Newspaper Article on Terrace Bay Hospital's Official Opening, 1980

Terrace Bay hospital officially opened

DR. MICHAEL McCAUSLAND

...hospital bears his name

PROVINCE'S DENNIS TIMBRELL

...paid tribute to the doctor

The Times-News

NORTHWEST

Monday, March 10, 1980 3

By DEAN SALTER Times-News Staff

TERRACE BAY — A story which had its roots in areport from the Ontario fire marshal nine years ago came to a close Saturday when provincial Health Minister Dennis Timbrell cut the ribbon to officially open the new McCausland Hospital here.

Nine years ago it appeared Terrace Bay, Schreiber and surrounding communities would lose the 25-year-old wood frame hospital they already had.

The fire marshal's office told the board of governors the hospital building could not be approved in its condition. Noting the difficulties involved in renovating the building and the fact the Marathon hospital was within 96 kilometres, the health ministry proposed closure of the facility in favor of a small first aid station.

However, pressure from Terrace Bay and the hospital board reversed the ministry's position and permission was granted for the board to begin planning a new hospital with the same name.

Even with this permission granted it took years of planning and negotiations before the board was allowed to tender the contract and see construction begin in early 1978. McCausland Hospital became the last new hospital construction project approved in the province.

Built at a total cost of about $3.5 million, the hospital for the first time brings administration, doctor's and dentist's offices together under one roof. This is consistent with a 1974 proposal by the health ministry to bring all area health care agencies into the new facility.

In addition, adequate room is now available for laboratory and x-ray services and the hospital is equipped with a physiotherapy area in addition to its 23 beds, operating and delivery rooms.

LARGE CROWD

On Saturday afternoon a crowd of about 200 gathered at the entrance to the hospital for outdoor ceremonies marking the official opening of the new facility.

Lake Nipigon MLA Jack Stokes, in introducing a wide variety of dignitaries including hospital board chairman Rena McAdam, Timbrell, area hospital administrators and officials of the architectural and contracting firms involved in the construction, noted the strong community participation which went toward raising the one-sixth of McCausland Hospital's price tag not paid by the Ontario health ministry.

Stokes, a resident of Schreiber, said there has been a consistent flow of tickets to be bought in support of one project or another designed to raise money for the hospital.

In offering his congratulations to hospital administrator Donald Ross, the board and the communities the hospital will serve, Timbrell offered support for the concept of small-scale hospitals.

"Small hospitals like McCausland have a permanent role to play in delivery of health care in this province," said Timbrell.

The health ministry spent approximately $2.7 million on the construction of the hospital.

Timbrell paid tribute to Dr. Michael McCausland, a respected local physician who has served the area for 34 years. In 1970, Terrace Bay changed its hospital's name to McCausland Hospital to honor its long-time doctor.

Timbrell noted it's rare a physician should be present to see two hospitals bearing his name opened in one community.

The health minister said Dr. McCausland actually came to work in Terrace Bay six months before he (Timbrell) was born. When asked by Timbrell, a large number in the crowd raised their hands to indicate they are among about 2,000 babies the doctor has delivered in his career to date.

A LINK

McCausland, present at Saturday's ceremonies, represents a link between the rugged "frontier-type" health care conditions he faced on his arrival and the modern facility which was being officially opened.

The town's first hospital was essentially a small hut in which power failures were common.

According to a brief history written by the hospital board, McCausland was once forced to operate on a perforated ulcer by the light of oil lamps and candles.

Heat was provided by a stove in the middle of the hut.

The 1980 version of McCausland Hospital, located on a terrace below the senior citizen's complex on land donated by the town and Kimberly-Clark of Canada, will take over completely from the old hospital by April 1.

Comments passed during public inspection of the new hospital by area residents reflected pride in the hard-earned facility.

One person said he felt he was in a resort. Another said it was so large in comparison to the old hospital that it would take some time to get his bearings. Still another said the facility was so nice no one would want to die there.

If the health ministry's original plan to scrap Terrace Bay's hospital was followed through, even the small wood-frame hospital up the street from the new facility would be gone.

L.H. Hospital-McCausland

19.5 cm (h) x 35.5 cm (w)