My name is Lily Stover nee Dallaire.
After I left Elk Point in March of 1961 I came back to Mallaig and married Sylvester Stover in June of that year. We operated a dairy farm for a number of years and then we went into beef cattle. We were blessed with the birth of a daughter in1962 named Gwendolyn. In 1965 a son named Laverne joined our family. Lome Michael came along two years later. Needless to say I was a busy mom, With gardening helping with chores and the many tasks that come along with living on the farm. After a few years later we became foster parents and several children came through the doors of our home. Because of this we got to adopt two children a son named Jason and later a little girl named Geri. I did janitor work at the school here in Mallaig for two years. Later I babysat two little girls for our neighbors so
children have always been a big part of my life. We now have eight grandchildren scattered across the globe.
We have done some travelling to various places in the US, England, France, Germany, Holland, and Belgium. This past fall we got to visit our Nations Capital for the first time visiting family and touring. I have been active in the community, the Baptist church here in Mallaig. Since we retired we have joined the seniors club and do floor curling. Both my husband and I try to stay physically active. We will be looking forward to meeting many of you at the Reunion in June.
Helen (Maksymec) Bonitsld
Helen and her sister Mary Olinek worked as Kitchen cooks from 1943 to 1950.
Laura Oborne
I was 16 years old when I started working at Elk Point Hospital. I worked in Housekeeping from 1982-1986. Working at the hospital inspired me to complete my high school education which I did through correspondence/upgrading. In 19861 attended NAIT Medical X-ray Technology. In 1988 I started working at Red Deer Hosp. In 2000 I went back to school for M.R.I. I continue to work at RDRH in the M.R.I. department .I am married to Daryl Obome. He works in the N.W.T. in a diamond mine. We have 2 boys. They are 11 and 8 years old and keep our lives busy playing ice and inline hockey.
Loretta A. (Lundgren-A. Paquette)
I was born in the old Elk Point Hospital as the third daughter of Ralph and Sarah Lundgren. I attended Elk Point School and later married Bill Paquette, a widower
with four children 11966. The following year, we added to the number with one of our own. I attended school in Edmonton from 1976 to 1977, graduating as a CAN. As the years passed, our titles changed from CAN (Certified Nursing Attendant) to RNA (Registered Nursing Attendant) and then to LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). I have worked full time for most of my career. I am very proud that now I can give medication and I took further training to be able to administer
both subcutaneous and intramuscular injections. Throughout my thirty years of employment, there have been many changes in the hospital as well
as in our personal lives. My husband, Bill, passed away in 1999 and I married Gordon Stich in April 2006. We currently reside in Elk Point, Alberta.
Debbie (Dennill) Hansen
I have worked as RN at the Elk Point Health Care Centre since the fall of 1976. I started just after the present hospital opened. Over the years, I have seen many
changes — some good and some not so good. But whatever they may be, I still enjoy working as an RN. After twenty years of straight nights, I now work straight days. With the nursing shortage we are now experiencing, I have worked full time for the last year and a half. Gary and I still live in Dewbeny and will be
celebrating our 33rd anniversary this summer. Our eldest Aaron is twenty seven and works in Edmonton. He works in marketing at Wild TV. Jennifer is twenty five and lives and works in Cold Lake. She works at Community Options — job coaching challenged adults. I am really looking forward to the reunion in June and seeing everyone.
My Memories of My Years at the Elk Point Hospital by Norma Berg
I worked at the hospital for 27 years from 1957 and retiring in 1984. During those early years I saw many of the people employed who were here from a distance and many from other countries. There were rooms to accommodate about 20 staff members. I, like many, didn’t know how to drive a car and certainly didn’t have good roads for travelling like we enjoy today. I always went home on my days off, but others stayed in residence full time. Needless to say many were lonesome. We would gather together after work to visit in the girls’ parlour. I think everyone who is employed for some time in one place develops a close bond with their co-workers. Those of us who lived in residence bonded even more regardless of our status.
