October 9, 2002 – The Chronicle, Montreal’s West Island community newspaper

George Rogers honoured

BY BARBARA LAVOIE

Last Sunday morning veterans and their families, volunteers and guests gathered at the Liaison Centre, a day program of St. Anne`s Hospital, to mark its 20th anniversary and to officially open Salon George Rogers, a new room dedicated to the memory of one of the Centre`s founding and most active members.

Tucked away behind St. Anne`s long-term care facility for veterans is the small building that serves as a second home to more than 170 ex-service men and women and 60 volunteers. Established largely through the efforts of the late George Rogers, Second World War veteran and former Ile Perrot resident, the Liaison Centre offers members a place to join in social activities such as playing cards or woodworking and to access medical services as a hospital out-patient. Rogers also named the centre.

Recently the need to have a quiet space to sit, read and relax during their visits was identified by members. A space was set aside in the main meeting hall, fitted with comfortable chairs and reading lamps and enclosed with wooden panels hand-made by veterans in the woodshop. When it came time to name the room, everyone agreed it should be called, Salon George Rogers, in recognition of his heroic contribution made over the years.

"George was always ready to help anyone. He loved to play cribbage and tell stories. At special events you could always count on him to do his impression of Al Jolson," said Jack Rimmer, friend and member of the Centre since 1986. "I know he would be proud today. The Centre was his whole life." added Rimmer.

On hand for the dedication were George`s sons, Geoff and Grant Rogers, residents of Ile Perrot and Vaudreil-Dorion. "I can see how much he was loved on everyone`s faces. This was his life. He received letters from veterans around the world asking for his help," said Geoff. "It`s very emotional. It was in this exact place (the room) where he played cribbage," added Grant.

The Centre has become a home away from home for its many long-time volunteers. Its oldest and longest serving volunteers, Cécile Hubler, 95, noted, "If I wasn`t here, I would be dead. It`s my family. I`m a mother to them all." She spends 5 days a week helping veterans at the Centre and 1 day helping those in hospital.

Joyce "Joy" Saunders Salmon, 80, and Mary "Jenny" Reynolds, 80, are both ex-service women and volunteers with the Nightingales, a twice-weekly visiting service for hospitalized veterans. "They`ve done so much for us. We can`t really repay them. And all they ask of us is a smile," said Salmon. "Coming to the Centre means everything to me," added Reynolds.

Although the hospital is undergoing expansion and renovation, Executive Director, Rachel Corneille Gravel, noted, "The Centre is here to stay. We provide a continuum of care so we take care of them while they are still active and at home too." St. Anne`s Hospital currently has 557 residents who receive chronic care services.