It was five decades ago this month that the 100 Mile District General Hospital was built to serve the health needs of the community.
A 50th Celebration Tea is happening July 22, 1-3 p.m., at the South Cariboo Health Centre, 555 S. Cedar Ave., in the hospital cafeteria.
Hospital acute care nurse manager Natalie Kulyk says everyone is welcome to the afternoon tea to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 100 Mile District General Hospital.
"We hope the community will come out to help us celebrate this momentous event of our hospital turning 50."
The event will have various displays featuring historical photos and memorabilia set up for people to peruse, as well as a celebratory cake and other refreshments to enjoy.
A display of 1960s automobiles outside the hospital courtesy of the 100 Mile Cruzers Car Club will provide another blast from the past to admire, and provide some fun photo opportunities.
Kulyk says the featured guests and dignitaries at the afternoon tea will include Interior Health (IH) staff (past and present) and local elected officials, as well as representatives from the society groups of volunteers that help support local health care.
"The South Cariboo Health Foundation, the 100 Mile District General Hospital Auxiliary, as well as the 100 Mile District Hospice Palliative Care Society have all played a big part in supporting our site with equipment needs and various items they have purchased over the years."
This fundraising for key equipment purchases has "really made it possible" for IH to offer some high-level services for the community, she explains.
The hospital opened on July 15, 1966 with a staff of six nurses, two cooks, two kitchen helpers, two laundry workers, two engineers, two X-ray workers, two nurses’ aides and one housekeeping worker.
Today, that small team of 19 has grown to 209 staff members the hospital now employs at the South Cariboo Health Centre.
The campus has seen the addition of residential care facilities Fischer Place and Mill Site Lodge, as well as public health, mental health and substance use, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, audiology, dietitian services, laboratory, pharmacy, and home health care.
Wes Friesen began his career as a medical radiography technologist in 100 Mile House in 1972, when images were still developed in a darkroom using a chemical solution.
While the way health care is delivered has changed and evolved over the years, including his own work on the hospital’s new digital radiography machine, he says what hasn’t changed is the sense of family he gains from the colleagues he works alongside.
Friesen retired seven years ago, but still returns to work as a casual employee, partly because he enjoys both the work, and the people he works with at the hospital.
"The best thing about working in 100 Mile House is that I get to know the patients I work with, and they know who I am. There is a sense of community and that’s one of the reasons why I’m still working."
Kulyk notes health care is important to everyone's lives in one way or another.
The passing of a half century has seen a lot of changes and improvements at the hospital, and folks are encouraged to turn out for the celebration and see some of what's happened over the years, she explains.
"The 100 Mile auxiliary has been a part of the hospital since its opening – so 50 years [in operation] as well – and they have some amazing memorabilia that they have kept over the years.
"They've got photos [and news articles] of all the things that have taken place over the years ... it's really quite a unique and special thing to be able to look at."
Kulyk adds it is interesting to see how the hospital and its services have grown and evolved over the years to reflect changing population needs and demographics.
"A lot of that is because of community support that we have locally, and the lobbying the community does for things that are needed in the local area. They have a real voice, so it's nice to see that the community has played a part in the local development."