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A few of Sundre's most dedicated women: an early photo of the Women's Auxiliary
1967
Sundre, Alberta, Canada

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One might think, by this time, that the community would have accepted the fact that the hospital was not to be and would have returned to their everyday lives. This was not the case.
On April 20, 1967, 235 Sundre area women marched on county offices in Didsbury, brief in hand, for one more effort to convince the county of the need for a hospital in Sundre.
They may not have been very optimistic following the meeting, given the history of the efforts to that point, but they were told the county would respond to their request by the following Wednesday.
The anxious wait was shorter than expected. On April 23, the women were informed that the county had finally agreed to the establishment of Hospital District #51 and approved the building of a hospital in Sundre.
On Aug. 16, 1968, Sundre saw the official opening of its 34-bed hospital. It was indeed a day for great celebration, not only for the hospital but also in honor of the women of Sundre and their friends and neighbours for the tremendous extremes they went through in their fight.
There have been many changes and renovations to the Sundre Hospital over the years and it has consistently received high honors for being one of the most outstanding rural hospitals in the province.
It houses a fully equipped emergency care area with highly specialized staff, a physiotherapy wing, maternity and labor rooms, 20 short-term care rooms (recently reduced from 30 due to government cutbacks), 5 recently opened long-term care rooms, and a heli-pad to accommodate STARS air ambulance services. A total of 6 doctors work from the hospital, complimented by a highly trained nursing staff.
You could say that the women of the Sundre area built this hospital. Strong women who did not flinch in the face of discouragement and apparent hopelessness. Many of these same women still live around Sundre and they have passed their determination down to another generation.
Presently, the Sundre hospital appears under threat of either closure or significant reduction in services.
One thing is for certain - the services of this hospital will not be reduced or lost without protest.