagara community.

The majority of our local physicians have with and get support from the medical specialists who work at the hospital and studies faculty appointments at McMaster and are teaching in their offices, throughout the show this collaboration leads to better care hospital and at the local campus, which is of patients and overall cost savings. situated at Brock University.

This comprehensive model of care is Many of our own physicians also hold common in most of rural Canada but is not often found in urban centres. Students leadership roles providing guidance and and residents who train in our community direction either in our medical community or at the medical school. can develop a broader set of skills and beSome of the very first graduates of the come familiar with this style of practice.

This exciting opportunity for full-specNiagara Regional Campus work in our local communities and continue to pass the trum care is what inspires many of them (myself included) to stay in our commutradition of teaching on to the next nity long term. As well, training in our

20 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 generation of physicians.

Our medical community is also very strongly involved in teaching medical school graduates as part of the Family Medicine Residency program and the Rural Family Medicine program at McMaster University.

Having the Rural program in our community depends on the existence of the hospital to provide the diversity in experience necessary to train physicians to work in smaller communities.

This Rural program is highly sought after by residents wishing to train in a full-spectrum setting and gain confidence and skill in the broad practice of family medicine while being located in a beautiful community.

As a result of these Residency programs, we are able to recruit many of these physicians to stay and set up practice in our communities.

For example, 42 per cent of all the family medicine residency graduates stay

in Niagara permanently and two-thirds of them go on to seek faculty appointments so they can teach medical students and residents.

We have had exceptional retention of graduates from the Rural Family Medicine program with most of the residents who trained in the sites in Grimsby and Smithville staying on as physicians in our community.

In Smithville, five of the eight family physicians trained here as rural residents and many other graduates of this program are working in Beamsville and Grimsby.

This investment in teaching by our local physicians and hospital is clearly benefiting our community in the long term by providing excellent quality physicians who are engaged in the community and continue to teach.

As a physician teacher, it is inspiring to meet and teach these young enthusiastic and caring learners and to help them develop their skills as they work with patients.

The building of our new hospital is definitely a dream come true for most of us who have worked and lived in this community.

We have stayed engaged and excited about this project throughout its long timeline and we are excited that we will have a new modern, state of the art facility to care for our patients and teach the next generation of medical students and residents.

The community’s support for the hospital has not wavered throughout many challenges.

My fellow physicians and I have been encouraged and impressed by the support the hospital has received from our community members.

We can still feel the energy and spirit of the outdoor February rally in 1997 that attracted thousands to the football field at Grimsby Secondary school to protest the closure of the hospital.

It is the responsibility of every one of us in this community to keep the momentum going as we near the finish line!!

For decades, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital has put the CARE in HEALTHCARE! We’re very proud WLMH will be part of our community for decades to come & greatly appreciate the efforts by so many to make it all happen.

THANKS!

Jacqueline James Sales Representative

36 Main Street East, Grimsby

Robert James

Sales Representative

Email: jackie.rlp@sympatico.ca • robertjames@royallepage.ca

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 21

Beamsville Towne Centre Many thanks to WLMH and front-line workers for everything they do.

We are very excited and appreciative as we look forward to the completion of our new hospital

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The best of both worlds

By Mary Volk he future for West Lincoln Memorial Hospiral has never looked better.

I’ve been a volunteer director on the Board of Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) for eight years and was on the Board of WLMH before its amalgamation with HHS. For more than 30 years, I have lived in Grimsby, used WLMH as my community hospital, and have also benefited from orthopaedic surgery and care at Hamilton General Hospital and McMaster University Medical Centre - both also sites of HHS. Over the years, I have been a part of the fight for a new WLMH. Again and again, the community has very actively demonstrated its support for a new hospital, which has led us to where we are today – a mere year away from beginning construction of our new hospital.

What a time it’s been!

In order to fully appreciate our situation, it’s important to understand how different types of hospitals meet different healthcare needs.

Community hospitals such as our beloved WLMH tend to offer care close to home in a smaller, more personalized setting where local family physicians are often directly involved in that care.

T

Many of these doctors work In contrast, academic hospitals in the hospital, as well as in their serve more specialized and comprimary care clinics. plex regional healthcare needs, are When our healthcare needs larger, and include both research exceed what can be provided loand the teaching of the next cally, WLMH acts as the gateway generation of physicians as parts of into the rest of HHS, which is one their mandate. of the largest and most compreWhat if we could have the best hensive hospital systems in the of both these worlds?

MARY province.

WLMH truly is the heart of the VOLK Since WLMH is an integral part communities of West Niagara. of HHS, West Niagara citizens have immeOur dedicated nurses, physicians, staff diate access to a broad range of world-class, and volunteers have made it the caring specialized services. hospital it is today.

Once the new facility is built, many more Soon after the amalgamation with of these specialists will also offer outpatient WLMH, HHS undertook extensive public engagement to determine future services to clinics in Grimsby. offer locally and in its other hospitals.

WLMH is also a teaching site for HHS/ McMaster, training many of the physicians The outcome of this task was a roadmap who remain in the area or go on to practice for the future provision of services from in other community hospitals.

HHS called “Our Healthy Future”.

One of its top recommendations was Finally, in our new facility, teams will be the redevelopment of WLMH in order to performing day surgeries and procedures for continue to provide safe care close to home, patients from both inside and outside West Niagara, bringing a broader range of surgerwhile also increasing surgeries and procedures at the site for people beyond West ies to WLMH. Niagara.

The new hospital has been a very long time coming and there have certainly been West Niagara citizens have the luxury some rough waters to navigate to get us to of care close to home, which is, to a large extent, managed by our primary care physi- where we are now - only a year away from cians.

24 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

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tributions to the local share of financing that is required to move forward, and; • HHS has worked diligently with the provincial government to expedite the planning of the new hospital. Through the efforts of many, and despite COVID-19, the rebuild project has met or been ahead of all key milestone deadlines. None of this would have happened without local citizens staying the course over the many years.

What we have achieved together is so exciting and the future of WLMH has never looked better!

The new WLMH will expand on its role of providing exemplary care close to home, while we also benefit from direct access to more specialized care as part of HHS. The people of West Niagara really do get to enjoy the benefits of the best of both worlds.

IN THE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24 breaking ground for the new WLMH. Since that candlelight vigil of almost 25 years ago, a lot has happened: • There has been an explosive growth in West Niagara population and even more is predicted in the immediate future; • Despite the herculean efforts of the hospital maintenance team, the WLMH building has shown its age; • We have resolved some very difficult situations related to the provision of services in a safe environment at WLMH; • We have had continued, strong support from the citizens of the local communities; • Our current provincial government has stepped up to see this important rebuild happen; • Our local and regional governments have gotten behind the rebuild with significant con-

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Proud to Be Serving the Community For Over 95 Years Gwen Medcalf, Owner Todd Medcalf, Master Electrician

Looking forward to the Dream of our New Hospital 110 Livingston Ave., Grimsby 905-945-2151 www.metcalfeelectric.ca

At the Ontario College of Health & Technology we know special people work in healthcare, because they are our Massage Therapy and Paramedic students.

