(See the photo gallery below)
When it comes to a visit to the doctor, kids can find it “unbearable,” but thanks to the annual Teddy Bear Clinic, these kids were able to get check ups without the tears.
Coming up to its 20th anniversary, the clinic has seen some large growth according to Kerry Rutley, a volunteer at the clinic for the last 11 years.
“The growth that it’s had has been phenomenal,” Rutley commented, “and the information that gets out to families is the key part.”
“We usually expect up to 500 people,” Colleen Sabraw, a chairperson of the event and director of the Early Childhood Intervention Program said. “We’ve had people lining up for a while.”
Shortly before 11 a.m., families had already begun to turn up, and local agencies were well underway to accommodate them in the Library Park in North Battleford.
“When it started it was in a really small building,” says Stacey Shane, volunteer. “I think we figured about 2006 is when it started growing into 25, over 25 agencies, so it’s been amazing how the community has grown.”
Though warnings for a turn in the weather were expected, the event was safely underway – with a turnout of 29 agencies. With a theme of “I have the right to learn,” children had the opportunity to explore different games, get health checks, and visit the Teddy Bear Doctors who made their way out from the University of Saskatchewan’s Family Medicine Residency Program.
Agencies involved with the event were: Children’s Advocate; Immigration Resource Centre; Saskatchewan Prevention Institute; Child Find; KidsFirst Outreach and Catholic Family Services; Sexual Assault Centre; Public Health Nursing; Dental Health; Pre K-Early Childhood Education LSSD and LOCSD; Early Childhood Intervention Program; Public Health Nutritionist; Midwest Food Resource Project; Kids First Home Visiting Program; North Battleford Public Library; Parent Mentoring Program and Kids First; Crimestoppers; Battle River Treaty 6; PNHR Health Promotion; City of North Battleford - Leisure Services; Jumpstart; PNHR-Therapies; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Boys and Girls Club; Canadian Red Cross; RCMP; Victim Service; WPD Ambulance; and the North Battleford Fire Department.
