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.