HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-12-18, Page 15-
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THE CITIZEN, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1990. PAGE 15.
Dr. Wong opens Brussels practice
BY BONNIE GROPP
It has taken time and discussion,
but a need was seen and now in
Brussels the doctor is in.
Dr. Walter Wong, a Wingham
physician for the past eight years,
opened his Brussels office in the
Medical Centre on November 19.
While there have always been
doctors in the village with esta
blished practices, Clerk Donna
White said, the results from the
recently conducted Economic De
velopment Survey showed resi
dents in the village wanted a doctor
in Brussels every day during the
day. With the influx of people from
larger areas moving into the com
munity the demand was increasing
as well, Mrs. White said.
Dr. Wong indicated a willingness
to divide his time between his
Wingham practice and Brussels so
measures were taken to make it
possible. Now entrenched behind
his desk in the Medical Centre, Dr.
Wong says his hours in Brussels
are “weekdays from three until
New practice
Dr. Walter Wong, who has had a practise in Wingham for eight
years opened his off ice in the Brussels Medical Centre on
November 19. Dr. Wong will be in the office every weekday
afternoon to look after the medical needs of the people in the
community.
Reserves spent Klopp told
Continued from page 1
taxes a hefty, and unpalatable
percentage,” she said.
Graeme Craig HCBE trustee
informed the MPP that the board
had been forced to spend part of its
reserve fund the last two years in
order to meet government initia
tives. “In 1990 we were confronted
with over $1.5 million in additional
costs as a consequence of these
initiatives,” said Mr. Craig.
He stated that capital funding is
fragmented and uneven, and para
lyzes the planning process at the
local level. Making the problem
worse is the age of the buildings,
which are, Mr. Craig said, in
constant need of repair or updating
to accommodate new programs.
Mr. Allan said the board has
been restrained in its ability to
request funds so is dealing with a
“bare bones” budget.
Mr. Craig also noted the
county’s schools are experiencing
overcrowding and the capital pro
jects that have been completed
were at a significant cost to the
board.
“Facility funding under the cur
rent Ministr of Education proce
dures is totally inadequate and
particularly unfair to Huron Coun
ty. Our new facilities such as the
science laboratories were not fund
ed provincially. Neither are we
experiencing significant assess
ment growth. Our existing assess
ment base is being eroded to
support the local separate school,”
Mr. Craig said.
“Skyrocketing costs and public
dissatisfaction are not,” he added,
“totally of our making. They are a
direct result of circumstances
largely dictated by the province.”
The committee also expressed
dissatisfaction with the lack of
consultation between the ministry
and the boards, saying they tend to
learn in the Toronto Star or the
Throne Speech what has to happen
in the schools.
Nancy McLay, representing
Ontario Secondary School Teachers
Federation told Mr. Klopp that a
process in which the provincial
government announces initiatives
without consulting first with its
educational partners is “totally
unacceptable, arrogant and inex
cusable.” They cited de-streaming,
junior kindergarten, day care in
The Jamaican-born physician re
ceived his education in schools in
the United States and the United
Kingdom. His medical certificate
is from the University of London.
Coming to Brussels, he said,
presented an opportunity for him to
set up the kind of clinic he wanted.
Having received most of his educa
tion in England, he sees himself
more as a primary care practitioner
describing his practice as a small
family clinic, not a doctor’s office.
He believes in immediate treat
ment, on the spot, if possible,
without unnecessary trips to the
hospital.
Patients come for physical exam
inations and other regular office
procedures, but can also have
EKG’s, blood work, cha^t readings
and suturing done. “It’s going
back, in a way, to the old family
doctor,’’ he says.
schools and teacher supply as
current issues for the new govern
ment to look at.
Mrs. Van den Broeck suggested
that it is time to “take education”
out of the political arena and
stabilize its agenda.” She said that
school boards should be allowed to
change at a pace that guarantees
effectiveness and not by demands
from the province, for changes
which they can not afford.
“We believe that it is irresponsi
ble for the government to pass
down the cost of its actions to local
property owners. This is an abdica
tion of the province’s responsibility
to live within its means,” she said.
In response, Mr. Klopp told the
committee he agrees that it is time
to work together to get the money
to go further and be used smarter.
He urged the committee to bring
their concerns to him or to the
Minister directly and promised to
bring the issues listed in their
presentation to her attention. He
reminded them that things can’t be
changed overnight, but says the
minister is aware circumstances
are unique in counties like Huron.
He assured them that he would
ask the minister to send them a
written response regarding their
concerns so they would know where
they stand. “It’s going to take time
for changes,” he said later. The
board was open and up front with
their presentation. Now, we will
see in time how things evolve.”
Blyth ’s Sunshine UCW Unit
celebrates Christmas
The Sunshine Unit of the Blyth
United Church women met Dec. 13
for its Christmas meeting.
Soft Christmas music and lighted
candles on the table added much to
the Christmas spirit when 18
members sat down to a delicious
pot luck dinner.
