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Hospital marks 10 years Anniversary celebration scheduled for June 16
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, June 13, 2013
INUVIK
The first decade for the new Inuvik Regional Hospital has gone by in a blur.
Owen Partridge, the new head of the Inuvik Regional Hospital, is excited about marking the 10-year anniversary of the facility. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
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On June 16 the hospital will celebrate the anniversary of its grand opening, with newly-minted CEO Owen Partridge cheering the occasion on.
"The hospital has more than 50 years of service in the community and the present hospital has served the Beaufort-Delta region for the last 10," he said. "A hospital is bricks and mortar, (but) the important part is the people who support the operation and engage the community.
"A lot of good work has been done and many individuals have been recognized for their contribution, however the most exciting part is the future, the unknown.
"The latest developments and innovations in health care are a moving target and the young and enthusiastic staff are up to the challenge of moving us forward."
Partridge said the anniversary will be marked with a staff barbecue next week.
The facility, which cost $40 million to build, still has upward of 40 people on staff from that opening. One of them is Jane Baryluk, Partridge's executive assistant, who has a wealth of information on hand from the opening and the building process.
"There are 30 to 40 people who are still here," she said. "That's even though there's been constant change and improvements. I think the staff is going to really enjoy it."
Partridge added, "This hospital has a fantastic history with a great future ahead. We're working with a variety of new programs and strengthening community involvement."
It required some persistence and relentless pressuring of the GNWT to have the new hospital built, Baryluk recalled.
Inuvialuit Regional Corporation president Nellie Cournoyea led the charge on that front.
"It was a great achievement to finally have the resources dedicated to get the project underway, even though the building was delayed by about 10 years," she stated via e-mail. "The former hospital was old and had been constructed very quickly. By contrast, the new hospital was designed appropriately, in consultation with the communities. The priorities of the communities were taken into account, including the need for a longterm care ward."
Mayor Floyd Roland also recalled the battle to have the hospital funded.
"Inuvik was built as a regional centre and a hospital was a critical piece of infrastructure," he said. "I can still recall the discussion that was had at committee about the replacement. It is hard to believe it has already been 10 years.
"When the federal and territorial government agreed to transfer health and social services to the GNWT an important part of that agreement was the replacement of the Inuvik Hospital."
Boot Lake MLA Alfred Moses was also pleased to join in on congratulating the hospital.
"I would like to offer my congratulations and on-going support for the 10 years of service that the hospital has provided to residents of the Beaufort Delta and Sahtu Regions," he stated via e-mail.
"With the recent good news of the signing on of five full-time physicians, the quality of service will set new standards of care and treatment in the North. Each and every department within the hospital should be very proud of the quality of care that they provide and interaction with their patients and fellow colleagues. I wish the staff future successes and accomplishments with the services that they provide."
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