We salute the efforts of all employees at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital and in Hamilton Health Sciences system.

All front-line worker are deserving of praise and respect.

Congratulations to those working behind the scenes on the new build and to the community for making it happen.

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One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 25

WLMH touching lives in our community with caring hands!

Congratulations on the Rebuild!

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We cannot thank WLMH’s top-notch staff enough for all the great work they have done over the years!

Maintaining an excellent level for healthcare in our community is greatly appreciated by all.

Also, thanks to all those behind the scenes carrying the Save & Rebuild campaign across the finish line!

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It has been a long road and the work by countless volunteers in the community who kept the dream alive is also greatly appreciated.

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44 Livingston Ave. • 905-309-TIRE (8473) One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 27

WLMH Foundation... serving the community since 1981

milestones for which the FounBy Pamela Ellens & tor Gordon Gibson. dation is pleased to be playing a Kevin Antonides One of our main prominent role. roles as a board is to ilestones will be We view our role as being a raise funds, and protect achieved when a comchannel for you to be part of acthese assets, to ensure munity rises above complishing the bright, new, state expectations and seizes we can continue to of the art hospital which will serve provide what is needed opportunities. the West Niagara community for for the hospital. The Throughout the history of the many generations to come.

Ontario government Foundation, we have definitely PAMELA KEVIN We are grateful for Andrew does not fund hospiexperienced the tremendous supELLENS ANTONIDES Smith, our volunteer Campaign port of our community providing tal equipment, and therefore, funds need to be raised with our Chair. His willingness to step forward to what is needed for our hospital and healthcare needs. community for that purpose. lead the campaign effort to raise the remaining $7.5 million, of the total $50 million The mission of the Foundation thrives All donations received by the Foundation goal, is very much appreciated. because this community believes in fostering go directly to the equipment and capital The new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital medical programs and health services which needs of WLMH. Since 1983, $12.7 million has been granted to the hospital, an averwill be an avenue for carrying on the legacy improve the health and well-being of the of compassionate care for others. This aspirapeople in our communities. age of $336,131 per year. The community’s support has made this granting possible, for tion will be achieved through the continued In 1981, the vision for establishing the generosity and dedication of our many this, we give thanks!

Foundation was accomplished by its first In the year 2000, we began a campaign donors who are well-known for sustaining board. the spirit of giving to others.

The founders are to be commended for to raise funds for the ‘local share’ to rebuild Together, let’s invest in life and Take it having the foresight to create a Foundation.

WLMH. Since that time the donations to the Finish…let’s continue Building a received have been invested and are now Our founders were Edward Arnold, Ernest Barbour, Albert Dyson, Floyd Furry, Chester doubled to $10.4 million which will be used Healthy Community!

(Kevin Antonides is the WLMHF Board Gdanski, Alison Hall, Robert Johnson, Phyl- to fulfill our obligations towards our new Chair. Pamela Ellens is the organization’s lis King, Burrell Morris, Hugh Tisdall, John WLMH. Executive Director) Our new hospital is one of the significant Van Wely, and the WLMH Executive Direc-

M

28 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

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One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 29

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30 July 2021 One Team. One Dream. Magazine

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THE FUTURE OF WEST LINCOLN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL LOOKS VERY BRIGHT! It is exciting to see these investments being made into a vital community resource.

Thank you to the many community supporters that have helped to ensure that this rebuild remains a priority.

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One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 31

Take it to the Finish...

Building a Healthy Community!

By Andrew Smith t’s an incredible honour to serve the community as the WLMH Foundation’s Campaign Chair for our new hospital in West Niagara.

It has been a long road for everyone involved and now it’s time to Take it to the Finish!

When I reflect on my years of involvement with the Foundation; having previously served on the Board, Project X-Ray Campaign Committee, the Community Advisory Council, and now the Campaign Committee for the new hospital, I am humbled by the support, dedication, and passion of this community for serving others and ensuring we have hospital

I

healthcare in West Niagara.

We hope to break ground It is our goal to build and equip on this new hospital project by mid-2022! Just imagine a new the new WLMH with the best facility with an open and inviting state-of-the-art facility and equipatmosphere, modernized and ment needed to serve the health care needs of this community for designed to care for the aging generations to come. The campopulation, private rooms, better connectivity between departpaign goal of $50 million is the largest philanthropic campaign ments, increased services, and ANDREW better accessibility throughout. ever undertaken in West Niagara.

SMITH I am thrilled to be working We have $7.5 million to go! with a talented group and passionate Together, we can Take it to the Finish... group of volunteers to achieve this Building a Healthy Community! Every end. Having the support of our gift counts and is so incredibly important in accomplishing our goals. We invite local municipalities, Grimsby, West Lincoln and Lincoln, the you to join in and help us build and equip Niagara Region, along with the WLMH. (Andrew Smith is the chair of the Take It campaign funds raised and invested since 2000, brings us to $42.5 million.

To the Finish fundraising campaign)

34 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

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One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 35

hospital! w e n r u o g in tt e on g Congratulations Dr. J. Scott Peaker

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36 July 2021 One Team. One Dream. Magazine

Palliative care team passes 25 years of service

The Niagara West Palliative Care Team has been supporting our community for a quarter century.

By Dr. Denise Marshall nterestingly, the Niagara West Palliative Care Team became an “official” program of West Lincoln Memorial hospital and its partners in 1997, the same year that together as a community, we undertook our massive local “Save The Hospital” initiative.

Here we are – almost 25 years later – and, in many ways, the Niagara West Palliative Care team’s story and success are directly related to keeping our hospital open and cherishing our model of care.

The team actually started in 1996 (yayee, 25 years!). Its creation was at the request of our medical staff at the time who believed their patients would benefit from the added expertise of palliative care specialists - specialists who could provide an extra level of support to complement their own care.

The initial funding for the team came after a full year of “pro bono” work on behalf of the initial team members (no money for the team in 1996). In 1997, a full year of stories and statistics were presented to the WLMH Board.

Hospital days saved, home deaths achieved, comfort given, and satisfaction from both staff and community were all part of the presentation.

I

If patients who are referred to That evening was a wonderful our team are seen first in hospital example of the role local citizens then discharged home, we follow have always had guiding the vithem there. If they move into sion of WLMH. hospice from home, we follow Brian Hutchings was Board them there.

Chair of the hospital at the time.

Thus our model of care is truly He was visibly moved by our “ patient centred’ and “ populastories. tion based”.

I remember him saying to Dr. DENISE The team’s goal is always to the Board before I left, “ We MARSHALL provide “just enough” specialist must find a way to fund this”. support to ensure that our family doctors What ensued after I left the meeting is and bedside nurses are the main clinipart of the history!

The Board voted that evening to find cians and truly the centre of care with the some way to start funding our team and patient and family.

