July 1st, 2008, marks the completion of 60 years of service for the Northwestern Health Unit. Established in 1948 by Order in Council 1005/48, the "Kenora-Keewatin Area Health Unit" encompassed only Kenora, Keewatin, Jaffray Melick and nearby townships like Redditt, Haycock and Pellatt.
In 1952, Dryden and Machin Township were added and the name changed to Kenora, Keewatin-Dryden District Health Unit. 1956 saw the addition of Sioux Narrows, Balmertown and Red Lake. By 1962, Fort Frances and some of the organized townships in the Rainy River District were added and the name of the Health Unit was changed to Northwestern Health Unit. In 1965, Sioux Lookout joined the Health Unit. Finally, in 1968, the remainder of the Rainy River District, including Atikokan, Emo and Rainy River, joined the Health Unit and the Northwestern Health Unit became a District Health Unit, serving all of the Kenora and Rainy River Districts.
Dr. George Large was the first full-time Medical Officer of Health, arriving in May 1948, and Dr. R.J. Whitaker was the first Chairman of the Board of Health, a position he held with distinction until 1968. Mr. Don T. McLeod, who was also the Town Clerk for Kenora, held the post of Secretary-Treasurer from 1948 until 1975.
The number of staff has grown from 6 in 1948 (with a budget of $25,000) to the present compliment of 119 permanent staff and 33 temporary or contract staff (with a budget of approximately $11.4 million for 2006). The present area of the Health Unit is about 77,700 square kilometres, within a population of about 90,000, which has increased from approximately 12,000 people in 1948.
Past Chairs of the Board of Health (with year of commencement)
Dr. R.J. Whitaker - 1948
D.W. MacPherson - 1969
F.T. Morrish - 1971
R.A. Einarson - 1973
E. Melnyk - 1976
J. K. Forbes - 1978
Dr. R. Stinson - 1980
M. Price - 1985
J. Lamb - 1988
D. Sweeney - 1989
S. Walkey - 1991
I. Parkes - 1995
D. Mills - 2002
J. Albanese - 2003
Past Medical Officers of Health (with year of commencement)
G.E. Large - 1948
P. Wenger - 1951
L.M. Stuart - 1952
W.H. Bell - 1954
R.D.P. Eaton - 1955
E.R. Langford - 1960
P.F. Playfair - 1963
P.J. Halket - 1975 (Acting)
P.H. Friesen - 1979
J.D. Hammett - 1989
P.A. Sarsfield - 1994