John began feeling lower back pain in the late afternoon. A familiar feeling, he said. “At about 9:30 or 10 p.m., it started to become increasingly painful and that’s when I came to the realization that it was a kidney stone.”

Dr. Wallace (Wally) Bryson was one of a few key pioneers in surgery and medicine in Canmore, Alberta.

After months of suggestions and hard work by our beloved volunteers, the gardens are complete and the names have been selected. These beautiful displays will forever remind us of the beauty and warmth that bloomed this year, even amidst the most difficult conditions.

If you or one of your loved ones has undergone a surgical procedure in Canmore, it’s likely that you’ve encountered Dr. Cort Pagenkopf, of General Surgery and Endoscopy. As the town’s only General Surgeon and Endoscopist, he is a vital part of our community and a familiar face to many.

Walking into the Canmore General Hospital, the first thing you encounter is the front desk. For Holly Marusaik, this moment is crucial in setting someone up for the most positive experience possible. When you enter that door, Holly is more often than not the one who greets you.

Of all of the places Dr. Gert Du Plessis has worked – from where he originally trained as a doctor in South Africa, to the UK and northern Alberta – Canmore “is probably the nicest place.”

It was 1999 when Esmé Comfort, now a town councillor, was diagnosed with breast cancer. At that time, a cancer diagnosis still meant regular trips to Calgary to receive chemotherapy treatment.

David Johnston was in Canmore for a bike race in June 2016 when things took a turn. Another cyclist approached Johnston from behind, so close that their “handle bars locked and that caused the front wheel to turn and when the wheel gets turned at that speed you basically go end over end on the bike,” said Johnston.

When Jack joined the CAHCF board, he didn’t know that just a year into his time there he would become a regular patient at the hospital.

For more than 35 years, Dr. Rick Balharry has worked as Chief of Medical Staff at the Canmore General Hospital. In addition to his extensive career in medicine, consistently served as the voice of administration to staff, bridging the two groups.

Avoiding the drive to Calgary made the experience less stressful, said Burton. But walking into the Canmore General Hospital is more than just convenient for him; it’s also a different experience than a city hospital. In Canmore, many of the hospital’s staff are familiar faces for Burton – people he has known for years.

“Those programs allow them to have time to learn how to have a break from their cancer with people who understand what they’re going through,” said Henry. “I think those activities bring people together in the community who are sharing the same thing.”

It was “a bit of a shock” for Barb Shellian when she started at the Canmore General Hospital in 1975. At that time, the hospital was not at its current location.

Going to the former cancer care unit, which opened in 2001, “was like getting your chemo treatment in a closet,” said Graham Lock, who was foundation chair at the time. “It was really crowded and no privacy, the chairs were right beside each other.”

With a growing community, the addition will be immediately put to good use. When Robertson came by for her checkups near the end of her term, she often heard “you don’t want to go into labour yet, there are four women currently in labour and there are only two labour and delivery rooms,” she said.