The Catholic Sisters’ Legacy Recognition Project

On October 5, 2011 Flagstaff Councillor Gerald Kuefler and I attended the Covenant Health Annual Community Meeting in Edmonton.

Covenant Health is Canada’s largest Catholic health care organization and provides service in 12 communities across Alberta, including the Killam Health Care Centre.

In 2011 Covenant Health joined with the Catholic community in honoring the Catholic Sisters for their contributions in building the Province of Alberta.  In the earliest days of Alberta these women travelled from across Canada to settle into various areas of our Province, providing health care, schooling, orphanages, and social programs to Alberta’s pioneer families.

The Catholic Sisters’ Legacy Recognition Project, unveiled at the Alberta Legislature on September 28, is a fitting tribute to the dedication and resilience of the Sisters.  A bronze statue, created by artist Herman Poulin from St. Paul, was unveiled by Premier Ed Stelmach.  As part of his remarks, Premier Stelmach related his own personal experience of care by Sisters at Mundare Hospital when he was a child.  Some of you may know his story.  Covenant Health has produced a video to recognize this event which can be viewed at www.covenanthealth.ca later in October.  I urge you to view this powerful tribute.

In Flagstaff we were blessed to have the Sisters of St. Joseph of London.  The Sisters arrived here in 1930 and provided health service to the region at Killam and Galahad for many years, with the last of the Sisters moving out of the Convent in Killam in 1990.  The story of their contribution to the region can be found in the history books of Killam & Galahad.

The Sisters were still a part of the community when I was a youth and a young adult.  My parents had a close relationship with a few of the Sisters, and I had the privilege of accompanying my Mom & Dad on two occasions for a visit to them at their Convent in Edmonton, after they had left Killam.  My Dad worked closely with Sister Lourdes for many years as part of the community board in Killam.  They were very close friends, and my parents even hosted a few of the Sisters at their winter home in Phoenix. 

The Sisters of St. Joseph may have departed, but their legacy carries on in the Killam & Galahad facilities.

The people of Covenant Health have taken up this call to compassionate care that the Catholic Sisters started so many years ago.  I am very pleased that Killam Health Care Centre is a part of the Covenant Health family, and I appreciate the dedication and compassion that the staff & volunteers who work there bring to their tasks.

The Catholic Sisters have been an important part of the history of the Province of Alberta and of the Flagstaff region.  We can all learn something from their resilience, compassion, and dedication to helping their community.

Sincerely,

Bud James

Mayor

Town of Killam