Those first Burns Lake settlers, in 1912 must have been very courageous because they faced great hardships with never a backward glance.
At that time any means of communication was almost non-existent. The nearest doctor and hospital were both 150 miles away, over a very poor trail.
During those first years there was much suffering and worry due to unavailable medical care.
The settlers sought help from Rev. George A. Wilson, the superintendent of home missions for the Presbyterian Church. He paid periodic, usually annual, visits to the district. The women's missionary society of the Presbyterian Church took up the challenge, and in September of 1919 they opened a tiny log hospital on the Southside of Francois Lake with Miss Mary Kennedy as matron.
Dr. Wallace was also sent in at that time as a medical doctor and minister for the district.
He was here for only for a short time and from then on, for the next 10 years the nurses and the hospital continued to serve the settlers. There was a resident doctor for only a few months during this time.
The hospital was housed in its first abode for only a brief period and in 1920 was moved to a more spacious building.
This second home was known to the settlers as the Prosser's Point Hospital.
In 1924 the hospital was moved to Burns Lake, however the work south of Francois Lake continued to be carried on by deaconess nurse Miss Edna Haines, who ministered to both the spiritual and the physical needs of the people for several years before coming to Burns Lake to become matron of the new hospital.
By this time there was a government ferry on Francois Lake between the north and south shores and so the people from the Southside were able to travel to Burns Lake for medical attention.
In Burns Lake tradition has it that a log house, owned by the Carroll's at Decker Lake, was dismantled and floated to Burns Lake and then rebuilt there and then rented by it's new owner to the church.
It was to be used as a hospital until the new hospital could be built.
In it's five bedrooms, dining room and kitchen, the hospital carried on, the overflow of patients being cared for at the manse or at grannie Wilson's or the old hotel.
These were difficult years for the hospital with no permanent doctor in the district, but then, just as now, the concern and interest of the community was always a bolster for the hospital staff.
Early in 1929, Dr. T. C. Holmes took up permanent residence in the village and from then until his retirement 27 years later, served this community faithfully, working untiringly to meet the needs of the local people.
On Feb. 14, 1921 a Board of Trustees was appointed consisting of Mrs. Don Gerow, who is still very active in the work of the church here and who has been in charge of housekeeping in the hospital for over a quarter of a century.
She is our hospital mother.
Mr. Don Gerow, still active and a life member of the sessions, Mr. R. G. Stearns, deceased, but whose son is an active member of the sessions as well as Miss Reid, Mr. Clarence Shannon and Mr. Allan Titus.
The building of the manse began April 1, 1921 and was completed by the end of May 1921 and then the McCrimmon's were able to move into their new home.
In September, 1921 the building committee were given a loan from the church and manse board of the Presbyterian Church, in order for them to build a church.
Building was begun on Oct. 17, 1921 and was completed for the opening and the dedication services on Nov. 27 to 28, 1921.
In 1925, both the church and the hospital came under the United Church of Canada, at the time of Church Union. The hospital work was taken up by the Woman's Missionary Society of the United Church.
During the years, as the population and the need grew, the hospital moved twice to more spacious quarters.
On July 9, 1932, a beautiful 19 bed hospital was opened and dedicated to the glory of God and the service of humanity through the Ministry of Healing.
At the dedication service, Mrs. J.S. Gordon represented the women's missionary board and Rev. E. S. Fleming presided.
Means were given unstintingly by the people of the district to help with the expense of the building. At that time there was only about 2,000 people living in the district. This hospital served well for about 28 years, until again, the need greatly outgrew the available space.
The present hospital was dedicated on Aug. 15, 1960, with Miss. E. M. Highfield and Mrs. Patterson representing the women's missionary board, Mrs. Dick the provincial board and Dr. and Mrs. Darby the home mission board, and the Hon. Eric. Martin, Minister of Health for the provincial government.
The hospital was officially opened by the Minister of Health by sawing through a log that was laid across the front entrance. This was symbolic of the fact that the economy of our district depends largely upon its forests.
