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2003 Wellness Way Grassy Plains, BC Phone: 250-694-3270 |
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2003 Wellness Way Grassy Plains, BC Phone: 250-694-3270 |
History of the Southside Health & Wellness Centre
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Just before Christmas in 1999 a letter arrived from Health Canada to Chief Marvin Charlie that stated they could start planning for a new Health Centre. They had been on a wait list for a while, but, their name finally came to the top of the list. In the New Year, Marvin arranged for a public meeting at Grassy Plains Hall and in the presence of about 200 Southsiders, including Chiefs Helen Michelle and Ray Morris, he proposed forming a funding partnership between the three Bands and the non-native Southsiders in order to build a Health Centre that would serve the entire population. A steering committee was formed that night and planning started. The generosity and wisdom shown by Marvin Charlie got the ball rolling but the countless hours of volunteer time that has been donated since then has kept the ball rolling. The first and crucial first year, the steering committee consisted of: Rick Neukomm, Rhonda Giesbrecht, Eileen Benedict, Peter Gagnon, Virginia Gagnon, William Wissler, Archie Charlie, Gwen Nicholas, Rise Johansen, Hayley Nielsen, Corrina Leween, Alice Bohmer, Eleanor Skin, Ray Morris, Ella Probe, Jutta Mund, Kerstin Mund, Mary Towle, Else Wilson, Pius Jack, Laura Jack, Kathy Simonds, Richard Peters, Cia Solecki, Robin Jack, Renata Hussinger, Lori Petkau, Sylvia Thomas, Dick Tom, Julia Meyer, Jan Owens, Korena Peters and Monika Erickson. Since then others joined the ranks of what evolved into an advisory committee. They were the group of people responsible for organizing the opening celebration of the Southside Health & Wellness Centre among other things. In addition to the above names of people who devoted a lot of volunteer time there were others who were involved in making this building a reality: Franz Nathaus, Geneva Wiseman, Daphne Ewert, Pat Calaman, Raedine Bigler, Libby Williams, Dave Williams, and Willa Wiseman. After a year and a half of planning, construction started in July 2002 and final completion was in April of 2003. It was constructed on property acquired from the Southside Recreation Society, the Chairperson being Alice Bohmer; and the driveway in, is property acquired from Clay and Darlene McIntee and Geneva Wiseman. There was a contest held to name the building and to create a logo. Cody Gagnon won the naming contest and Cheyenne Murray created the beautiful Logo. The Southside Health & Wellness Centre is now overseen by a Board of Directors. This Board has representation from each community. Chief David Crocker (Skin Tyee Nation), Helen Michelle (Skin Tyee Nation), Chief Corrina Leween (Cheslatta Carrier Nation), Mavis Benson (Cheslatta Carrier Nation), Chief Raymond Morris (Nee Tahi Buhn Band), Robin Jack, Chair (Nee Tahi Buhn Band), Franz Nathaus, Vice-Chair, (Southside Community), Ella Probe, Secretary Treasurer, (Southside Community) and Jim Vaillancourt (Northern Health Authority). Any members of the community who want a voice can call the Centre directly or can present their concerns or wishes to the representative of their community, who will bring forth these issues or ideas to the rest of the Board of Directors. The Southside Health & Wellness Centre is based on preventative medicine. We want to have a centre to help people stay healthy or maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our mission statement being, “We endeavor to increase wellness through a comprehensive system of education, health promotion, disease prevention and treatment that empowers people to make healthy lifestyle choices.” We continue to host a variety of workshops and information sessions for the general public. We provide community-based programs in prevention, rehabilitative and supportive areas of primary health care. We are always looking for new ideas for our health programs. If you have an idea or a wish, please contact us and make your suggestion(s). |