The Story of the Alberta Women's Institute

              THE

STORY

OF

THE

ALBERTA

WOMEN'S

INSTiTUTES

In the course of time the interest of the general public waned and it was left to a handful of W.I. women to carryon the financial burden of keeping things going. Every effort was made to have a small tax levied in the community and for a time it was deemed advisable to rent the building and contents to a branch of the Dominican Sisters. During the 1921 session of the Provincial Legislature. legislation was passed whereby a portion of a municipality could levy a tax for the maintenance of hospital services so for the years 1930-1936 a yearly grant of $1,860 was provided. In 1930 the Sisters asked to be relieved so the Hospital Board took charge once more with two nurses. a maid and extra help when required. During the next four years the struggle to keep going was a tremendous one. Only through the assistance of the local merchants and the Steven's Drug Company in giving unlimited credit, was it possible to carry on. The fees when the hospital first opened were $2.50 per day. The regular charge of 50 cents per day for the baby was not charged as it was considered that a normal maternity case required no more care for a mother and baby than, for instance, a very sick pneumonia case or a serious surgical case. In 1932 the rates were reduced to $2.00 per day for ratepayers and $2.50 per day for non-ratepayers. At all times pre-natal care, preventive medicine, diabetic and dental clinics were maintained and the annual medical inspection of school children sponsored. During the year 1935 and the first six months of 1936. many alterations and improvements were made, much new equipment, including an X-ray was installed. Then in the early morning hours of June 1, 1936, fire destroyed the hospital. Assisted by Mr. J. Duncan and Mr. S. F. O'Brien, the patients were carried to safety in the latter's home. In less than half an hour nothing was left but a pile of ruins. The nurses and maids lost everything they owned in their successful efforts to save the patients. The X-ray was saved with very little damage. The insurance was entirely inadequate to replace the loss. It was then deemed advisable to ask the Council to take steps to provide a new building and take over the management. This was done and Mr. S. F. O'Brien, Reeve, Mr. Lampley, M.L.A., Dr. :\lata5 and Mrs. M. R. Upton left no stone unturned so that in November, five months after the fire, one of the most modern, nine-roomed hospitals in Alberta built with the money loaned by the ratepayers at ;) per cent, was offcially opened. Through the enterprise, the courage and the educational campaign of the Women's Institute, this splendid piece of community work was inaugurated, fostered and finally turned over to the proper authorities. the Hospital Board, of which Mrs. S. F. O'Brien, an indefatigable worker, was the W.I. representative. - 38--