Next week Thursday, the C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, a milestone dating back to when Dr. Cornelius W. Wiebe first began practicing medicine in the Pembina Valley. Executive Director Karen-Denise Cyr says the anniversary is their chance to honour the legacy of a man whose dedication to care helped shape a community that, at the time, didn’t have many options when it came to healthcare. About the man Before medicine, Dr. Wiebe was a school teacher. In her book A Beloved Physician, Mavis Reimer writes that Dr. Wiebe’s path shifted. Partly due to the frustration he had with the parents of his students, the true catalyst came as he witnessed firsthand the struggles people faced without access to adequate healthcare. In 1925, he graduated as the first Mennonite Manitoban to earn a medical degree. Cyr shared that Dr. Wiebe was “infamously known for his extremely fast and somewhat haphazard driving skills,” as he travelled countless miles to farmsteads and homes to deliver babies and treat patients. Reimer references this in her book, saying that it became such a common sight to find the good doctor’s car abandoned in a countryside ditch—left there as he hurried to reach a patient—that farmers would often pull it back onto the road and point it toward town so he could continue on without delay. Cyr said that he was also “a really strong advocate for trying to help people better understand more proactive treatments and preventable communicable diseases.” Leadership beyond medicine Dr. Wiebe’s contributions extended far beyond healthcare. He became the first Mennonite to sit as a member of the Manitoba Legislative Assembly, serving as Liberal leader for four years. He also spearheaded the construction of Bethel Hospital, a facility that was over capacity from the day it opened and required expansion soon after. Today, that original site is known as Bethel Heritage Park. “His reputation was that he would tell people what was needed and was very direct... He had a way of rallying people to get things done,” Cyr said, “And he wasn’t alone. In the background, he had his wife Helen doing incredible things to support [him].” Reimer draws attention to that fact, referencing the weekly, day-long affair that was laundry day. She says that Helen would wash Dr. Wiebe’s aprons and dry them in the oven multiple times to ensure sanitation. Related stories: ‘If we’re not going to tell our story, who is?’ what Manitoba looked like 150 years ago What can your pharmacist do for you? A lifelong commitment Dr. Wiebe retired officially in 1978 after 53 years in practice, though he continued working until the age of 85. “He would have helped serve over six generations of families during his time,” Cyr said. He was later inducted into the Order of Canada, becoming the oldest person ever to receive the honour. As part of the Centennial celebrations, the clinic is unveiling a special tribute wall in Dr. Wiebe’s honour. Dr. Don Klassen, Dr. Jacob, and Dr. Woelk are set to share their memories of the man, while Clinic President Dr. Tanja Borchers will unveil the display. “This has been a passion project,” Cyr explained. “We’ve done all sorts of deep dives into archives and historical information about Dr. Wiebe and have developed a timeline of his life and work in the area.” The wall will feature a large photo of Dr. Wiebe and a quote central to his philosophy: “I hope that the spirit of service so evident in our community will not be dimmed, but that it will glow ever brighter as we care for the people.” “We have physicians here today in Winkler providing that same level of care with that spirit of service,” Cyr said. Today, the C.W. Wiebe Medical Centre is home to more than 40 physicians, carrying forward that legacy of compassionate, community-focused healthcare that began with Dr. Cornelius W. Wiebe one hundred years ago. - with files from 'A Beloved Physician' by Mavis Reimer -