About Us
The Hants Shore runs along the Bay of Fundy in the western part of Hants County. It has about 1,500 households in 14 communities extending from Upper Burlington to Tennecape. The town of Windsor provides the nearest services for most people.
In the centre of this community lies the Hants Shore Community Health Centre. The health centre provides primary health care services to the 3,000 people who live here. It believes that good health care ensures the physical, mental and social well-being of the individual. For this reason, health promotion and disease prevention programs are offered along with physician services, making it more than just a medical centre.
A variety of programs have been offered over the years to address changing needs in areas such as nutrition, literacy, physical fitness, mental health, employment and early childhood education. In these ways, the centre is working to improve the overall health of the community.
History of the Health centre
The Hants Shore Community Health Centre exists today because of the vision of Bramber resident Alice Galley along with the effort a determined group of community volunteers. In 1984, Alice founded the Hants Shore Health Association, which has as its members all residents of the Hants Shore from Upper Burlington to Tennecape; the Association owns and operates the Hants Shore Community Health Centre located in Kempt Shore.
Alice did not set out to create a community health centre in1984. She simply wanted to find a new doctor to take over from Dr. Charlie Hines who had served the community well for many years and was ready to retire. Nonetheless, Alice, with husband Harry by her side, soon found herself visiting the North End Community Health Centre in Halifax and attending a course on community health centres at Dalhousie University. This was the way to go for a small rural community! With perseverance and determination, Alice rallied the community, held meetings, formed committees and lobbied politicians.
Alice's efforts began to yield results. The Department of Health and the Municipalities of West Hants and East Hants gave grants towards a community health centre. The community held many fund raising events. Charles Barkhouse donated a piece of land in Kempt Shore. The Association decided to purchase an old trailer which had been used as a clinic in Middle Musqodoboit and to hire a moving company to bring it here.
Community members pitched in to do the necessary work. As Alice tells it: "… Altogether the residents of Hants Shore put 14,000 hours of volunteer labour into getting the clinic in place on this shore."
Today, the Health Centre is a busy place with two family physicians, blood services, Foot Care and the basement is home to a little tikes program and an after school care program. A strong partnership with Dr. Arthur Hines Elementary School provides recreation, nutrition and literacy programs for the students. There are also many other programs offered at various halls throughout the catchment area for residents of all ages. A monthly newsletter keeps residents informed of community events and programs.
Alice’s hard work and determination, followed by many community members who have volunteered as Board members, resulted in the vibrant facility we have today. In recognition, the health centre's board room was designated as the Alice Galley Board Room at our 20thanniversary celebration. As Alice says, the health centre "is an achievement of which every resident of the Hants Shore should be very proud."