A large part of our job is to grow the we’ve never looked back! palliative care capacity of whomever reThank you, Brian Hutchings and ferred the patient to us, and all the other WLMH Board of 1997, for your vision!

As the years passed, our palliative care care providers involved. The service does team found its groove. Our model of care not exist to take over care from the family doctors or bedside nurses but, rather, help modelled the care at the hospital; family “share” the care of the patient by adding physician centric, patient focused, and community facing. our specialized expertise as needed.

Over the years, we partnered with the From inception, our model of care has Local Health Integration Unit and then been to care for patients in all settings, – when together as a community we all not just in the hospital. opened McNally House Hospice – the Wherever the patient is living in team partnered with McNally as well.

Niagara West is where we go – home, This has been key to our model and hospital, long-term care, group home and, success. We are not only a “shared care” when opened in 2008, McNally House Hospice.

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 37

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 team here to support and grow other clinicians, we are not only population-based following patients across all care settings. We are also founded and grounded on a partnership based model.

These enduring partnerships have allowed us to collaborate together to provide palliative care physician support, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist support, team admin support, Home and Community care case management, and two counsellors (shared with McNally House) who can support patients and family during their journey and support the bereaved well after death.

We have published and taught extensively about this model of care, received significant grants from MOH to study the model and have been emulated by many jurisdictions across Canada.

This is very much the model of WLMH itself – focused outwardly toward the community and responsive to its needs.

Over the past 10 year, the Niagara West Palliative Care team has achieved what I would describe as “steady state”.

Many years of growing capacity of the other clinicians’ palliative care skills, and engaging in public education means that, as a whole, our communities’ Palliative Care skills knowledge and comfort keeps growing.

Our community is not dependent just on our team to deliver quality palliative care.

We don’t need to keep adding more and more specialists to our team or asking for huge increases in funding; rather we now focus on physicians who are new to practice or new to our community, and we have shifted more and more to coaching and mentoring models of care.

We also provide direct patient care, of now referred to as “compassionate collaboracourse, but our team model is fluid – ebbing tive care”. and flowing depending on the patient and As part of the family of HHS, we are so family needs, the clinician’s needs and the proud that our model is part of the larger community’s needs. program of palliative care at HHS. Our team statistics are compelling. While I have been on active staff with HHS for still across Canada up to 70 per cent of more than 30 years and I chose to wear my patients are dying in hospital vs community, new HHS white coat for my portrait (I used our Niagara West Palliative Care Team stats it a lot during the pandemic) as, to me, it reveal the opposite. represents how we are all now pulling in Approximately 65-70 per cent of our the same direction with WLMH and that’s patients die at home or hospice not hospital. simply wonderful.

Because our team is nimbly responsive to all The new building will be one of the most parts of the commuexciting “next steps” for “...as a whole, our nity and all parts of palliative care in our the hospital includcommunities’ Palliative Care community since opening ICU and ER, we McNally House. skills knowledge and comfort ingThe have a significant ER new hospital plans keeps growing,” avoidance rate (peohave embraced the Niple who didn’t end West Palliative Care Dr. Denise Marshall agara up having to come Team, with dedicated to ER for care) and Admission avoidance space in the new Ambulatory Care Centre (we helped them in ER get home instead of (great naming opportunities for families to needing admission). remember their loved ones). We will be able What WLMH has demonstrated over the to support specialist colleagues and their past 25 years is an enduring commitment to patients like never before. the community it serves – tangibly expressed It allows us to expand what experience in continuing to support this kind of palliaaround the world has shown – that when a tive care team. palliative care team is involved in care very While “integrated care”, “interprofessional early in any life-threatening or potentially care”, “patient-centred care”and “primary life-limiting illness, the person not only lives care capacity building” are all current better but actually longer. healthcare buzz terms and trends in Canada We can be more “upstream’ than ever and around the world, they have always before. This will be wonderful role modeling been the basis of care here. I remember an for our community as it says that palliative HHS senior manager saying a few years ago care is about living the best one can, as long that WLMH had a ‘secret sauce’. But, really, as one can.

(Dr. Denise Marshall has been a professor of it’s no secret! Rather, it’s the vision for the palliative care at the Department of Family longterm investment in this kind of model Medicine at McMaster University since 1989.) of care. In the healthcare literature this is

Proud to support WLMH, Arms Open its staff, front-line workers and all the volunteers Counselling working so hard to towards the rebuild and the ground-breaking in 2022!

Its too cold for this line of work. Can you replace the paragraph with:

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233 Elizabeth Grimsbyyou • 905-945-8421 Arms OpenSt., welcomes with comFacebook: Grimsby Legion passion, care and support on your heal-

ing journey. Our doors are open to the community, with a vision

It’s great to see WLMH is going to be providing first-rate health care in our community for decades to come. Congratulations to all involved!

Arms Open welcomes you with compassion, care and support on your healing journey. Our doors are open to the community, with a vision to provide accessible, safe therapy via virtual means or by phone to those who are seeking help. We are here to support you. armsopencounselling@gmail.com • www.armsopencounselling.com

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 39

West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary Since 1944 Together we can make a difference

•

The Auxiliary has a rich history of over 75 years supporting West Lincoln Memorial Hospital with volunteers who offer care & warmth to patient services, support retail services and fundraising activities for hospital equipment.

•

Since 2010, The Auxiliary has donated $2,000,000, raised in the community for hospital equipment.

•

More than 150 devoted West Niagara citizens accumulated 28,000 hours of service in 2019.

•

Our volunteers include high school students and adults of all ages who help us make a difference.

•

Visit our website at www.wlmauxilliary.ca or on Facebook to learn more.

It’s Rewarding and Fun! If you have a few spare hours each week & wish to volunteer or would like more information.....

Please call the Auxiliary Office at 905-945-2253, ext. 11391 9:00 am till Noon, Mon. - Fri. West Lincoln Memorial Hospital is a unit of Hamilton Health Sciences

Teamwork makes the dream work Teamwork among the provincial government – since Premier Doug Ford announced WLMH would get rebuilt – HHS officials, hospital staff and local volunteers has culminated to make the new hospital dream a reality. Williscraft - Photo

By Charles Criminisi eamwork makes the dream work.

This is a fitting way to sum up the collaboration taking place to transform the aging West Lincoln Memorial Hospital (WLMH) into a modern, state-ofthe-art health-care facility.

Rebuilding the site has been a passion of the West Niagara community for many decades. It has also been an important element of Hamilton Health Sciences’ (HHS) capital redevelopment planning since amalgamation in 2014.

A rebuilt WLMH is critical for the seamless delivery of health care across West Niagara, Hamilton and beyond for decades to come.

