Beauty and history now flow through the lower level of Oilfields Hospital – and it’s brightening the days and nights for staff and patients. The facility’s lower area now bears names like the Royalite Room, Dingman’s Diner, Hartel Hallway to go along with the historic and scenic photos as the re-opening of the Cook’s Corridor. The project had assistance from Dorothy Jackson, a resident of the Rising Sun long-term-care residency at the hospital. “She is well-connected to the history of the area and we saw the space through her eyes and endeavoured to bring it to life,” said Oilfields Hospital site manager Carla Ralph, at the opening on Friday. Jackson spent several enjoyable hours going through the works of local photographers and historical memorabilia to capture the spirit of the Black-Diamond-Turner Valley-Longview area. “She (Jackson) sifted through them and selected the ones that she thought were the most significant,” Ralph said. “She then named our halls and rooms with a nod to the history.” Jackson, who cut the official ribbon to open the facility, was overwhelmed by the response and reception. Her motivation for the project was to brighten the area for the hospital staff of which she is so appreciative. “When they brought me down here it had the feeling it was very much the space of the hospital staff,” said Jackson, who grew up in Okotoks and lived in the Millarville area before moving to Rising Sun. “Yes, they showed me some pictures, but the staff did the work and has done such a wonderful job… When I came down the halls today, they have done so much.” The staff deserves some sunshine. “I think they can be proud of the facility,” Jackson said. “The staff here works very hard. They are a dedicated staff.” The bright new look, which included the painting of walls and tuning up the area, lit up a smile on nurse educator Joanne Yurko’s face. “We aren’t coming to the dungeon anymore – people didn’t want to come downstairs at all,” Yurko said. “It feels like an extension of the hospital now.” It’s also a more comfortable place for patients and their families. “The families often come downstairs – it’s another place to bring their loved ones to just kind of get away from what they are experiencing,” Ralph said. The Turner Valley-Oilfield Society also assisted in the project. Larry Kapustka, the vice-chair of the society, said its members had received word the project needed items capturing the history of the area. “We have been going through some of the archival materials being stored at the gas plant, among those were just a treasure trove of photographs,” Kapustka said. “We selected a few that we thought were most appropriate… We tried to capture some of the long-term history which included ranching, mining, the agriculture of the area.”
