(Canadian Press)

By rdnewsNOW staff

controversial and outspoken

Sundre hospital renamed in honour of Myron Thompson

Oct 16, 2020 | 3:26 PM

Sundre’s hospital has been renamed in honour of one of the town’s most prominent citizens who served the public for over 50 years.

Officials say the Myron Thompson Health Centre commemorates someone whose entire adult life was dedicated to serving the Sundre community as a teacher, principal, town councillor, mayor and member of Parliament.

“By putting his name on this hospital, we will remember the man who dedicated his entire adult life to his community,” said Premier Jason Kenney. “Myron was Sundre’s most famous son. He had a huge heart, and personified Alberta’s ethic of community service.”

Thompson was born in Colorado in 1937. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War, and was a semi-professional baseball player, once trying out for the New York Yankees.

He moved to Sundre in 1968, where he was the longest-serving principal of the local high school. He went on to serve several terms as Sundre’s longest-serving mayor, and from 1993 to 2008 served as the member of Parliament for Wildrose. He later returned to serve three more terms as a Sundre town councillor.

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“As a leader in both federal and municipal politics, he served the community for over 50 years. It is fitting that his name and cowboy-politician legacy will live on through this hospital,” said Health Minister Tyler Shandro.

The Myron Thompson Health Centre was originally built in 1968. It will continue to operate as the hospital for Sundre and area, with 24-hour emergency services, 14 acute-care beds and 40 continuing care beds.