Port Elgin’s new medical building is officially open, with a name that honours a longtime local doctor who cares about the community.
The Dr. Earl Health Centre is named after Dr. Thomas Earl, who practiced medicine in Port Elgin from 1948 to 1988.
Dr. Earl and his family made a significant contribution to the new facility, which is the second municipally-owned medical clinic in Saugeen Shores.
John Earl, the youngest of Dr. Earl’s four children says his father practiced medicine in the community for 40 years and raised his family here and wanted to contribute to the building’s development.
The facility on Goderich Street is located in a former grocery store.
Dr. Earl says he decided to practice in Saugeen Shores when he was invited here by community leaders and says he was happy with what he saw.
Mayor Mike Smith says the community helped Dr. Earl and his wife Edna set up a household and a practice over 60 years ago, and it wasn’t too different from the doctor recruitment efforts that take place today.