It will also greatly enhance the kind of care that HHS staff and physicians can provide at the site, increasing opportunities to bring

T

elected officials and government many health services closer to partners, talented philanthropy West Niagara, such as a more professionals, and a team of expansive offering of day surgeries dedicated hospital experts who are and procedures, diagnostics and delivering the vision. specialty clinics for family care However, none of this would and healthy ageing. be possible without the steadfast As a Member and Chair of commitment and overwhelming HHS’ Board of Directors, I’ve generosity of the West Niagara had the opportunity to see much CHARLES community, which has stood by of the work toward rebuilding the CRIMINISI the hospital through thick and site take shape. I have seen public thin, and never wavered in its support. engagement turn into project planning, On behalf of the HHS Board of Direcwhich continues to result in meaningful, tors, I want to acknowledge and congratulate tangible action and project milestones. everyone involved in writing this important Not even a global pandemic could derail piece of health-care history. Because of this work or slow the momentum. Breaking you, the future for WLMH has never been ground on the new hospital is now only a year away. This project has so much support brighter. at all levels, which keeps it moving for(Charles Criminisi served as chair of Hamward at a rapid pace. This includes engaged ilton Health Sciences’ Board of Directors)

Thank you to WLMH and all staff and volunteers for your continued hard work and services.

-Chris Riediger & Your Lincoln Tim Hortons

Since 1969

52 Thank you to all Volunteers and Staff for all you Do!

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 41

Door to WLMH’s future opened by volunteers, activism

The first organizational meeting of the Community Action Group at Mountainview Christian Reformed Church, chaired that night by Brian Hutchings, flanked by (L to R) Dr. Denise Marshall, John Armstrong and Cindy Toth, was another step on the long road of the community advocating for its hospital. Williscraft - Photo

volunteer-based Community Action

By Cindy Toth Group (CAG). Many brought their Tony Joosse & hard-won experience back to the Dr. Tom Estall table – worn down, but not out. ur community’s latest Our next big community meetjourney to save and rebuild ing at Mountainview Christian WLMH started at Trinity Reformed Church on Oct. 30, United Church on Oct. 24, 2018. launched the CAG. The critical ‘first About 2,000 area residents filled responders’ were immediately joined every inch of the church with many CINDY TONY Dr. TOM by more volunteers willing to commit others attending but forced to wait TOTH JOOSSE ESTALL their time, expertise and passion. outside, unable to get in due to Again, people turned out by the brought out together people who had not capacity issues. hundreds. It was important to have a virtual seen each other in ages. It was as if time had It was clear that the situation was urgent. connection along with face- to-face opportunot passed since we met over past challenges Many were quick to recognize the threat as nities, so some key volunteers made sure the the message amplified across local media. This to our hospital. meeting was streamed via Facebook Live. Our WLMH is special. Hamilton Health Scicall to action brought back memories of the social media and webpage have been key tools ences’ Healthy Futures, a health-hub-based 1997 candlelight vigil for our hospital - standfor engagement supported by a core commuvision, was developed with incredible coming on Grimsby Secondary School’s sports munity input. This vision was what our com- nications team – still on duty. The commufield - with thousands of people. nity gave generously to get actions underway. munity understood would be the future for We also remembered the failure to get to a With Armstrong Strategies on board to promised rebuild – thoughts were ‘here we go the hospital even into 2018. We had to ask ourselves – what changed? There was disbelief support engagement, the growing CAG again’.

Personally, it was not easy to make the deci- and skepticism that the community could team could draw on their expertise. There change the proposed and dire future newly sion to go to this rally to hear about yet anwas an enormous amount of activity needput on the table for WLMH. other challenge to WLMH’s future following ed to build a strategic approach. The CAG That night there were no clear options on the loss of a family member a few days prior. was not going to set something up for the But from previous experience as a community how to organize our community’s actions short term. We knew the community and activist, the power of community comes down but actions are what we knew we needed and team needed to deal with immediate needs. these were soon to come. to the determination of individuals working However, based on the long history of Within days, our group began to coalesce together for collective impact. Many in our WLMH rebuild disappointment it would and started connecting with supporters and community understand this. be critically important for the team to critical resources. The pace of action was Residents of West Niagara had been down intense and within a week we became the this road before. The meeting at Trinity

O

42 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42 understand that significant effort would be needed over the long term. From 2-5 years could be expected for our work – as far as we were concerned this was not going to be over, lost and done quickly.

By Nov. 7, 2018, vacant key roles were filled and the CAG team welcomed Tony Joosse and Dr. Tom Estall as co-chairs. It was really important that our diverse community was represented by co-chairs with the experience, reach and expertise to have impact - able to fully commit significant time over the long term.

Tony, as a lifelong Grimsby resident has proudly supported the West Niagara community in many roles. He has worked at a local company since 1980 moving into a senior executive position in 1997, spent time on Grimsby Town Council, and acts as an effective political influencer to serve community needs. Tony is a steadfast supporter of WLMH through family connections starting with being born at the hospital.

Tom, as a retired physician brought his experience in primary care and emergency medicine along with his deep knowledge of the Ontario health care system. Dr. Estall practiced in rural, community and academic settings during his career. His passion for WLMH and years of experience in the medical field continue to bring a significant contribution to the CAG. The CAG three co-chair team was introduced at the Nov. 13, 2018 community meeting. By this time, HHS had taken notice and engaged with us. Our voices were being recognized as our organization matured over a matter of weeks.

It soon became obvious that WLMH had advocates across a huge area, beyond the borders of West Niagara. We worked to meld diverse input on how to move forward strategically and effectively. A big part of the work was to let the community know what they could do to help and how personal actions could create impact - Don’t Stand Down Until there are Shovels in the Ground!

Collectively, we were able to change the course of HHS planning for the hospital.

By the end of November 2018, promises were made by the province and HHS that there would be a rebuild – with shovels in the ground by 2022. As a community – this was a promise we’d heard before. It was up to us to make sure that WLMH got its long-promised rebuild!

Our tag line for the time, “Celebrate but remain Vigilant!”

The CAG’s strategy, leadership and communications teams continued community actions. Thousands of CAG engagement actions were organized between fall 2018 to today to change the course of the hospital’s future. Throughout 2019, the CAG volunteers stayed connected with the community at schools, arenas, churches, libraries, with seniors’ and community groups as well as at chamber of commerce meetings and more.

So much was accomplished!

All community sectors acted in support.

The team, especially on the political front, kept up important conversations to make sure there was no backsliding on provincial promises, HHS work and municipal funding came through to keep moving towards the new hospital.

Tony’s involvement has been critical with his unwavering and constant presence in the political arena through powerful but respectful representation of our community’s needs.

Tom has been the critical eye and voice of health care system experience. He connected with medical professionals, clinicians and influencers to raise awareness and bring input into the CAG’s strategic planning.

No one should underestimate the effort needed to change the course of big system planning. However, it can and has been done this time – the WLMH rebuild will have shovels in the ground in 2022 – next year – and you can believe it.

This incredible journey needs to be recognized as an amazing representation of effective community activism.

2020 deserves special mention.

By spring the corner was turned for the CAG as provincial and HHS commitments solidified. Collaboration and alignment of goals for WLMH’s future were coming together on all fronts with funding commitments also being secured. Of course, 2020 also brought the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many issues kept us working within the community and engaging with HHS but layered on was our community’s ongoing efforts to let our local health care providers know how proud the community was and is of the efforts and role they are playing to fight the pandemic.

