The board of directors of Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc. changed little at its annual meeting last Thursday in Rainy River, with only two new faces among its members.
And both Craig Sanders and Linda Hamilton will remain as chair and vice-chair respectively for a second year.
Ted Kaemingh and Wendy Judson (who previously served on the board) were the newcomers, filling in the absence of Jim Kilmister, who moved to Winnipeg, and Donna Dittaro, who had to quit almost immediately after being elected last June due to job requirements.
Pat Giles, Norma-Jean Johnston, and Julian Brunetta returned to serve another term as board members.
Other board members include Riverside CEO Wayne Woods, Dr. Robert Algie (chief of staff), Larry Armstrong, Percy Champagne, Laurene Hannam, Dr. Lorena Jenks, Cecil Ogden, Emily Watson, Dr. Philip Whatley, and Catherine Bruyere.
In other business, the board unanimously voted to amend a bylaw which previously had a clause stating no board member could have a relative employed at one of the three district hospitals.
“It was the same type of clause that was challenged by a school board in southern Ontario,” noted Woods.
“The Supreme Court decided it was unconstitutional so we decided to be proactive and take it out before any similar problems could come of it,” he explained.
The meeting also included the year-end audit and a review of the past year, which, in light of all the renovations going on, was a good one, said Woods.
“We are very fortunate to have all three facilities [in Fort Frances, Emo, and Rainy River] rebuilding in a three-year time period–especially when there are some 40 hospitals closing across the province.
In related news, Woods noted renovations are well underway at the Emo hospital as of last Tuesday. While electricians and carpenters work inside the building now, the work will become more severe as interior walls will be knocked down later this week.
The job is scheduled to be completed by December.
Meanwhile, plans for renovations at La Verendrye hospital here still are in the works, with the aim to have them completed and submitted to the Ministry of Health by summer’s end.
And while Woods remained confident the government will help covering operating costs of having a hemodialysis unit at La Verendrye, he noted developments may not be seen for a while as communications with the ministry undoubtedly will slow down over the summer months.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
