INUVIK
MLA Alfred Moses said a potluck supper for Dr. Peter Boronowski went from a simple affair to something far grander in a matter of days.

Elaine Benoit, left, and Dr. Peter Boronowski lead the line for food at a potluck feast held in their honour Sept. 12. - Sarah Ladik/NNSL photo

"Ten calls turned into 20 and then 30 and more and more," he said. "People expressing their concerns, and a lot of people wanting to contribute and participate in this evening."

A community potluck feast was held to honour Dr. Boronowski who, after a decade of work in Inuvik, did not have his locum contract renewed under mysterious circumstances.

As the Drum has previously reported, Boronowski said he was let go as a result of complaints against him and that the hospital has failed to share what those complaints are with him. While he plans to leave the community as a result, he wanted to say one last goodbye.

"Thank you," he told the crowd of about 100 people at the feast Sept. 12, after recounting how he had received a call from a woman in town who had told him to not say goodbye. "Thank you, because I really appreciate the experiences you have given me."

The evening was filled with stories from former patients and former students, talking about how Boronowski had always gone the extra mile for them and their families.

"You can be the smartest clinician in the world, the best researcher, but if it doesn't come from a humanist place, if it doesn't come with compassion, it means nothing," said Sam Kerr. "If you never come back, you can walk out this door and know that what you've done will continue on here."

Dennis Dulay got up on stage on behalf of the Filipino community and lamented that Inuvik wouldn't see another like Boronowski any time soon.

"I talked to my friends, and we are all really sad," he said. "We just want clarification, the truth. We just want Dr. Boronowski to know that we will support you all the way - we can't forget all you've done for us. We've lost someone from here, hopefully we'll find another one, but I don't think we will."

Despite the farewells -and a few tears - the tone of the gathering was a celebratory one. What had originally been planned as a small supper turned into a feast with live music and dancing that lasted well into the night.

"Thank you everyone for coming," said Elaine Benoit, Boronowski's wife. "I don't know all of you, but I know Peter especially loved his time here, sometimes with me and sometimes not, but I know you have taken such good care of him. He has learned so much, and by association, I have learned so much."

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