Moments stand out that represent our strength as a community. Our community knows how to rally to the WLMH cause –

that’s for sure.

In the first three weeks of our journey, almost 1,000 people signed up to stay connected to the issue and be called upon to volunteer. Hundreds if not a thousand letters and emails launched towards the provincial government and HHS within the first few weeks of our community’s response.

The petition to “Save & Rebuild” WLMH gathered over 18,000 signatures in a matter of a week and were delivered

by MPP Sam Oosterhoff to the provincial legislature. It took a small army of people hustling to get the petition in front of the community to raise awareness and reflect the community’s position.

Lawn signs, buttons and posters were in high demand as residents and businesses wanted to declare their passionate support.

Handouts, presentations and more were developed by the team to make sure there were options to let people know how they could affect WLMH’s future.

With short notice of a road trip by Premier Doug Ford, volunteers raced out, putting up 2,000 lawn signs across West Niagara in advance. Headquartered at Cole’s Florist, over the weekend of Nov. 24, 2018, more than 25 volunteers worked in the pouring rain - often door-to-door - to blanket major roadways.

It was definitive that our collective community wanted action!

When Premier Ford drove through West Niagara, a few days later - the signal was received: we would not stand down. What an inspiring weekend – it seemed like almost overnight – WLMH Save & Rebuild signs declared our intent for all to see.

Our collective actions had immense influence proving once again no community is more passionate about its hospital.

We knew from the beginning that the journey would be long, not a matter of months, and that dedication of significant personal time would be necessary.

At this point, apologies are offered.

Few volunteers or groups are named specifically – only because the list would fill multiple pages.

In the community, you know who you are and the critical role each of you played. All actions were important; all efforts needed.

A heartfelt thanks to all of you!

What an end to this journey – and an amazing and almost unbelievable start to a new one...rebuilding WLMH.

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 43

THANK Thank You YOU To the staff of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital and the residents of the West Niagara community for your longstanding commitment to ensuring those living in our region continue to have access to the highest level of healthcare, when and where they need it the most.

Your many years of hard work and perseverance are paying off!

Congratulations and best wishes as you begin construction of the NEW West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in 2022.

Sincere gratitude to all of the

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Care, services & technology all evolved greatly over last quarter century

By Dr. Joan Bellaire s West Lincoln Memorial Hospital looks forward to our long-awaited new build it makes one reflect on my 25-plus years as a family physician in the community.

WLMH has grown with our community and changed in many ways, but the culture of caring has remained our strength.

When I started at WLMH in 1995, patients coming to the Emergency Department were so few that it was staffed by only a few ER nurses during the day.

The ER/family physician worked off-site in their local clinics - coming down to the department when needed.

Our high patient volumes today require two overlapping physicians in the afternoons and evenings with both working non-stop on the complex and sick patients coming to our ER. We had roughly 31 active medical staff then where presently WLMH has grown to 71 medical staff.

Our patients now benefit from the varied skill sets and expansive support that each of us can provide within the hospital.

Twenty-five years ago, we managed all patients presenting with a heart attack locally by starting clot busting medications in our local ER and then admitting them upstairs to our ICU to be closely monitored for over

A

When I graduated from medical 7-10 days. school, no one told me a global panNow - with the new standards demic would be something I would of care - we transfer most heart ever have to worry about. Unforattack patients to the Hamilton tunately, working in the medical General Hospital Cardiac Cath profession in the past 25 years has lab to dislodge the clot surroundled me to experience three different ing the heart, many of whom pandemics - SARs (2003), H1N1 then can be discharged back (2009) and now COVID-19. home within a few days.

DR. JOAN When the SARS pandemic was Previously, patients who were BELLAIRE declared in Canada, we had so little diagnosed with a clot in their information about it or processes to control lungs were admitted for treatment with IV its spread. heparin, but the resulting risk of bleeding One evening in our ER - at a time when required hospitalization for up to a week.

SARS had already killed many patients and Now we treat patients with a new blood many family physicians in the Toronto area thinner in the form of a pill started in the - I remember assessing a sick patient who emergency department and they can go home that same day. It is amazing how much had travel exposure wearing the full white hazmat suit that I just learned how to don has changed and how much our knowledge for the first time the day before. has grown in the last quarter century.

I recalled the fear I had for myself and With the advancement of medical treatmy colleagues while treating patients when ments and people taking care of their own we knew so little about how to manage the health, we are seeing an increasing number of patients who 25 years ago would not have disease and exposure to it.

But our experiences with the SARS and lived as long. The result is that our hospital H1N1 pandemics allowed the medical now treats patients with many complex professionals to learn from these experiences medical issues - often requiring specialwhich assisted in the development of safety ized assessment and care. As a result, we protocols during the COVID pandemic. now require double the number of Internal This present pandemic required many of Medical specialists at WLMH to support our complex medical patients.

48 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 48 our dedicated medical and nursing staff to come to the hospital in the early hours to practice and learn how to safely manage seriously ill COVID patients.

There are many who have contributed to the great care that our hospital has provided to the community throughout the years. From our nurses who care compassionately while dealing with the ever-increasing complexity and number of patients coming to WLMH. As well as our technicians, who through sheer persistence and ‘MacGyver’ know how, have kept our old hospital safely working while we wait for our new one.

With the expansion of the medical staff, we have continued to work together, keeping the goal of compassionate care for our patients as well as for each other. The team shows this in many ways. For example, physicians come in on their days off to support our colleagues in the care

of seriously ill patients.

This cohesiveness and caring for each other has especially been important while we all experience the drain and exhaustion while working during this pandemic.

The one constant throughout all these years at WLMH is the compassionate dedication that all our staff have for our patients and the community.

This culture is what I call our ‘special sauce’ to people who come to work at WLMH. Once you come to work here, you want to stay here.

I often hear the pride in being considered the ‘community’s hospital’ from our staff. It is the place where the staff has a sense of ownership in providing compassionate, ‘feel like home’ medical care.

It really is a blessing that - for all these years in practice - to be part of this wonderful medical family.

(Dr. Joan Bellaire is WLMH’s medical director)

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Centennial Park Baptist Church is proud to support our WLMH staff and community!

Congratulations to

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djb.com 50 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

Congratulations to all of us on

the upcoming NEW WLMH!” We’ve always known that we live/work in a great

community with excellent health care workers who have always gone above & beyond to provide us with the utmost care regardless of WLMH building conditions.

After 25 years of trying to save WLMH,

the great reward of a new build is almost here!

Our front-line health care workers deserve

this more than ever before - especially after the last 15 months!

We are so proud to be a part of this great community.

Obstetrics team will continue to deliver

Dr. Nwachukwu Nwebube addressed the crowd at the 2012 rally at Grimsby Secondary School, the second major rally staged to keep the WLMH new build alive. Williscraft - Photo

By Dr. Nwachukwu Nwebube walk to the Labour and Delivery ward. As I approach the double doors preparing to swipe my ID badge, these doors pre-emptively open.

