Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska: Health centre now to be known as “Dr. Chanel-Dupuis Health Centre”
Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska, Friday, December 14, 2018 – The Sainte-Anne Health Centre was renamed the “Dr. Chanel-Dupuis Health Centre” at a ceremony this morning in honour of Dr. Dupuis’ pioneering work to establish the facility just over 30 years ago. Gilles Lanteigne, President and CEO of Vitalité Health Network, made the official announcement before an audience that included Dr. Dupuis and members of his family, employees, and dignitaries.
Dr. Chanel Dupuis surrounded by members of his family
A long career spent in the service of his community
Dr. Chanel Dupuis, now retired, has a long history of service to the people of the Northwest and particularly of Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska. The delivery of health care in the municipality began in 1982 but from a mobile unit. From that grew Dr. Dupuis’ idea to equip the community with a piece of permanent infrastructure better able to serve the population. “Dr. Dupuis worked tirelessly with the mayor at that time, Gérald Martin, to make the construction of a health centre in Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska a reality,” Mr. Lanteigne explained during his address. Construction began in 1986 and the health centre opened its doors in 1987. “The centre stands as an eloquent example of community involvement playing a key role in bringing an important project to fruition,” he continued. For the record, the previous owner of the land where the health centre sits, Renald Roy, turned over the property for a dollar.
Roger Levesque, Mayor of the Village de Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska, was in attendance and expressed his satisfaction. “I say bravo and I congratulate Vitalité Health Network for undertaking this wonderful initiative. It is a well-deserved honour for Dr. Dupuis, who was a physician dedicated to caring for his patients and community,” Mr. Levesque stated. A commemorative plaque was unveiled and will be installed inside the health centre. The facility’s exterior signage will be changed as soon as possible to reflect the new name. Interestingly, Dr. Chanel Dupuis’ daughter, Dr. Isabelle Dupuis, is one of the two physicians currently practising at the centre.
The health centre provides a wide range of urgent and non-urgent health care to the people of the Sainte-Anne-de-Madawaska region. Two physicians practise family medicine on site, assisted by two nurse practitioners and a nurse. The health centre also provides patients and the general public with a sample collection service.
