Killam Hospital joins Covenant Health in celebrating 150 years of care

A special display on Saturday night in Killam, was a display from the Killam Health Care Centre, as part of Covenant Health, celebrating 150 years of Catholic Healthcare in Alberta.

The display included a historical timeline of catholic health care, including the arrival of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Killam.

The Catholic health ministry began in Alberta, decades before we became a province, and Alberta’s communities were built on the hard work of their founding congregations.

Catholic hospitals were the heart of pioneer communities and anchored the establishment of many towns and cities that spurred Alberta’s growth and prosperity.

Killam Health Centre is a great example, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph (London) in 1930.

The legacy left by the Sisters is one of courage, tenacity, and vision, this is a legacy Killam Health Centre continues to live and grow by, offering both compassionate care and a vision of hope to the community of Killam.

On display were a couple of scrapbooks highlighting the hospital’s landmark occasions in the community through the years.

Also on display were two typical nuns habits, as well as the red and white striped volunteer uniform once worn by auxiliary and hospital volunteers.

Killam Health Care Centre Community Board members and hospital administration were on hand to serve a special cake, and hand out goodie bags during the Drive-In Movie event.

A hand-made tablecloth was on display, hand embroidered with the names of every resident of long term care from 1980 to 1996.

A special gift to the Health Care Centre, from the Killam Auxiliary, was a framed list of the sisters who served in Killam, also on display was an ink-drawing of Killam’s first hospital building.

Visitors to the display were encouraged to sign their names on a special banner.

Leslie Cholowsky
Editor