One of the maintenance staff has beaten me to the punch by swiping her badge over the black box on the other side of the door.

The corridor it reveals is gleaming and new. As I walk to the nursing station, I glance with nostalgia into the labour rooms which have been left open.

Again new, gleaming sparkling and barely used. Brand new cots sit there waiting to be used.

Renovations to both the operating suite, as well as the obstetric ward have interrupted provision of obstetrical services and, to a certain extent, gynaecological services at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital over the past two years.

There had been a gradual ramp up of obstetrical services as the operating room (OR) nurses were being trained only to have the process interrupted by a third wave of COVID-19, where these same nurses were redeployed to Hamilton, to take care of very critically ill COVID-19 patients.

As I recall these heroes, I think of our obstetrical nurses who have also been

I

The obstetrical department taken out of their comfort zone is a uniquely multi-disciplinary and have acquitted themselves department relying on nurses, so admirably. anesthetists, midwives, family They have had to dig deep physicians and obstetrician/ gyninto their nursing training, to aecologists to provide obstetrical take care of patients with ailcare at West Lincoln Memorial. ments that they are not familiar Up until 2018, when operawith. tions were interrupted by renovaImmense gratitude goes Dr. NWACHUKWU tions, the program had enjoyed to the anesthetists who have NWEBUBE steady growth in deliveries. volunteered to aid ORNGE In one year there were as many as 1,060 in transporting critically ill COVID-19 deliveries. The Caesarian section rate was patients. one of the lowest when compared to other I also, of course, think of my fellow departments of similar classification. warriors in the department such as Dr. Tina Gai, who, after 18 years, has decided There was a 24-hour epidural service. The department also provided outpatient and to retire from the department. in-patient gynaecological services.

As well, Dr . Andy Narine, who also decided to do the same after serving the In 2005, thanks to the generous hospital and community with dignity and donation of the WLM Auxiliary, the colposcopy clinic was started and grew to integrity. accommodate over 1,000 visits per year.

As a department, we stand on the shoulders of giants such as the late Dr. The program has been propped up and John Hunter. These are the people I think also supported by generous donations by the WLMH Foundation through the of as I walk through the corridors of the purchase of a new colposcope and new exobstetrical ward. amination bed. This clinic serves patients Over the years, the obstetrical service from Niagara and beyond. has enjoyed immense success and patient The department also provides major satisfaction. This has, in large measure, been due to heroes such as the ones men- and minor gynaecological procedures. tioned.

52 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52 Increasing numbers of major gynecological procedures including hysterectomies are performed laparoscopically.

Minor procedures such as sling procedures are performed for stress incontinence and endometrial ablation - to deal with excessively heavy periods.

The program plays a key role in education as it is the site for core rotations in obstetrics and gynaecology in the clerkship year.

Family practice residents also rotate through the department. It has, therefore, been a key instrument of recruitment of family physicians to the community.

As we wait for our OR nurses to come back to the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, gynaecological and obstetrical procedures are on hold, and deliveries are being done at the St. Catharines General Hospital.

There are signs for optimism as the COVID-19 numbers are in decline .

It is therefore anticipated that the WLMH staff - including our OR staff -

It is very difficult to avoid hyperbole will soon be repatriated. but having seen the artistic rendering for This allows for hope of imminent the new build that is even more difficult. repatriation of the obstetrical program Add in the fact I have also been inas well as resumption of gynaecological volved in the minute detail planning right procedures.

However, there is an even greater reason down to where fixtures such as lamps and cabinets would be placed, the more for optimism if not outright glee for the I know, the more department, hospital excited I get. and the whole of NiA walk into the obstetrics So, as I walk agara West. department is among the most through our present Ground will be broken in Spring 2022 for anticipated new-build moments renovated department, I can only a brand new building imagine what walking through the new for the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. build would be like; the smell, the feel The new facility is slated to include: and the ambiance of a big, spacious and • A brand new delivery suite with Laairy department. A visit to the upper, bour Delivery Recovery and Postpartum outdoor terrace in between deliveries for (LDRP) rooms; some fresh air will also be possible.

• A brand new, very spacious nursery, Soon, very soon this will not be a with an adjoining surgical suite with easy dream, but a reality that all of us will access for emergency Caesarian sections, experience. We are almost there. and; • The OR suite will have four OR (Dr. Nwachukwu Nwebube is the rooms.

Obstetrician/Gynaecologist Site Lead This new build would propel the deObstetrics and Gynaecology West Lincoln partment to even greater heights.

Memorial Hospital)

A new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital has been a dream for many, one which will come true in the coming years.

This is due – in no small part – to the dedication of WLMH staff, front-line workers & countless volunteers working on our behalf.

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One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 53

Congratulations & thank you to the wonderful staff at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital!

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Families praise WLMH as reason they exist

Almost 25 years ago, Mat Boltz stood in the exact same spot outside WLMH’s emergency entrance – posing for a photo for The Grimsby Independent’s “Save Our Hospital” special section. Now, a quartercentury later, he proudly poses with his wife, Michele, while holding his son, Jacob, Marks - Photo

By Tristan Marks uch ink has been spilled to drive home the important place WLMH holds for the people of Niagara West, and the need to keep it open and operational.

Without it, residents of Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln would be forced to choose between a hospital located in relatively distant Hamilton or St. Catharines.

WLMH’s continued existence is more than just a matter of convenience. There are entire families which exist today, and people who have a chance at life at all, thanks to the hospital.

This doesn’t just refer to people whose lives were directly saved thanks to the staff

M

Mathew’s chances of survival were at WLMH. Some saved lives have led to new lives who othtenuous, but the then-cutting edge erwise wouldn’t exist if history medical technology and advances played out differently. the hospital possessed tilted the The Miracle Boy odds in his favour.

Today, Mathew, who is 43 this Mathew Boltz was only four year, is nothing but thankful for years old when he fell through a hole in the ice of Lake Ontario the life he has been able to live one March afternoon in 1982. thanks to the WLMH and its staff TRISTAN Boltz survived being subof 1982.

MARKS merged in the frigid lake “I was four years old when my accident happened. That’s a lot of life they waters for close to 15 minutes. This feat of resilience earned him the moniker ‘miracle gave me,” Mathew said. boy’.

It’s been a good life too, he explained – Emergency services pulled the boy full of family, love and experiences. All of from the lake and rushed him to WLMH that because the hospital was in the right where doctors worked to keep him alive.

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 57

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57 place to get him the emergency care he needed before it was too late.

“If it wasn’t for the hospital, I wouldn’t have my family,” Boltz said. “I’ve been married to my wife for 11 years, I have a seven-year-old son and I have a great job.”

Although Boltz moved to St. Catharines when he was 10, and has lived there since, WLMH has remained a common motif for him and his family.

His mother, Trudy Boltz worked as a nurse there from before the accident, and only retired in 2019.

She reflected on WLMH’s importance during an interview she gave back in 1997, the year the Province considered possibly shutting the hospital down altogether.

“Children can very often be an accident looking for a place to happen,” Trudy said.

“If they don’t have a hospital, they’re in trouble. [Mathew] would have never made it to St. Catharines or Hamilton.”

(and life-saving) experiences have earned Today, Mathew works at the SherwinWilliams in Grimsby’s east end, just down the hospital his loyalty and support.

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the the road from the hospital. hospital, so I’d do anything to fight for it,” “I’ve had nothing but positive experihe said. ences with it,” he said. “I know many of He added that he was thrilled to hear the nurses and their families through my that the hospital is getting its much-needmom and they’re all great people.” ed rebuild and upgrades.

He also appreciates the quick and For Justin Toth and thorough service WLMH “If it wasn’t for the hospital, his family, WLMH’s provides.

“I know a lot people I wouldn’t have my family. location is more than a people who go there I’ve been married to my wife convenience, there was a when it could have because it’s so close and for 11 years, I have a seven- time spelled life or death. it’s also much quicker year-old son and I have a While his life was because it’s generally less great job,” – Mathew Boltz never in danger, Toth can busy there,” Boltz said. point to the hospital as By contrast, he said his wife, Michele recently had to wait “for the reason his son Ethan is alive today.

It was the evening of November of hours” when she went to the St. Catha2018 when Justin received a call from his rines hospital to be treated for a possible then-wife Erin who told him that someconcussion after suffering a fall. thing was wrong. She was seven months “I’ve never had that problem with pregnant with their third child when she WLMH,” he said.

Boltz explained that these life-changing

The Toths - Justin and Erin - were pleased to give their son Emmett a brother with the birth of baby Ethan, no doubt they wish the circircumstances were much better.

Top inset - Ethan just after his birth.

Below right - Ethan today.

One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 59

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 59 noticed that she was bleeding a distressing amount.

As Justin rushed away from his workplace in Welland, Erin called 911 for help. Paramedics arrived to pick up Erin in the ambulance. From there, they originally planned to take her to either McMaster Hospital or St. Catharines.

However, due to mother-to-be’s deteriorating state, paramedics made the snap decision to take her to WLMH, an easier and quicker route. Justin said this decision saved the lives of both his wife and his son.

“If the driver chose to go to St. Catharines instead, my wife would have bled out and died en route,” he said.

Or, as Justin put it back in 2018, “Instead of being a married father of three, I could have been a widowed, single dad of two.”

As it turned out, Erin’s pregnancy was complicated by placenta previa, a condition where the placenta is anchored to

Our Heritage

the lower segment of the uterus and cov- their location. There, he was placed in an incubator. Erin was transferred there the ers part or all of the cervix. This condition can cause significant bleeding before next day. Both mother and child survived the harrowing experience. or during delivery, as Erin experienced.

Justin said Ethan, who is now twoWhile the ambulance driver chose to years-old, has “overcome go to WLMH, its all adversities.” obstetrics ward wasn’t After overcoming “all “He’s growing every equipped to deal with difficult pregnancies. adversities”, baby Ethan day,” Justin said. “He’s walking and talking. He’s Furthermore, HHS is, “growing every day. a little tank.” administrators were considering shutting He’s walking and talk- Justin said his famexperience proves down the ward altoing. He’s a little tank,” – ily’s that Niagara West needs gether due to safety Justin Toth, Dad WLMH. concerns from shutting down the OR the “It’s good to see the hospital rebuild moving forward for the month before.

Mercifully, the OB ward was still open community. Ethan isn’t the only baby who’s going to have these difficulties, and able to receive the ailing mother. there will be other mothers who will “If the OB ward was shut down, I need that hospital close for situations like wouldn’t have a son,” said Justin. this,” he said.

Ethan Ernest Robert Toth was de“I’m just happy to know the hospital is livered via emergency C-section just being saved. The ER and OB wards are minutes before 7 p.m. The McMaster getting upgraded to what they need to be Hospital neo-natal team arrived just and that is going to save lives.” minutes after and transferred Ethan to

Take it to Heart

The Grimsby Historical Society supports the rich history associated with the staff, Foundation and Auxiliary of the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital

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60 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

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C O N S T R U C T I O N One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 61

Auxiliary ready to get back in the fundraising swing

One of the most colourful fundraisers the West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary is looking to get back to is the annual poinsettia sale. Auxiliary volunteers (L to R) Gillian Leon, Marlene Morais and Kathy Smart with Ed Sobkowich of Sobkowich Greenhouses. Williscraft - Photo

By Mona Irwin t’s a modest logo, but it represents an organization with a long history and a big heart.

The daisy on the logo of the West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary was not chosen at random.

Jill Howe, who was president at the time, selected the daisy because it is a strong flower, returning every year.

“It’s fresh and visible and it connects to us,” Jill says. “And the Auxiliary’s motto — ‘Together we can make a difference’ — pulls it all together.”

The logo itself was drawn by Sandra, the daughter of long-time member Judy Jordan.

Like many volunteers, Judy’s services in the Auxiliary are almost a family tradition. Her father, Ernie Barbour, became involved after he retired, and her mother, Hazel, was involved from the time the family moved to Grimsby.

Judy herself trained as a medical technician, but worked in Hamilton until the birth of their first child. At that point she chose to work in the family greenhouse business instead, and that was also when she started volunteering for the Auxiliary.

The Auxiliary got its start in the 1940s.

In fact, says Auxiliary historian Barb Phelps, the Auxiliary was launched two years before the hospital itself opened its doors, in 1946.

Initially the volunteers started making the necessary bedlinens — later they mended those same bedlinens and pureed foods for patients.

Those services have long since passed into other hands, and the Auxiliary has moved on

I

to a wide variety of other services would later be coming in for a tonand activities — and changes. sillectomy, and she says the tour was Perhaps one of the biggest intended to familiarize them with changes in the Auxiliary is the the hospital so they would be less presence of male volunteers. When fearful when that happened. it started it was virtually entirely The Auxilairy coffee shop is a women, and was in fact known as feature launched in the 1970s. the Ladies Auxiliary.

“At that time, fathers could not “Now we have men and women be in with their wives during a serving on the wards, and helping birth, so they were just sitting there MONA staff where we can,” Jill says. in the hallway,” Barb remembers.

IRWIN “We have close to 200 mem“And we thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be bers,” Judy says, adding that they are hoping nice for them to have a place to sit and have to “get some young blood in” once things open a cup of coffee while they wait, and have a up post-COVID-19. volunteer to chat with ….’” The coffee shop Jill is optimistic that the new hospital will started with the basics: coffee and tea and some be a part of that. “The energy it generates will baked goods from a local bakery but has since help bring new people in,” she says, adding the expanded its menu. the Auxiliary has always been “100 per cent The coffee and gift shops have always been volunteer - from management to services. big money-makers for the Auxiliary, says Judy, “All the money we bring in, all the services who was, at one time treasurer, of both. we provide, it’s all done by volunteers.”

