GERALDTON HOSPITAL HONOURS VOLUNTEERS
Dignitaries an recipients of Tree of Life. Left to right, James McPherson, Bruce and Andy Switzer, Françoise Fullum, Dorothy Burgoyne, Grace Bloomfield, Monique Perreault, Arnie Friske, Kurt Pristanski. Photo Dorothy Friske
Geraldton District Hospital
Volunteer Names Inscribed on Tree of Life
by Edgar J. Lavoie
GREENSTONE, ON – Monday, April 7th, nearly 80 people gathered, in the lobby of the Geraldton District Hospital for its annual Volunteer Appreciation Social. Hospital CEO Kurt Pristanskiat noted the significant increase of those attending to show their support of the exceptional volunteers who went above and beyond in their dedication to the hospital and the community.
The guests of honour saw their names inscribed on individual gold leaves, which join those from previous years, forming the Tree of Life which dominates a full wall in the lobby. Recipients of the special recognition were nominated by the groups providing volunteer services to the hospital.
Geraldton District Hospital Auxiliary nominated two people, Françoise Fullum and Arnie Friske. In her early years of community service, Françoise mended uniforms and gloves for Minor Hockey and Junior Hockey, has always worked behind the scenes for the auxiliary, and knits slippers for the Sunshine Gift Shop, even filling custom orders.
Arnie has worked for the auxiliary for over 30 years, keeping pop machines stocked, and purchasing items for the Gift Shop. He served on the Hospital Board of Directors, and performed other community services such as coaching Minor Hockey, and currently runs the Kenogamisis Golf Club Pro Shop.
Geraldton Hospice Northwest nominated Monique Perreault, a trained palliative care worker, who devotes countless hours to the program. Being bilingual, she offers support and comfort to francophone clients. Her other interests include active membership in the Daughters of Isabella and the Centre Culturel Francophone Committee.
Geraldton Horticultural Society nominated two people, Dorothy Burgoyne and Grace Bloomfield. Dorothy has been a resource person for over 20 years, and helped to maintain the hospital grounds as well as contributed to Auxiliary initiatives.
In addition to helping maintain the hospital grounds Grace, also a long-time member, worked on the Welcome Flower Bed at the entrance to the town. She supported the Auxiliary, devoted considerable time to Legion activities and helped maintain the flower beds around the Cenotaph.
Geraldton District Hospital Board of Directors nominated the late Ken Switzer, member of the Board from 1952 to 1965. He played an active role in promoting and overseeing the construction of the new hospital, opened in 1963. As well he served terms as Reeve of Longlac, President of the District Red Cross, and member of the Lakehead University Board of Governors. Ken Switzer‘s sons, Bruce and Andy Switzer, traveled from Ottawa to receive the honour on behalf of their late father.
Asked what motivated such volunteers, James McPherson, current Chair of the Hospital Board of Governors remarked that “Those of us who live in small communities have realized that if we want something to happen, we need to do it ourselves, so we have learnt the skills to make events happen.”
