Former Mayor Larry Di Ianni and Mr. Ecklund's daughter Erika

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LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

former Mayor of Hamilton, Larry Di Ianni

The Henderson Hospital Name Debate: Much Ado About Nothing 

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted October 27, 2009)

You know that there is little happening at City Hall when Councillors have to fabricate issues to get attention.  The ‘controversy’ over the name of our Henderson Hospital is a case in point. 

To hear Councillor Terry Whitehead tell it, the Board of HHS is solely to blame for this controversy because they failed to adequately inform city hall of their decision to change the name Henderson to the name Juravinsky.  Now that the decision has been taken, the community is rising up in protest with petitions being signed asking the Board of Hamilton Health Sciences to reconsider. 

How did we get to this situation of conflict? 

If you go to the HHS website here is what they say about the name change under the title “Honouring Nora Frances Henderson”:

We have been working for the past year with members of the community and the Mountain Heritage Society to ensure that everyone who passes through our facility has an opportunity to learn about Ms. Henderson's remarkable life. With the Society's help, we have developed a museum quality installation that will be centrally located in the wing that will bear her name. The exhibit will be unveiled later this year and we know it will help us all remember her unique contributions to Hamilton. 
 
When the current construction work at the hospital is complete in 2011, most of the building will be brand new and its new name will be the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre. The decision to rename the facility was made by Hamilton Health Sciences' Board of Directors in September 2006 and, as we told media at the time, we believe this is a fitting way to recognize Margaret and Charles Juravinski for their landmark donations to Hamilton health care. In total, the Juravinskis have given $43 million to help fund various projects across the community including $15 million to support the redevelopment of the Henderson Hospital. 

So, it seems that the Board did inform the community, thorough the media, of its intentions.  In fact, I recall receiving a heads’ up about the potential name change when I was in the Mayor’s chair and I did run it be some councillors without anyone objecting to the move.  Margaret and Charles do need to be recognized and that is undeniable.  Nora Henderson needs to be remembered and it looks as if that is about to happen. 

What is most unfortunate about this turn of events is obvious power play implied in the dynamics.  The Councillors feel they should be making the decision; while the Board is exercising a right it has to manage its facilities.  The HHS Board has also undertaken a major fund raising operation for all its facilities and I don’t think Councillors want to take over that job.  What is unfortunate as well is the insult to philanthropists suggested by the controversy.  I am sure that Councillor Whitehead doesn’t want to discourage giving, but that is exactly what may be the unintended consequence of his efforts.  And that would be the unkindest cut of all!

 


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