Recent History – 1998
By Mark Nielsen, Daily News Staff, Jan. 4, 1999
Provincial Health Minister Penny Priddy appointed two new people to the South Peace Health Council (SPHC) on Wednesday. George Caisley and Isabelle Friesen, both of Dawson Creek, will join 10 others who were reappointed by Priddy. SPHC chair Sheila Barnes said both Caisley and Friesen were among those the council recommended to Priddy for appointments.
Caisley was chosen to help bring balance between the number of men and women on the board, while Friesen becomes the first aboriginal appointed to the board.
Doug Cameron, of Tumbler Ridge, had asked that he not be reappointed to the board, Barnes said.
Along with Barnes, the returning members are: Tim Caton (Chetwynd), Barbara Frost (Pouce Coupe), Dr. Pauline Gorton (Dawson Creek), Bernice Greengrass (Tumbler Ridge), Janet Hartford (Tumbler Ridge), Laurel Niemi (Dawson Creek), Michael Readman (Dawson Creek), Terry Sankey (Chetwynd), and Eleanor Wilfur (Chetwynd).
In all 12 people now sit on the council, and they’ll be facing a busy year.
Issues to be tackled include finding ways to recruit and retain physicians and other health care professionals, preparing for the three-year planning cycle, seeing through renovations to Chetwynd General Hospital, getting Rotary Manor off the ground, and working with the community health services society to realize more community services.
“There are lots of challenges, but I’m confident with the council members and the staff support that we have that we’re going to do a good job of meeting those challenges, ” Barnes said.
The SPHC’s first meeting of the new year will be on Thursday at the Dawson Creek and District Hospital, third floor conference room, 7 p.m. start.