Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in Yellowknife and the Mackenzie Valley, the name Stanton dates back to 1937 and has remained synonymous with northerners' medical history since then. Dr. Ollie Stanton and his wife Ruth moved to Yellowknife in the late 1930s to work at the small hospital run by CM&S, later to be Con Mine, and also served as a medical health officer for the Northwest Territories for a few years.
The Stantons worked in the medical field and within the growing community of Yellowknife. The work, of course, is now legendary. It was seen as an appropriate honour when the previous hospital was named after Dr. Stanton because the couple were early pioneers in medical service in this area. When the new hospital was completed in 1988, it was to bear the name Stanton Yellowknife Hospital. In fact, Dr. Stanton's widow, Ruth, was present at the time to make this dedication.
Mr. Speaker, it is fitting, in recognition of our early pioneers, to dedicate places or buildings of importance in their memory, thereby acknowledging their contribution towards society.
Recently, we have heard that members of the hospital board have suggested renaming Stanton Yellowknife Hospital in order to better reflect the broad spectrum of people that it serves. This suggestion has saddened many oldtimers and many local people here in Yellowknife and other places. Many have called to express their concern that although Dr. Stanton has passed away, there is no reason to change the hospital's name.
If I may offer a suggestion, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of many of my constituents, it would be that we change part of the name Stanton Yellowknife Hospital to Stanton Territorial, Stanton Regional or even Stanton Health Centre. This, Mr. Speaker, would reflect the fact that the hospital services extend to patients well beyond Yellowknife and includes those from the Deh Cho, the Sahtu, the Kitikmeot and the Dogrib Nations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause