Category: News

The following article in the Canadian Family Physician, the official journal of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, shares the importance of community organizations in recruiting and retaining family physicians.  Dr. Adashnee Pather is a local physician practising at the CW Wiebe Medical Centre in Winkler.  The article shares her personal story of coming to southern Manitoba to open and grow her practice.

https://www.cfp.ca/content/65/8/589

Quietly courageous
Paul Sawchuk
Canadian Family Physician Aug 2019, 65 (8) 589;

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.”