When someone suggested we organize some special events, we all got involved. I remembered one Christmas especially, we decided to have a concert Many hidden talents were revealed, even without much practise. The maintenance men were kind enough to build a little stage at one end of the long hallway downstairs. We set up chairs and brought patients down to enjoy the singing and little comedy skits . It was really heartwarming to see the patients enjoy our efforts. One years, a two-day curling bonspiel was organized, involving all the staff, doctors and board members. Many were excellent curlers and many others had never thrown a rock participated. It took some planning to include everyone and still have sufficient staff on the job. I must say, many people were so kind and offered to work for others, even when off duty. It was heartwarming and so much fun. Dr. Ross and his team, who were first time curlers took first prize ! They had to keep playing and were very tired with aching muscles. Dr. Ross never let the other doctors forget his success. We always remembered how he would get his team in a “huddle” before each games as if they were playing football. It seemed to work. They won ! One summer night about eleven o’clock a violent electrical storm hit Elk Point with high winds and torrential rains and knocked out the power. When the maintenance man was summoned every one of us in residence was called upon to come and bail and mop up water that was flooding the basement. The man-hole at the bottom of the dorm stairs entrance was plugged with leaves and debris and dirt The water poured in down the steps and under the door and into the basement The downstairs area housed the laundry room, boiler room, kitchen, dining rooms and nurses’ residence etc. We were advised to bring candles to light our way and to wear rubber boots. The water was leas^5 or 6 indies deep and kept coming until the man-hole was cleaned. We all bailed water with dippers, pots and pans, and dust pans and we formed a bucket brigade. We were passing pails of water down the line towards the laundry where a big drain hole was situated and the light from the boilers certainly assisted in the dead of night. There were about fifteen of us aroused from our sleep to help. We worked right through the rest of the night until it was time to dress in our uniforms and go to regular duty. For some it meant continuing the mopping and cleaning. When the buckets of filthy water were filled, they were passed on to those who thought they were pouring the water into the floor drain in the laundry. When the lights came on they were horrified to see that some of the water was spilled into a tub of someone’s white wash. The nurse who had been washing clothes was interrupted by the power failure and was called upon to help. Needless to say, those grimy clothes were thrown away as they were impossible to get clean again. Some of us still recall and laugh about this incident. Many times when we get together, we feel grateful that we were close at hand that we were able to give a hand and work together.
These were just a few of the times of working and sharing and offering our time together and we are left with many fond memories and we will never forget our old friends.
Cookie Arnason
I was so happy to hear about the reunion and would so much like to be a part of it however my niece is getting married on the 21st of June in Fort St.John BC
Good for you planning such an event. I so enjoyed my time spent in Elk Point I will never forget the patient who was an exhibitionist and you happened to come upon the scene and gave him a good slap on the ass. The great times spent with Peggy and her wonderful heartful laugh. Regards to Norma and Amelia and the list goes on and on. We moved to St. Albert in 1975.Steve was transferred in with the Commonwealth Games. Once the games were over he commuted to Fort Sask for a couple of years. After 22 years with the RCMP he retired and spent the next 20 or more years with the Justice Dept. We loved it so much here so never left. I began working at the Sturgeon General Hospital in 1975 and retired with a full pension in 2OO2.The last 18 years I spent in Management overseeing the Surgical Program. Retirement was short lived as agreed to set up a Surgical Program in Slave Lake. I worked three days a week drove from here and
stayed with family there. Loved getting back to my old roots however Steve was always worried about the drive so after 18 months after seeing the program succeed it was time to say goodbye. No sooner back into retirement and a good friend called and convinced me to join her at the Health Link .That was four years ago and I am still there. I work casual usually a couple of days a week. Love the job and knowledge base. Seeing I will be officially a senior this fall this will be my last year. We are blessed with four beautiful grandchildren. We have 6 year old identical twin girls, an 8 year old grandson and an 11 year old granddaughter. The three live here in St Albert and our oldest granddaughter in Edmonton. We so enjoy spending time with them and they all have been a big part of our lives. We have done a lot of travel over the past years and now quite content spending some of the winter months out in Vancouver and the Island. Our oldest son Lyle and his wife live there.
