A new short film chronicling the community’s enduring efforts to preserve local healthcare is helping propel Chatham-Kent Health Alliance Foundation’s (CKHAF) $9-million fundraising campaign for the redevelopment of the Wallaceburg hospital.
Save Our Sydenham, directed and produced by CKHAF’s Zishan Ali, was first unveiled during the campaign’s public launch in April. The documentary offers an emotional look at the grassroots advocacy that helped prevent the closure of Wallaceburg’s hospital and laid the groundwork for its future transformation.
Told through the lens of Save Our Sydenham (SOS), the volunteer group that led the decades-long fight, the film features interviews with past and present leaders including Conrad Noel and Jeff Wesley. The documentary presents a candid reflection on the fears, determination and triumphs that defined the hospital’s history — from staving off cuts and closures to embracing a new era of revitalization.
“It’s not often that you see an advocacy group like ours go from fighting an administration to standing beside them,” said Wesley, past chair of SOS. “But the community deserves this future. We were never against healthcare, we were fighting for it, and we are proud to be aligned with the hospital and Foundation all these years later as the work continues on this transformative redevelopment project.”
With construction now underway, CKHAF, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and members of SOS say they are united in their efforts to see the campaign succeed. The Wallaceburg site is being modernized through a $40-million-plus project that includes updated infrastructure, improved accessibility, and enhanced patient spaces and equipment.
“This is what we fought for,” said Noel, current chair of SOS. “A future where our hospital isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving. Now we need the whole community to help make this a reality, as we ensure that high quality healthcare stays close to home for residents of Wallaceburg, Walpole Island, and our entire community for generations to come.”
Foundation officials said the film is not only a tribute to community resilience, but a call to action as the campaign enters its next critical phase. Christine Mitchell, CKHAF president and CEO, said the redevelopment is “about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about honouring the community’s resilience and delivering the kind of care local residents have fought for dating back decades.”
Adam Topp, CKHA president and CEO, praised the SOS group for its lasting impact. “The support and passion of the Wallaceburg community has been unwavering. We’re grateful to the members of Save Our Sydenham for their courage, their persistence, and now, their partnership. This project wouldn’t be happening without them.”
The documentary is available, below:
More information on the redevelopment campaign can be found at lovewallaceburg.ca.
