Editor:
Please add my name to the list of Sunshine Coast citizens who strongly object to changing the name of St. Mary's Hospital.
I respect and appreciate the generous gift the Sechelt Indian Band made to the hospital society in 1959. It was one of many gifts that enabled our hospital to be built, to grow and to expand.
The St. Mary's Hospital Health Care Auxiliary and lately the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation have also made significant contributions. The auxiliary in particular has raised millions of dollars and contributed hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours since 1932, when the inaugural auxiliary meeting was held.
I came to work at St. Mary's Hospital in 1981. I didn't know the history when I first arrived, but hadn't been here for long when I started hearing about the origins of the hospital. People spoke with pride of the early mission boats and building the first St. Mary's Hospital in Pender Harbour on donated land.
I learned it was called St. Mary's in appreciation of St. Mary's Anglican Church Parish in Vancouver for their help in building the original hospital. People talked about the Sechelt Indian Band's donation of land for the new hospital in Sechelt and the hospital auxiliary's fundraising for equipment and patient care and comfort.
I was impressed with the support from all facets of my new community.
The hospital is part of the history of the Sunshine Coast. Many elements have contributed to that history - the Sechelt Indian Band, the St. Mary's Hospital Health Care Auxiliary, the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, Rotary Clubs, Lions Club, individuals from our community and our taxpayers' dollars.
The name St. Mary's Hospital represents all of us. Please don't disregard 75 years of our history.
Wendy Hunt, Sechelt