ELK POINT HOSPITAL MEMORIES Kay Rylance
Dorothy (Buzzie) Pelehosky was Nursing Director in 1959 when I joined the staff at Elk Point Municipal Hospital. My first shift was with Leona Moneta on evenings and remains very vivid for me because we lost a young male to Tuberculosis. Quite common in those days. We had a lot of sick children especially on Rodeo weekends Night shift it was not unusual to have two babies bom. As I was the only C.N.A. I usually worked Maternity ward. It was very rewarding especially with all the premmies that we had. Sometimes we had as many as five. Walter Saranchuk was our Administrator, The front Desk was Letha Ramsbottom. Maintainance men were Barry Keck and Martin Aarbo.Cooks Norma Berg, and Ida Aarbo The Orderly was Albert Hurtubise, Laundry Staff Rose Pankow and Alice Krawchuk.(Ma) Alma Holliday was Medical Records Librarian. Leona Moneta, Ann Uchman, Viola Stevens, Alymerette Vance, Amelia Zarowney Coralea Zazulak, Janet McAvoy were the first girls I worked with. Helga Vaughan and Pead Bespalko were the O.R.aides Coralea took her Medical Records Course and moved to Didsbury. Martin Aarbo retired replaced by Ed Soldan Paul Moneta replaced Barry Keck ,lda Aarbo retired .Norma Berg went to Front Desk Doris Capjack and Elsie Oryschuk came on as cooks. Lab technicians were Donna Fedorus. Marj. Jacobsen Lilian Persock. Thanks to permanent evening staff Amelia Zarowney, Frances Moneta and Peggy.. Adomitis I did not do very many evenings. I preferred night shifts to evenings so when I curled it did not mean trading shifts One winter Helga and I were the fortunate ones to be on the team winning the 2nd event Dr Weigerinck Trophy We had a lot of different Nurses from out of country, Kathy and Margaret McGuire who married and stayed in the district Several from Australia and Jamaica. Ann Lillies came from Peggy’s Cove she married one of the local R.C.M.P. Local nurses I remember were Isobel Pinder, Ruby Bullis, Diane Anderson Ema Holliday, Marvia and Judy Davis, Loretta Pinder ,Mrs Easthope.
Dr F.G. Miller used to walk to Ference's Comer and back down the railway track to town every morning after making rounds, until his last year when he died at the U of A awaiting a pacemaker in1972. He only got lost once during a snow storm. Dr Weigerinck had breast cancer and died of a brain tumor on the operating
table the following year,She donated her body to science. Dr Ross developed skin cancer and died in1968,after practicing for 46 years. Dr K.C.Miller was the only doctor for a few year after that He worked with his foot in a cast when he broke his ankle skiddoing When he had pneumonia, as a patient he made rounds wearing a mask We were lucky to have such dedication, Angie McLeod was another ward aide I remember, she left to work at the U of A. In Oct 1989 I was visiting my sister when this voice called out from the glass elevator at the U of A Intensive care.it was Angie . We kept in touch until she retired. Other C.N.A 's were Carole Onushko, Deanna Fakely, Elaine Zayonce, Doreen Yaceykt Rose Wasylshen Olga Philpow. Ward Aides I worked with were Elizabeth Zarowney Josie Zarowney. Anne Krawchuk Peggy Maas, Donna Maas, Wilma Herbert, Jean McGinnis, Alma Grosseth Cleaning staff were Lillian Buksa and Virginia Smeraka. Albert our orderly went to St Paul Hany Krawchuk replaced him .Calvin Laughlin came for a few years We had a practice evacuation because of the atomic bomb threats of the 60's. We thought it had gone well until someone discovered an Aide pinned by a helpless patient. We had quite a chuckle over that.
In 1973 we had a dust storm the staff had to change all the bedding on Women's ward, as everything was gray. Miss Schwartszenburgher was sleeping in the Nurses Residence next door and woke to find her room and herself black as she had her window open.
The years flew by and I found myself moving away in 1974 after 13/1/2 years when Jim's employment took us elsewhere. I did not get to work in the new hospital. I retired because I did not want to work the antiquated time sheet of nine day shifts Didsbury hospital had to offer. Elk Point had the Cadillac of time sheets, I treasure my Pinwheel Crystal given me as a farewell gift Looking forward to the Reunion.
Dianne this some of what I remember, scale it down if you choose. These are the only pictures I could salvage from the plastic sheets they were in.
Happy Easter to you and yours, thank you for the phone call.
Deanna (Nelson) Fakely
I started working in Elk Point Municipal Hospital in the summer of 1959 as a Ward Aide and got trained on the job by some of the best staff around. These nurses worked hard long hours in a variety of areas and as a high school student following them around asking questions and trying to be of some help, I decided that I wanted to become a nurse. I wanted to do something that could possibly help make a difference in other peoples lives when they needed some help or just have someone to talk to when they were lonely. I have worked on the medical, surgical, & maternity wards, housekeeping, the kitchen and spent a little bit of time helping in laundry in the old hospital. I remember a good many nights spent cleaning needles and preparing them to be autoclaved in the mornings by Helga Vaughan, Pearl Bespalko, or Elaine Zayonce before they got ready to help with the many surgeries done in the old Elk Point hospital. Sterile Technique was extremely important and lord help the person that didn’t follow the rules! Dr. F.G. Miller, Dr. A.G. Ross, Dr A.Weigerinck and Dr K.C Miller spent many long hours doing multiple types of surgeries. Everyone worked hard and the staff was great to work with. Elk Point Municipal Hospital was known for miles around for the great care and attention the patients received while hospitalized.
