New Health Unit building opened 50 years ago

A half century ago the Wellington County Health Unit moved into its new building on Queen Street in Fergus. The official opening, on June 15, 1960, was an important mile­stone in the history of public health in Wellington.

Public health in Ontario dates back to the 1870s and 1880s, when provincial legis­lation called for the appoint­ment of local Medical Officers of Health. That system enjoyed substantial success, though was somewhat spotty at times. The MOH appointment was a part time one, going to a local doc­tor. Some of those medical men were far more rigorous than others in the execution of their duties. As well, local councils could be indifferent or even hos­tile in their cooperation with the MOH.

Despite its inadequacies, the system was a useful one in containing epidemics, cleaning up unsanitary conditions, and promoting a reasonably safe supply of drinking water for the public.

The duties and respon­sibi­lities of the Medical Officers of Health expanded during the first decades of the 20th cen­tury.

The first county-wide sys­tem, with full-time personnel, was organized in 1935 in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas, and Glengarry in east­ern Ontario. Such a step had been under consideration for years by Ontario, but politi­cians did not want to increase expenditures. The Health Unit set up in the united counties began with a grant from the New York-based Rockefeller Foundation.

The fact that Ontario public health was being financed by an American charity embarras­sed the provincial government. Soon there was a home-grown system under the auspices of the Ontario government. A large number of county health units were established imme­diately after World War II. The one in Wellington was one of them, organized in 1948 and fully in operation a year later.

Two people were key to the early success of the Wellington County Health unit. B.T. Dale, a Polish-born doctor with a strong background in public health, received the appoint­ment as Medical Officer of Health of the county. He had a phenomenal memory for faces and names, and had an instinc­tive ability with public rela­tions. Those skills were vital in the early years. Many people re­garded the Health Unit as a waste of time and especially of money.

The other highly-visible em­ployee was Helen Fasken, the director of nursing. A native of Nichol Township, she had advanced training in public health, and had just completed five years at the head of the Hamilton Tuberculosis Clinic.

Together, Dr. Dale and Helen Fasken organized a pro­gram of vaccinations for school children, and a series of clinics in various towns for young mothers and their children. Those programs were especi­ally important in the early 1950s, when most families had no health insurance of any kind. Many children would not otherwise have seen a doctor or nurse, and many medical prob­lems would not have been re­cog­nized.

Most important of the pro­grams in the 1950s was the mass vaccination against polio in 1959. At that time, polio was perhaps the most feared disease, striking young people seemingly at random. Dr. Dale organized vaccinations clinics across the county to administer the prescribed three injections, which were free of charge. Thousands of readers of this col­umn no doubt recall receiv­ing their shots from Dr. Dale himself.

The anti-polio campaign rais­ed the profile of the health unit, and silenced many of its critics. While Dr. Dale was wield­ing his hypodermic needle, he was also planning a proper headquarters for his organization.

The new building that was constructed in Fergus at a cost of $105,000, was ready for oc­cu­­pancy in the spring of 1960. The facilities in the new build­ing included offices for Dr. Dale, accommodation for Hel­en Fasken and her staff of four public health nurses, offices for Jim Grimason and Tim For­rester, the sanitary inspectors for Wellington, and supporting office staff.

The official opening of the new building was delayed for several weeks because the chair­man of the Wellington County Health Board, Archie Beattie, wanted to have On­ta­rio’s Minister of Health, Dr. Matthew Dymond, as the speak­er.

An outspoken advocate of public health programs and Ontario’s system of county health units, Dr. Dymond had seen the usefulness of health units from his profession as a practising medical doctor and also as a cabinet minister. Before a Wednesday afternoon crowd of more than 300, Dr. Dymond began his address with praise for Dr. Dale and the County Board of Health. The new Fergus building was the first of its kind in Ontario, dedi­cated solely to the functions of the Health Unit. He hoped it would be the first of a chain across the province.

After an introduction by local MPP John Root, Dr. Dymond traced the history of public health since the dawn of history.

In more recent times, he noted the success of quar­an­tines in containing epidemics, and the measures that had made drinking water increasingly safe. Not one to mince words, he said that the poor public perception of Medical Officers of Health was due in large part to failures of the doctors them­selves.

The success of public health measures, he said, was result­ing in more problems for gov­ern­ment. As people lived long­er, they would require in­creasing amounts of health care.

He had no sympathy for those critical of public health measures, and was particularly strong in condemning those who had opposed public meas­ures and expenditures to fight tuberculosis, and he boasted of the vaccination program that had stopped polio in its tracks.

The next major problem to address, said the Doctor, was that of mental health. He also wanted to see expanded pro­grams to help the elderly and those with chronic illness. He was delighted to see that the hos­tility and contempt that many had formerly expressed for public health organizations was rapidly disappearing. He concluded by predicting an in­creasingly effective program by the Wellington County Health Unit in promoting the health of the people in its jurisdiction.

Dr. Dale responded with a few well-chosen words. He thank­ed his staff for their help in planning the new facility. In the future he saw increasing em­phasis on preventative medi­cine. As an example he cited the dental care program he had established for school children in 1955. It had reduced the need for treatment by den­tists by 50%, he claimed.

Helen Fasken then offered a few words, describing the chal­lenges of public health work. She also brought greetings from the Ontario Public Heath Association, of which she was president that year.

Other dignitaries present included county Warden Alan McCulloch and MP Marvin Howe.

Following the ceremonies, the public enjoyed refresh­ments, organized by Mrs. Tim Forrester and served by staff mem­bers. 

In the evening several hun­dred more people visited the building and toured the facili­ties.

Since the opening of that building 50 years ago, there have been many changes for the Health Unit.

Now the Well­ington Dufferin Guelph Health Unit, its geographic scope has increased considerably. Public programs, like school vacci­na­tions and dental exami­nations, and the maternity clinics, have greatly diminished in import­ance. But those are stories for another time.

The first decade of the Wellington County Health unit, culminating with the opening of the Fergus building, was one of great achievement. During that time the Health Unit’s lead­ers, Dr. B.T. Dale and Helen Fasken, earned a promi­nent place in Wellington Coun­ty’s history.   

 

 

Stephen Thorning

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