Charles dickson
Quyon Nov. 8, 2021
“We just want the CLSC to stay here forever,” says Dr. Ruth Vander Stelt, referring to the Centre local de services communautaires in Quyon, one of a network of clinics providing free health and social services across Quebec.
Speaking at a tree planting ceremony on . . .
the front lawn of the CLSC in Quyon on Monday afternoon, the long-time family physician described the event as an expression of support for the community and specifically the CLSC which, she said, was threatened with closure recently.
As reported in THE EQUITY in early August, the building in which the Quyon CLSC is housed had been put up for sale by its owner, Joanne Marcotte, following her efforts to get CISSSO to sign an updated lease agreement. As Pontiac MNA André Fortin said at the time, the lease had not been updated in 20 years.
“It was very destabilizing to come in to work every day knowing that there was no lease on the place, and we could be faced with a locked door,” Dr. Vander Stelt told THE EQUITY on Monday.
“Now we have really, really good news because Joanne just told me that she signed a lease with the Ministry of Health,” said Dr. Vander Stelt.
The Monday event was convened by Dr. Vander Stelt and her CLSC colleagues, social worker George Robitaille, baby nurse Chantal Graveline and clerical staff Tanya Belisle.
“We just wanted to show that our whole CLSC staff and everybody here really supports the CLSC and the maintenance of services in Quyon,” she said.
“We think it is a cornerstone for the community.”.