This new hospital is a modern 36 bed hospital, sitting well up on the hill overlooking the lake and facing the mountains.
The hospital was built jointly by the women's missionary society of the United Church of Canada, the people of this district and the government.
The people of the Burns Lake district are deeply grateful to the women of the church for making possible a hospital for this area in the first place and now for helping to carry the expense burden of construction, until the district has population enough to be able to assume full responsibility.
Each person in the community takes a very personal interest in the hospital and all are striving to show their gratitude for help the received by assuming volunteer duties and responsibility for the hospital maintenance as much as possible, so that help such as we have received in the past, may be made available to some other community whose need is great.
Since the new hospital opened, the 6,000 residents of the district have given in the neighbourhood of $10,000 towards the purchase of new equipment.
Not only do they show their gratitude in gifts, but they are always ready to give a helping hand where needed. For instance, we are several hundred miles from the nearest blood bank, but blood for transfusion is as near as our telephone.
One evening a while back, a lady was brought into hospital in severe shock from a gastric hemorrhage. A call was put in to the local telephone operator, giving a list of names of people of the matching blood type and in less than 10 minutes some of these donors began arriving at the hospital.
This patient received 11 pints of blood before she was in condition to have the surgery that would give her the chance to live. She made good recovery and was very grateful to her fellow citizens, who came to her aid in her time of dire need.
When the new hospital opened, one group of men gave their day off and their trucks to help with the move, while groups of ladies arrived to help at the old hospital and then the moving began.
By 4 p.m. that day, all the patients had been settled in their new quarters and by 5 p.m. we all had our dinner served from the kitchen in the new hospital.
There was need of top soil for the grounds, but not enough hospital funds to provide it. A rancher, who lived a few miles from the village donated the top soil from one of his corrals and the public works department donated loading equipment and some trucks. Private owners also donated trucks and the public works men gave their day off and the truck owners gave their time, bringing in the soil and spreading it on the grounds, ready for the garden and landscaping.
It took the 13 trucks one day to accomplish the work.
Because of this gift, we were able to grow over two tons of potatoes and other vegetables, valued at $200 for our own use. We were also able to exhibit quite a few flowers and vegetables at the local fair, receiving a number of prizes.
In June 1963 we then moved into our new nurses residence, which is a handsome modern building on the hospital grounds.
The London conference of the women's missionary society gave a Nordhiemer conservatory model piano to the new residence in memory of Mrs. Laura Hansuld, a member and past president and a great worker in the organization.
This hospital serves Indian and white people alike. The Indian people feel that the hospital is theirs too and they work hard for it.
The Indian and white families in one small community worked together and were able to furnish a ward. The Indian children think this is their hospital, often calling in to visit us on the way home from school.
All appreciate the interest still held in the hospital by the women of The United Church. Tangible tokens of this interest are still given to each family in the form of a small gift or clothing from the bales, given to each baby born in the hospital.
A card is given to the mother with a message from The United Church women. Any family in need also has clothing provided from the bales sent in.
In the hospital entrance the dedication plaque is displayed, which reads: "To the glory of God and for the ministry of healing, the Burns Lake and District Hospital, opened and dedicated by the women's missionary society of the United Church of Canada and the people of the district.
Heal the sick and say to them, the kingdom of God has come nearer to you." Luke 10.9. The people of this district like to share in carrying out the master's commission.
As the district developed and population increased, it became evident by the mid 1960's that our new hospital would soon be inadequate to meet the needs.
Plans were made to enlarge it. Construction on a new patient wing, emergency area, administration offices, and laboratory was begun in the fall of 1970.
On Sept. 11, 1971, this extension was officially opened by our MLA., the honourable Cyril Sheldford, Minister of Agriculture. The hospital is now 60 beds, six of which are set aside for extended care.
Because of the growth and development in the area, the cost of this new construction was able to be taken care of through taxation, however, the people of the district have still donated generously towards new equipment.