When asked which events they remember Student volunteers have long been a part of the most, all three mentioned the legendthe Auxiliary, too. Many volunteer to fulfill ary Strawberry Teas. They started in the early necessary high school credits, but some, Judy 1960s, says Judy, and were one of the Auxiliarecalls, worked well past the required hours. ry’s - if not the community’s - largest and most Teens started working in the gift and coffee important must-attend activities. shops in 1970, Barb says, and then moved on “They started more as a social event for the to working in the wards. The Candy Striphospital staff and the community,” she says. ers, their distinctive red-and-white-striped The entire community was invited, regardless uniforms, were set up in 1973. “That (Candy of whether they had any connection to the Stripers) went on for years,” she added. hospital. The teas were more of a gesture of Barb also recalls the Children’s Awareness appreciation to both the staff and the commuProgram, which was started in 1980, to give nity, only becoming a fundraiser later on. first-graders a tour of the hospital. Many

62 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

THANK YOU TO ALL FRONTLINE WORKERS FOR YOUR ONGOING DEDICATION AND EFFORTS TO KEEP US SAFE.

P ROUD TO CALL G R I MS BY H O ME We would like to extend a big thank you to the volunteers, frontline workers and those helping to raise funds to build a stronger and healthier community. We are so grateful for the hard work that has gone into the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital project and the far-reaching positive impact this health care infrastructure will have on the residents of our community, and also the Greater Niagara Region.

When the Grimsby community comes together, it’s incredible what we can accomplish. That’s one of the many reasons we are so proud to call Grimsby home for more than 45 years.

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One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021 63

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 62 “The community has always been so supportive of the things we do,” says Jill, “and we really appreciate it.”

The Strawberry Teas, held in mid-June, were initially held on the front lawn of the Barbours’ Main Street East home - surrounded by lush gardens and continued there into the mid-1990s. The event was later moved to the garden of one of the town’s doctors on Kerman Avenue and, most recently, has been staged at St. Andrew’s Anglican Church hall.

Antique shows and fashion shows were also some of their biggest fundraisers, Judy says.

They’re currently on hold just as last Christmases poinsettia sale, but she, Jill and Barb are all looking forward to their return, as well as the popular lasagna dinners.

Jill hopes to see a return of the wine event (“Those are really great”) and the Santa family breakfasts. “That connects us with a different age group,” she says, “and that’s really important.”

There have been changes to their events and programs over the decades, she adds, most of which were responding to changing times.

“At one point we realized the days of the bazaar had passed,” she says. The same thing applies to the items in the gift shop. “But we’re lucky to have people with a wide range of skills.”

While hospital equipment is the most visible of their efforts, there are also what Jill calls “the niceties of things — the added care”, such as transporting patients, helping them from their rooms to the physiotherapy rooms and even things like manicures - just to lift the spirits.

Another highlight is the annual recognition of the year’s first baby born at WLMH. “We’re willing to take on whatever’s asked of us,” she says, adding that the Auxiliary serves only WLMH. “Any money we raise, it stays right here.”

A Memorial Fund was started in 1962, and around the same time, Barb remembers, the memorial room … officially called the “Quiet Room” … was also set up.

“We provided the furnishings for it,” she says. It was a place where family members could speak with healthcare workers in some privacy, rather than having to stand out in the hallway. The Quiet Room was open for a decade or so.

Back in the day, people were often in the hospital for longer periods of time than today, so the Auxiliary also set up a TV rental system.

It gave people something to do besides lie in bed and look at the walls all day, Barb says.

She also mentioned the Twig Program.

“The community was very involved in that,” she says. “It encompassed all the fundraising that the Fundraising Committee didn’t do,

Mary Giesbrecht is one of the many volunteers who regularly volunteer at the West Lincoln Memorial Auxiliary’s Strawberry Tea, this particular photo is from the most recent tea - typically held in mid-June - in 2019.

Williscraft Photo

such as the sale of cookbooks, Tag Day, bake sales, and so on.”

One thing she hopes to see back soon is the Marathon Bridge fundraiser, which gave newcomers a good way to meet not only Auxiliary members but people in town in general.

In fact, that’s how she got started with the Auxiliary.

Jill was on the first redevelopment committee and remembers being “really shocked” when it all fell apart. “But this time, we’re good!” she says. “This time next year we’ll have a hole in the ground.”

What is it that they like about being involved with the Auxiliary?

“I like being involved with the patients,” says Judy, “but also the friendships you make.

I like being able to help others, but also feeling appreciated. The hospital staff appreciates all the help you can give them regardless of how much money or time you can give.”

For me, it’s giving back to the community,” Jill says. “It gives you a personal sense of accomplishment when you can help someone or when the Auxiliary can buy a piece of equipment for the hospital and you know you’ve had a hand in that — when you are working with a vision and a goal, and working for the common good.”

“What I really like is the sense of community,” Barb says. “We’d meet with other

64 One Team. One Dream. Magazine July 2021

auxiliaries in the area and get lots of ideas from other people. We’d share problems and find solutions.”

She was also involved with Auxiliaries at the provincial and national levels over the years, and those were even more invigorating.

“We got to exchange ideas with people not just from across the province, but across the country.”

As the Auxiliary’s historian, Barb works hard to collect news articles, photos and other memorabilia. The bulk of it is stored in the current hospital building, and “we must decide what to do with it when the new hospital is built,” she says. At present she’s working on chronicling artifacts - from dedicated benches to plaques to photos and awards.

So when will the volunteers be able to get back to work?

“It’s just a matter of when the hospital gives the okay,” Judy says. “There might be changes — volunteers might need to get COVID shots — but we’ll accept them.”

Like the others, she’s waiting to see the first steps in the construction of the new hospital.

“I’m excited to see the hole in the ground.

Then I’ll know it’s on its way.”

(Mona Irwin is a past editor of Lincoln Post Express and was a contributor to the “Save The Hospital” special section published in February 1997 prior to the candlelight vigil).

Before becoming the Member of Parliament for Niagara West, I was honoured to serve as the President of the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation and one of the Co-Chairs of the initial fundraising campaign.

During that time it was exciting to see the community involvement and commitment to building a new hospital.

Now all these years later and we are finally beginning to see it become a reality.

My heartfelt thanks goes out to all of the individuals, organizations and businesses that have given so much and worked so hard to see a new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital.

Dean

Contact Dean’s constituency office for inquiries and assistance with: Federal government programs such as CPP, OAS, GIS, Revenue Canada, Employment Insurance, Veterans Affairs,

Toll Free 1.877.563.7900 | info@deanallison.ca | www.deanallison.ca

Join In! Together, we can build & equip the new WLMH Visit wlmhfoundation.ca for campaign information and updates and sign up for our newsletter

Thankful for our Caring Community!

167 Main St E, Grimsby, ON L3M 1P2 | 905.945.WLMH (9564) | email: info@wlmhfoundation.ca