by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — The Cobden site of the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre has been opened for a while, but Tuesday evening was the official re-opening.
“It’s look different,” said John Jordan, executive director of the Lanark Renfrew Health & Community Services (LRH&CS), in the opening remarks.
Prior to the official re-opening, the first annual general meeting of the LRH&CS was held. This service is actually the integration of the Whitewater Bromley Community Health Centre (WBCHC), Lanark Community Programs and the North Lanark Community Health Centre.
Several reports were presented during the meeting as well as a review of the past year.
Six staff members from WBCHC were recognized for their many years of service. Bonny Johnson was recognized for her 15 years of service while 10 years of service recognition was given to Lara Mylly, Heather Robertson, Kristian Davis, Ray Parchelo and Teri Rheaume.
The board of directors were also recognized. Representing the WBCHC are Noreene Adam, Bev Buchanan and Dana Buchanan. Retiring board members who were recognized were Ann Munroe with eight years and Pam Salvarakis, with one year.
Addressing the crowded room prior to the ribbon cutting ceremony, Mr. Jordan and Ms. Johnson gave a brief history of the Cobden site.
Ms. Johnson noted information on what the site offers today is included in the meeting’s package. What’s not there is the fact that “this all started around the kitchen table back in 1995….that’s when we realized there was a shift in health care and what was required.”
She noted people were not happy with just having their physician prescribe medication. So, a few people gathered together and went to Lanark “and came back with great enthusiasm.”
Is it possible that what’s happening in Lanark, could be put to use in Whitewater, and the answer was yes, she said. However, she recalled back then it was five municipalities — Westmeath, Ross, Cobden, Beachburg and Bromley. With the exception of Bromley, the other four municipalities amalgamated into one, hence the current name of Whitewater Bromley.
In 1999, a proposal was put in to try and get a community health centre and various political allies and organizations throughout the municipalities were asked to financially support it. The organizations came through, as did the municipal help, which continues today, Ms. Johnson noted.
The provincial government said funding should come through in about six months — which it never did.
In 2000 a successful health fair was held and in 2002 nurse practitioner funding was acquired and an office was established in Cobden, first at Caressant Care and then at the current location.
Mr. Jordan noted throughout these years, the centre was operating on a shoestring budget.
In 2010, the Cobden site was forced to close due to the building not being a healthy environment for staff or clients, he said.
It took five years to figure out what to, where to get the money and to do the necessary renovations, he said.
“We were committed to re-opening in Cobden,” Mr. Jordan said.
He noted there is room for the Cobden site to grow, because there is enough property to expand the facility if required.
The Cobden site is also building partners, noting there is a chiropractor, fitness training, yoga classes and educational classes, such as childbirth and breastfeeding, using the building.
There is hope there will be funding to provide primary care outreach, Mr. Jordan said.
Ms. Johnson and Mr. Jordan both agreed it’s been challenging over the years, not only financially but in figuring out who’s who and who’s doing what.
“There has been a huge amount of work by the community to make sure there is good health care in Whitewater,” Ms. Johnson said.
She noted the one thing that stands out is the number of volunteers who have worked hard to ensure this centre remains strong.
Pat Krose and Melva Glenn, who were involved with the board from Day One, were invited to cut the ribbon with Stephen Bird, chairman of the Board for LRH&CS.
Following the ribbon cutting, Mr. Jordan said, “We’re all very happy. We’ve all done really well.”
