The Viking Hutterite Colony has seeded 30 acres of canola and will be donating the full value of the crop to the Viking Health Foundation to assist with the $1.1-million cost of the new local medical clinic. Currently four doctors and visiting specialists rent space in the facility.
In addition to Viking Colony, which spearheaded the project, four other colonies, Iron Creek, Holt, Vegreville and Holden are providing similar support.
The partnership between the Viking Health Foundation and the colonies started when the elders of Viking Colony and the local doctors met to discuss how the colonies could be helpful in ensuring continued quality health care in Viking. One of the current concerns is recruiting and retaining new physicians, not just in Viking, but in all Canadian rural areas.
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Elder Wipf of Viking Colony said, “The more supportive we can be in our community to make it attractive to work and live here in Viking, the better our chances of success in finding suitable physicians to work and stay here.”
Phyllis Lefsrud, chair of the Viking Health Foundation, said, “We are pleased that the colonies in the area that utilize our facilities have taken the initiative to assist with these much needed projects.”
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Oneofthecurrent concernsisrecruiting andretainingnew physicians,notjust inViking,butinall Canadianruralareas.
