By Ashleigh Viveiros, Winkler Morden Voice, November 22 2018 Issue
The Winkler and District Healthcare Board bid farewell to one of its longest serving members last week (pictured, fifth from left).
Former Rhineland councillor Paul Peters, who opted not to seek
re-election this fall after over two decades on council, attended his final
health care board meeting at the C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre on Friday.
Peters joined the board when it was first created 18 years ago and
has been there to help guide the community-owned clinic’s growth ever since.
That growth has been amazing to have a hand in, Peters said.
“There’s so many things that have happened over the years,” he said.
“The extension and expansion in this area is just phenomenal.”
When the board was founded, Winkler was down to about half a dozen
physicians. Today, over 40 call the city home.
The support of the community itself has played a huge role in
attracting and retaining quality health care professionals, Peters stressed.
“It’s unbelievable the support that we get from all the
municipalities and just great to see the health care keeping on being
proactive.”
Peters’ involvement in local health care stretches back to the 1970s
when he was a member of the Bethel Hospital board.
“I’ve seen a lot of things happen,” he said, reflecting that his
interest in the field stemmed from the fact his youngest son was born with Down
syndrome. “So, we had a little more to do with doctors … that was just an
ongoing concern.”
Peters also got to personally know the Winkler clinic’s namesake,
Dr. C.W. Wiebe.
“[He] was a good friend of mine, even if he was a good 40 years
older than me,” he said. “We had a lot of good times.”
Knowing that the work he’s been a part of all these years has helped
improve health care for thousands of area residents is a satisfying realization
for Peters.
“It’s great to see the fruition of the labour that has been put in
by the people ahead of me and the present board, too,” he said. “They’re all on
the same page, working for the benefit of this community.”
Winkler’s model of community health care has served as an example
across the nation.
“I think we’re one of a kind and we have been a frontrunner for
health care,” Peters said, noting clinic manager Jim Neufeld has been invited
to speak all over Canada about the inner workings of the clinic.
“It’s not the doctors controlling the clinic, it’s the community,”
he explained. “That’s what has made this thing grow … [it provides]
long-term stability. Doctors can come and go, but the community’s still in
control.”
Health care board chair Marvin Plett said Peters’ experience will be
missed.
“It’s been wonderful working with Paul. He’s a very dedicated
member,” he said, adding Peters also brought continuity to the board. “With
your long-term service, you have the history of it … for new members that was
very helpful to put things into perspective.”
Peters’ final meeting last week was also the first meeting for
several new members, as the board welcomed newly elected representatives from
throughout the region.
The board has big plans for the clinic’s future on the horizon,
Plett noted.
“For a long time we were just playing catch-up,” he said of the
organization’s early years. “Originally we had 12,000 sq. ft. that we leased
… we’re up to 25,000 sq. ft. now.
“We’ve doubled the space in here, but we are
getting crowded again,” Plett said. “And so, we’re working on some other
initiatives that we can talk about in a few months’ time. We are definitely
thinking ahead.”
The Executive of C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre are happy to announce Karen-Denise Cyr joined the team as our new Executive Director, effective May 1, 2024.
