Fifty years ago (1956)

par Maurice Langlois

Turmoil in the Magog medical community

In the fall of 1956, the medical community of Magog is going through the most difficult moments in its history. In 1954, a well-qualified surgeon had landed in Magog and joined the Magog Medical Group, composed of Drs. George W. Wood, Alan Scott, Jack Bryant and John R. Bogert.

Jacques Pettigrew, a Laval University graduate, freshly trained in surgery in the United States, had been recruited and admitted on the staff of the La Providence Hospital. Pettigrew had introduced new surgical techniques and was performing surgical interventions that had never been done in Magog before. Soon after his arrival, he was blamed for carrying out surgical procedures deemed unnecessary or unethical. After several reprimands, he was summoned before a disciplinary committee and both, the hospital administration and the Medical Board, agreed to cancel his hospital privileges.

In the fall of 1956, the College of Physicians and Surgeons was called to investigate the matter and concluded that the authorities had not gone beyond their rights, and the surgeon was expelled. The local population, mostly the working class, was offended and concluded that « their » doctor was victim of discrimination and of wrongdoing by his own collegues..

The old hospital, which was situated on Main Street, had only 44 beds and 15 cribs. Since the available facilities were clearly inadequate for a population of 13,000 , a project of a second hospital was seriously considered by the dissidents: it would be a « People’s Hospital » (Hôpital du Peuple), a lay institution.

A committee, initially chaired by Dr. Pettigrew, is set up and in January 1957, a fund-raising campaign is launched. There is disagreement within the Town council on the subject: Mayor Maurice Théroux, endorses the project but the councillors insist that it is only their mayor’s opinion and not the council’s. The campaign takes off with success and by April $47,000 have been raised.

By its charter, the name of the new hospital is Hôpital Magog Hospital Inc. and a search for a building site is underway. Several locations are considered and Percy Street is finally decided upon. Land on the northern side of Percy (now the site of the Commission scolaire Les Sommets), is bought from Jack Horan and excavation begins the following October. Plans are designed by Alphonse Bélanger, an architect from Sherbrooke. The two-story building will include 45 adult and 8 pediatric beds, 2 operating rooms, a radiology department, a pharmacy, laboratories, etc. The opening is planned for June 1958.

Most of the work is accomplished by volunteers. Unfortunately for the supporters of the venture, the textile industry is struggling, a strike occurs and the fund-raising campaign loses momentum. During 1958, on more than one occasion, work has to be suspended, the last time in December and will not resume.

Since 1953, authorities of La Providence Hospital and the Medical Board had seeked funding from federal and provincial governments, to either enlarge the existing facilities or for a new construction. The nuns had even offered to invest $200,000 of their own money in a joint venture. Between 1956 and 1958, joint representations had intensified. Fortunately, 1960 was an election year in Quebec and their repeated demands were finally answered favorably. Subsidies totalling $1,000,000 were granted to La Providence Hospital in 1959. This ended all hope for a second hospital in Magog.

Supporters of the project who had invested $69,000 and hours of volunteer time in the daring undertaking wanted to be reimbursed. The textile workers were again on strike from September 1959 till February 1960 and in bad need of their investments. The property was put up for sale but no serious buyers showed up.

Finally, the provincial government is approached. The timing is favorable also for those who invested in good faith. An election is called for June 1960. Both candidates, Georges Vaillancourt the Liberal, and Denis Gérin the Conservative, promise that, if elected, an École des Arts et Métiers (Trade School) will be built on the existing foundations. The Liberals win the election and as early as August, the amount of $82,665.51 is voted to purchase the property. Investors will be reimbursed, Magog will have its Trade School and the La Providence Hospital obtained their grants for a new and modern hospital.

In March 1962, the contract in the amount of $343,900 is accorded to Yvon Giguère Inc for building the new Trade school. Fifty students are admitted on September 9th 1963. As mentionned above, the building on Percy Street, planned as a hospital, was transformed into a school and now houses the Commission scolaire Les Sommets.

Amazing what an election year can accomplish! What started off as an unfortunate situation in 1956, ended well, four years later, for all parties involved, except for the young and well-trained surgeon who left Magog.

Maurice Langlois
Magog Historical Society
Published in The Townships Outlet, Nov. 2006

21 mai 2009

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