Later a meaninful candle-light
ing service was conducted by Vera
Badley and Mary Wightman. Many
Christmas carols were sung
throughout the service with Phyllis
Boak as pianist. Scripture passages
from Luke and Matthew were read,
telling the Christmas Story. Read
ers were Erma Cook, Dorothy
Daer. Lenora Davidson, Mary
Walden and Feme McDowell. The
Groups’ projects won’t
be on Pride list
That shopping list that various
Blyth groups had put together if
the village should get a Pride
grant, will go empty.
After asking if groups had pro
jects that they would carry out
under a possible Pride grant from
1992 to 1994, the village decided it
would need all the money itself for
improvements connected with main
street reconstruction. The total
project, if the village was to receive
it, would be $400,000, $200,000 of
which would be from a provincial
grant and $200,000 to be raised
locally. After looking at all the
requests for money, however, the
village decided that the money
would be required if and when the
reconstruction of Highway 4 and
the Blyth main street takes place.
Storm sewer reconstruction would
take up $135,000; water and hydro
offering was received by Vera
Badley and they closed with pray
er.
President Bea Chambers opened
the business portion asking every
one to repeat the U.C.W purpose.
She also read a religious poem with
the deceiving title “Santa Claus”.
Roll call was answered by a
favourite Carol. Feme McDowell
read the minutes of the last
meeting. Lenora Davidson gave the
correspondence report. Mary East
gave the treasurer’s report and
Gene Snell the birthday report.
Some business was discussed and
Bea closed by reading a poem
“God’s gifts upon your Christmas
Tree” and the U.C.W. benediction.
Dr. Wong has strong feelings
about health care today. He says
people are overtaxed by OHIP and
under serviced and in the end the-
patient gets short changed. “The
availability of good medical ser
vices in Canada is limited because
of the facilities. Patients don’t
always get as good a care as they
do in other countries.” He gives
England as an exmple where a
cardio-crew is dispatched with the
ambulance to treat heart-attack
victims. “They take the medicine
to the people. Doctors shouldn’t be
here to get rich. They are here to
serve the public.” Dr. Wong has
never been afraid to fight for what
he believes in. “I get hot under the
collar sometimes when I see things
aren’t as they should be. If I
see a lot of questions 1 won't stop
asking until I get some answers.
We as doctors should remember we
are looking after the people. They,
and what is best for them, comes
first.”
Dr. Wong says his first aspira
tion was to teach medicine, but in
1980 he found himself in Jamaica
where things did not go well.
Without going into detail he stated
simply that it became difficult for
him to remain there, but not before
he built a clinic, one of the most
modern you will find, he said.
Working with CUSO as medical
advisor brought him then to
Canada.
Now a resident of Wingham, he
is presently in the midst of reno
vating a 147-year-old home. His
family is scattered. His eldest
daughter is studying law at Berke
ley; the second, languages at
Cambridge; the third architecture
in Tulsa and the fourth psychology
at Trinity. He also has a son,
Walter. “I have always told my
children to sip from the cup of
knowledge but never become so
intoxicated you become a bore or
think you’re lord and master.”
Dr. Wong is willing to share the
improvements, $100,000) sidewalk
reconstruction, $65,000; and
$95,000 would be divided between
core area lighting and sanitary
sewer improvements. A further
$5,000 would go towards admini
stration costs.
The village had planned on
including some of the improve
ments in its current Pride grant but
delays in the Ministry of Transpor
tation’s rebuilding of Highway 4
from Blyth to Wingham meant the
project couldn’t be completed with
in the time frame of the grant.
Meanwhile the groups that had
offered to take part in the Pride
program will be contacted to let
them know the council will seek
other funding to help them com
plete their work. Council also
discussed the possibility of helping
out the groups if a grant paying
only one-third of the money is
received instead of the Pride grant
which pays 50 per cent.
NOMINATIONS
ARE BEING RECEIVED FOR
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
FOR THE TOWNSHIP OF HULLETT
Kindly submit name or names to the Township Office,
P.O. Box 226, Londesboro, Ont. N0M 2H0
Reeve & Council,
Township of Hullett
knowledge he has garnered as well.
“I want to be of assistance to the
community of Brussels in whatever
way I can.’’ Dr. Wong says that in
his capacity as medical advisor for
the Cancer Society he is glad to talk
to groups or individuals on the
subject. AIDS is another area he
would discuss with interested par
ties. “I see the young people and I
would be glad to talk with them.
“Let’s talk prevention rather than
cure. I don’t care if it’s two or 20. 1
don’t want to dictate, but what
little knowledge I have 1 am willing
to share.’’ He said as well, the
hours don’t matter. “I intend to
become active in the community
inside or outside office hours.’’
When not discussing his passion
of medicine and concern for people,
Dr. Wong is an affable man, who
likes to joke and tease. “But,” he
emphasizes, “when I work I work.
Anyone who knows me, will tell you
that. I don’t fool around when it
comes to the practice of medicine.
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