Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) staff, local dignitaries, and community members gathered today by the cenotaph to celebrate the hospital's 100th anniversary.
Carmine Stumpo, president and CEO of OSMH, says it was appropriate to hold the event by the cenotaph to acknowledge and celebrate the community accomplishment, as well as to honour the war veterans the hospital is named after.
Just as when the hospital opened on this day 100 years ago, Orillia has a vision for the future that will guide the community into the next century of health and wellness, he told those gathered amid rain showers.
“That is why we are here today,” he said while addressing event attendees. “To acknowledge our proud history, and to look ahead to an exciting future.”
The celebration also gave community members the chance to recognize hospital staff for their hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The COVID pandemic has re-affirmed many beliefs of our hospital,” Stumpo said. “Most prominent that we have the greatest team that any hospital could ever ask for.”
Stumpo says the hospital has endured many hardships and challenges over the course of its 100 years of service, and every time, the team at OSMH has risen to the challenge.
“They are the unsung heroes of our community,” he said. “They make me proud to be a part of this organization every single day.”
On hand to mark the occasion was Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop, who noted she was born at the hospital, as were her daughters.
“Today we proudly celebrate the years of leadership, advocacy, education, compassion, communication, quality, and safety with all of you,” she said. “We thank staff members, volunteers, and community members as a whole for the many years of dedication and caring that is so important to the core of any community.”
Simcoe North MP Adam Chambers also spoke at Wednesday’s event after delivering a message from Governor General Mary Simon.
“Hospitals like OSMH in communities often sit at the circle of life,” he said. “They are here for a family's most joyful moments of welcoming a new life into the world, but also here to provide comfort and compassion in a family's time of grief.”
Chambers says the staff at OSMH embody the spirit of providing high levels of care, and they should be commended for it.
“I look forward to working with all of you here to make sure that the next 100 years we are advocating to make sure our local health care needs are met,” he said. “I look forward to supporting those advocacy efforts.”
Orillia Mayor Steve Clarke represented city council and Orillia citizens at the celebration.
“It’s been an amazing 100 years,” Clarke said. “Some very wonderful and positive things and some not so positive things, but our beloved Soldiers’ have been here through it all.”
Clarke says it’s time to work together as a community so the hospital can renew its aging infrastructure, build a new hospital, and continue to give exceptional and compassionate care to the community for the next 100 years.