I took my Certified Nursing Aide Course in 1964 in Edmonton- doing practicums in Wetaskiwin (Med/Surg/Mat/Peds) and at the Aberhart TB Sanitarium in Edmonton (We certainly had to practice good isolation technique there or got our fingers smacked). Imagine my surprise when I went to a meeting in Elk Point a couple years later and met up with one my practicum monitors. Caroyln and her husband Ron Onusko had moved to Elk Point!!!
Through out my career our level of nursing has gone through many educational up grade courses and several name changes - Certified Nursing Aide (CNA), Registered Nursing Assistant (RNA), and now to Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). To me the tag worn by the nurse doesn’t make much difference it’s the care and the one on one time that is given to the patient who ever they are is what is important to them in the long run. When the present hospital opened in 1976 I worked nights on the weekends so I could be at home during the week with my three children. We were very busy for several years and I worked Active, Extended, some in the OR with Elaine and then worked CSR and OPD helping on the floor when needed. I decided I needed a change and went to work in the Elk Point Home Care department in 1998, but still work an occasional casual shift on acute care. I enjoy all types of nursing but really miss having Maternity and Surgery in
our facility. I was involved with the union in the Elk Point hospital at one time, then quit when I became involved with our provincial council. I was acting as Board Alternate in our district at CLPNA for four years then was a member of the Conduct and Competency committee for four years. I completed my second two year term representing the Aspen Region on the CLPNA Council in June 2006. It was a great learning experience and I encourage everyone to become involved in their associations what ever they may be! Nursing at all levels is a rewarding career if one enjoys it. Over the years the staff have worked and played together like a large family, I’ve met and worked with some great people over the years and learned a lot from them! I would like to express my thanks to the organizers of the Elk Point Hospital Staff Reunion for all of your time and expertise spent on making this such a memorable event.
Donna (Aarbo) Fedorus
I really don’t remember my first experience in the Elk Point Hospital as I was just a new bom baby, but I have a vivid memory of my second stay which was in October 1955 when I was admitted after I was in a serious car accident. I was 16 years old and I missed most of Grade 10 due to a long recovery.
In the fall of 19561 decided to quit school and take a job at the Elk Point Hospital as a dietary aid but soon decided this was not the career path I wanted to pursue. On one of my weekend visits home from Lloydminister where I was working as a telephone operator Mae Suvak (nee Carey) suggested that I should take a Lab and X-ray course in Edmonton. I was hesitant, as I hadn’t taken a Chemistry course but Mae assured me that she would put a good word in for me. Thanks to Mae’s reference and my hard work, I graduated in 1958 as a Lab and X-ray technician. My first job was at none other than; you guessed it, the Elk Point Hospital where I worked for approximately five years before moving to Edmonton to work for a year. After marrying Oillie Fedorus on June 6th, 1964,1 returned to Elk Point to live and returned to my job at the hospital working full time until 1974. During these nine years we had three children. Michelle was bom on March 9th, 1965, Jacqueline on September 24,1967 and Maureen on October 17th, 1969. I was away from work for only three months for each successive maternity leave. I was four months pregnant with Maureen when on May 7,1969 Jacqueline passed away suddenly of a skull fracture after being hit by a car.
It was in 1974 when I decided to stay home for three years until our youngest daughter, Maureen, started school During this time I worked occasionally back at the hospital but turned down full time work in favour of being at home to raise our family. In September of 1977 the Glendon Hospital contacted me to see if I would work two days a week at their hospital I drove to Glendon to work until 1995 when I was offered a retirement package.
My retirement was short lived and in April of 19981 applied for a position as a homecare support aid in Elk Point where I still maintain a casual position for the Aspen Health Region. Ollie and I continue to reside in Elk Point in the same house that we have been living in since 1967. Our daughter Michelle has her Bachelor of Education and is the Special Education Coordinator of a school in Bonnyville. She is married to Gerard Dargis and they have two children, Shayla (October 9th, 1996) and Jarred (March 9th, 2000). They live on a farm in the St. Vincent area so I am once again travelling the highway to the Glendon area to see our grand children. Maureen has her Bachelor of Social Work and is currently living in Cornwall, Ontario. She is a manager of mental health for the Department of National Defense in Ottawa.
