BARBARA LATKOWSKI
Caledonia Courier
Fort St. James came together as a community to honour someone who’s made a difference in the community, Dr. Anthon Meyer.
Meyer, who recently received an award as B.C.’s family doctor of the year by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, was honoured with a luncheon on Nov. 4 hosted by the District of Fort St. James.
Meyer’s family, Mayor Rob MacDougall, city councillors and city residents came together to congratulate, share and offer thanks to the man who came to Fort St. James with a vision three years ago.
“His vision has become a reality and we can’t thank you enough,” Mayor MacDougall said.
MacDougall highlighted Meyer’s relationship between family and patient and it this relationship that Meyer remains so passionate about today.
“My focus is community based local care by bringing the care to the patient,” Meyer said.
Meyer, originally from South Africa, has spent his career in rural and under-serviced communities in Manitoba and in Northern Ontario before coming to Fort St. James.
As the founder of AMDOCS, he has developed a unique primary care model that has led to the recruitment of health care providers and the establishment of full-service and rural general practises with ER skills particularly in First Nations communities.
Since being in Fort St. James, Meyer has developed outreach First Nations programs, a chronic disease management program and hospital emergency is now available 24/7. Talks of a new hospital are also in the works.
Various members of the community thanked Meyer for his contributions and his medical expertise. He has even been referred to as having a “sixth sense” when it comes to determining a patient’s needs.
“His focus is to care with care,” MacDougall said as he thanked Meyer for making Fort St. James his home away from home and honoured him with the key to the city.
Dr. Meyer is the second to receive the key to the city from the District of Fort St. James.
Meyer thanked the community. “I am happy that we can shine the light on Fort St. James. You should be so proud of all that you have done.”
For Meyer and for the community, the relationship between the two is invaluable.
“To touch the soul of an individual, this is most important,” Meyer said.