Lamont Health Care Centre Celebrates 110th Anniversary

Lamont Health Care Centre Celebrates 110th Anniversary

Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser

A special celebration was held to celebrate the 110th anniversary of the Lamont Health Care Centre, (LHCC) on Sept. 1.

The celebration was held in Morley Young Manor, which is a special assisted living wing of the hospital, with more than 200 people in attendance. LHCC Executive Director Shahad Bharmal welcomed everyone

Rev. Brill, Chaplin of LHCC and United Church Minister, brought greetings on behalf of the United Church of Canada Northern Spirit Regional Council. “It is with a great amount of pride that I do so because the relationship among these three chords of the church with LHCC has been a long and blessed one and something to be celebrated indeed.

This facility and the service that it provides our community, our county and beyond lives into the teachings that were given to us by Jesus to treat every person and enter into every situation with compassion, offering respect and dignity.”

Nursing alumnae.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

LHCC Board Chair Ken Harrold gave an extensive overview of the hospital’s long and storied history.

Dr. Archer was instrumental in a multitude of ground breaking ideas, policies, procedures, health care insurance plan and ensured an exceptional standard of care at the facility. Harrold began his speech with the formation of the Dominion of Canada in 1867 and then talked about the first pioneers to the creation of settlements and building of the local community.

Harrold explained that two miles north and 1 mile east of the Town of Lamont the hamlet of Edna was formed in 1881. In 1900, the post office changed location and it was called Star. “By 1901 they realized they needed a doctor.” Harrold said a call went out to Methodist Church and Dr. Harry Smith came out with his wife Martha Doyle arriving in 1902. She died after child birth and he couldn’t carry on and Dr. Smith asked Dr. Albert Archer if he could come out.

Dr. Archer’s wife Jessie, who was a trained anesthesiologist came out the following year. “So, she was a great help for him because the surgeries he performed were literally on kitchen tables and she administered the anesthetic.”

Harrold spoke about the development of the rail line and formation of the Town of Lamont. Dr. Archer lived where Park Memorial is located today and built his house in 1910. With the typhoid epidemic, Dr. Archer had to set up a tent outside his home because he couldn’t travel in the countryside to attend to people, and that’s when the whole community realized they needed a hospital.

A committee formed May 1911 and by 1912 the hospital started to go up. The facility had 15 beds, an operating and sterilizing room and opened in September of 1912.

Former Administrator Harold James, right, with Executive Director Shahad Bharmal.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

“Right from the start there was a nurses training program. And I must say that was a very good idea.” “

• Annie Perske was the first nursing graduate in 1915. Over the 60 years since, there have been 595 graduates.

• In 1912 Dr. Archer performs what is believed to be the first blood transfusion in Alberta.

• In 1921 the hospital was enlarged to 55 beds with the Methodist Church funding the expansion.

• In 1922 Dr. Young came aboard and in 1923 Dr. Alton. With Rickets and other diseases in the community, children were treated at the hospital for months at no cost to families.

• Depression years brought on tough times. There was a barter system and people would bring produce as well as pay in grain and straw. There was a hog house that was a source of food for the hospital.

• In the 1930’s there was a health care plan in Lamont. The United Farmers of Alberta government also passed a regulation encouraging municipalities to help fund a health care insurance plan.

• After the Second World War many soldiers returned. In 1946 there were 2,558 admissions with outpatients numbering 9,872 and 189 births recorded for the year with 568 surgeries. Cost of operations $97,500.

• The reputation at the hospital was so good it was called ‘Little Mayo by some people.

• Dr. Archer died in 1949 and hospital renamed in his honour on Sept. 24, 1950.

• The bus-train accident on Nov. 29, 1960 when 17 students were killed and 24 students brought to hospital. Staff were commended for their exemplary training, preparedness and professionalism.

• In the sixties the auxiliary hospital was built. In 1965 the 1912 wing was demolished and the Archer Building was built. In 1969 a decision by directors of the nursing program to favour a two year program, rather than the three year in hospital program. As a result, the nursing school had its last graduation in 1972.

• In the ‘70’s the nursing home opened. Dr. Young retired and Dr. Sunley named superintendent in 1979. Harrold James was appointed administrator at Archer Memorial Hospital, and later named administrator for the auxiliary and nursing home.

• In the ‘80’s a pastoral program was initiated and worship services from representatives from all denominations were held in the facility.

• Long range planning committee formed. Nurses’ residence demolished to make way for new health care complex that was named LHCC.

• In 1995 fire destroys 1948 and 1928 wings and rebuilding efforts began. New facility opened in April of 1999.

• In 2013 CBC survey names LHCC in top 10 hospitals in Canada

• In 2015 planning begins for new longterm care facility with it opening a few years later.

• COVID-19 pandemic begins in 2020. Able to keep it out of long-term care for 23 months with first outbreak in February of 2022.

• LHCC to provide space for a day care and plans are currently being made to expand surgical capacity.

Main entrance.

(Michelle Pinon/Photo)

There have been “many ups and downs” in LHCC’s history. Dr. Eyad El Hajj, Chief of Medical Staff, said that all staff work as one team and try to devote their best services and do their best to bring the latest updates in the medical field to the public.

Both Lamont Mayor Kirk Perrin and Lamont County Reeve David Diduck spoke about the importance of the facility in the community and the region. LHCC employs more than 250 people. They thanked the doctors, nurses and support staff for all of the work they do.

Kent Harrold and Delores Sadoway were recognized for their dedication to LHCC. Harrold has been a board member for 51 years and Sadoway has been working in administration for 51 years. She will be retiring on Sept. 29.