I Elsie(Trach) Oryshchuk attended school in Elk Point, and in 1958 started working at the Hospital on weekends and after school. I was under the supervision of Mrs Olsen, who was in charge of Dietary, Housekeeping and Laundry. I worked until 1960, the year Mike and I got married, I then came back in 1961 and worked in Dietary and later started cooking with the help of Ida Aarbo and Norma Berg, Who were both GREAT COOKS! As years passed, Ida Aarbo became Supervisor and Norma left to join the Office Personnel. I became one of the cooks for many years until Mrs. Aarbo retired, then I took the Senior Supervisor position. Therefore, I also helped in the planning of the new Hospital. Finally our new Hospital was complete and we were able to move the patients, staff and equipment in September of 1976. In the same year the Elk Point Hospital Auxiliary was started in which I am a chartered member and have put in many Volunteer
hours.
I left the Hospital in 1979 to work in the office for O&M Service and continued doing office work until 1992 at which time I helped Mike on the farm. Over the years I have enjoyed ice curling, fishing, camping and now that we are retired we spend 2-3 days a week dancing at the Senior Dances, Jamborees, and Polka Fests. It has been both in the past and still today with going to various outing that we have made many good friends!!
DIANA ANDERSON (nee Scraba)
Worked in Elk Point Hospital from 1965-89 in various capacities. I was able to work as a staff nurse, loved the operating room and obstetrics, had opportunity to be Inservice Education Co-ordinator (staff all remember having to do C.P.R. every year), developed Diabetic Teaching and Quality Assurance programs and was Director of Nursing for 4 years. I was always thankful for having an administrator like Walter Saranchuk. If I came to him to support a new program for patients, he always said if we can swing it in the budget - go for it! The staff were a group of dedicated members that always had good patient care as their primary focus. We worked as a family and a team that gave Elk Point the reputation of being the best small hospital in Alberta.
I am also thankful to Dr. AG. Ross for convincing me to go into nursing and in particular - Vegreville School of Nursing. He told me that it was run by the Sisters of Clarity and that when I finished training I would be able to nurse anywhere in the world. I listened. My first day of work, I was in charge of “South” and Barb Milholland was on “North”. No orientation here-just take report and go to work South wing had 15 children and 18 male patients. Angie McLeod and Ann
Krawchuk and myself were the total staff. We had 2 hernia repairs and 3 tonsillectomies that day. Dr. Miller made rounds and ordered stuff like “1-2-3 mixture” for some of the children. It was all Greek to me. I thought I would never survive! We didn’t have procedure manuals in those days and I was working for about a month before I realized that all tonsillectomy patients got a shot of wyciillin before going to the OR! Shift change was at 3:15 p.m. but I didn’t even start my charting until after 5:00 p.m. Thank goodness charting was simple. Just the Doctor Order Sheet, Medication Record, Vital Stat Sheet, Nursing Notes, Lab & Xray record, and Discharge Summary - not the complicated bureaucratic task it is today. What a wonderful experience working here was. What an opportunity to grow and learn, to develop skills that would carry me through whatever came next in my life. We worked hard, took pride in what we did, and had fun. Remember stuffing Dr. Estey in the sitz bath? Or Dr. Anderson taking the water hose to us in revenge for the tricks we played on him, and all the skits and wonderful
hospital parties-the 12 days of Christmas, when we hung 12 cloves of garlic around Helga Vaughn’s neck? This is what bound us together as staff and family. When we had an emergency - everyone pitched in and nobody looked at the clock for mealtime or claimed overtime! When I left the hospital I spent the next 5 years teaching LPN’s and served on Lakeland Health Authority Board. I am very involved in advocating for seniors, and have volunteered for years for
AC. A (Alberta Council on Aging) and am currently representing Seniors in North Eastern Alberta on S. AC. A (Senior Advisory Council of Alberta). George and I still farm and operate a gravel and trucking company called Mooswa. We have 3 children and 5 grandchildren that are the “love of our life”. I still enjoy picking berries and mushrooms and have lost none of my sense of adventure that some might call “craziness”. Ready for a good time-anytime! My memories of nursing in Elk Point Hospital warm my heart. Life has been good.
