Dennis Cleaver (inset) was fired from his job as chief executive officer of Stanton Territorial Hospital. - NNSL file photo Dennis Cleaver has been CEO of the hospital since June 1995. Prior to that he was executive director at Prince George Regional Hospital in British Columbia. He also served as vice president and acting president at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, B.C. and spent over eight years as vice president of the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital in Edmonton.

"I would like to say I was pleased and somewhat honoured by the amount of support the staff and medical staff have shown me," said Cleaver.

His future with the hospital was in doubt since an operational review challenged how the facility was being run.

Even so, unions and physicians publicly called for Cleaver to remain at the helm.

That didn't happen. The Stanton Territorial Health Authority fired him Wednesday night, then the board voted to dissolve.

Suzette Montreuil, Union of Northern Workers Local 11 president, said news that Cleaver was fired came as a surprise.

"I'm disappointed for Mr. Cleaver. I don't think he was individually responsible," said Montrueil.

"I'm sure there is going to be some initial shock; these are drastic events. My role and the role of the union is to listen to the membership and hopefully they still feel it's worth talking."

Wait and see

The union is now taking a wait-and-see attitude.

"We're willing to work with them. There is a loss, though, to the whole process in terms of the level of expertise of how the hospital works," said Montreuil.

What is not uncertain to Montreuil is the fact this will not be a quick fix.

"The recruitment and retention problem has not gone away. There isn't a magic solution to that problem," she said.

Dr. Jim Corkal, president of the Yellowknife Medical Association, was also disappointed.

"I honestly could not begin to see the logic behind it.

"Why the board had done that as their last act is beyond me," he said.

Small consolation

The only consolation to Corkal is the fact that Al Woods, who will be acting CEO, is familiar with hospital operations.

Cleaver is still trying to determine what will come next for him and his family. Details of his severance package have still to be worked out.

"I would like to get in touch with the deputy minister and sort things out," he said.

"My wife and family will take the time now to determine whatever will be as a family," he said.

Cleaver said he would like to remain in the city.

"Yellowknife has been good to us and we would like to stay, but we have to keep our options open," he added.