This is the first in a series of articles highlighting 100 years of care and community as Southlake Regional Health Centre celebrates its centennial this year.
For Connie Meyers, a born-and-raised Newmarket resident, her home has always been Southlake.
Starting from her first days on the job in 1973, this remarkable registered nurse has built a lifelong career delivering care to her community and neighbours. After five decades on the job and being part of the Southlake team for over half its 100-year history, she looks back fondly on those earliest memories.
“There was no better place for me to begin my nursing career,” Meyers says. “Not only was it close to home, but it was also still a small community hospital at the time, so everybody knew everybody, and it immediately felt like one big, happy family."
When she joined then-named York County Hospital, Meyers had already met many of her future co-workers while training as a nursing student. She was welcomed with open arms as a familiar face, benefiting from the mentorship of her experienced peers. This friendly and supportive work environment set the tone when she joined Southlake’s ambulatory care unit, where she still works to this day.
Meyers’ connection to the hospital goes far beyond that of a nurse, having grown up and started her own family just a stone’s throw from Southlake’s front doors.
“Like many of my co-workers, I’ve been part of this community for generations and our family, myself included, has often relied on the hospital. In fact, one of my most cherished memories at Southlake was when I gave birth to my baby here. These moments bring a whole other level to my connection with the hospital, making it much more than just a workplace. It’s a caretaker for the community and a cornerstone in our lives.”
Through her long journey with Southlake as both an employee and patient, much more than its name has changed. As Newmarket and the surrounding area have continued to expand, Meyers has had a front-row seat to many important moments in Southlake’s history — from the evolution of the hospital’s offerings to meet the changing needs of patients, to the growth of an exceptional team of physicians, nurses and staff, to expansions to accommodate the growing needs of the communities it serves.
But despite the many changes and ways Southlake has grown its impact over the years, there is one thing that Meyers says has remained the same during her time with the hospital — and over the past century of care at Southlake.
“No matter how big we have gotten, Southlake has never lost its heart. And that comes down to the people who work here and the patients we care for. Our team keeps a strong sense of community alive through the relationships we build not only with each other as co-workers but also with our patients. I can recall so many times when they would recognize me as I walk the halls or complete my daily tasks, and it reminds us why we do what we do.”
As the longest-serving active employee at 51 years and counting, Meyers embodies the best of Southlake through her commitment to her patients and the dedication she has shown to the hospital. But for her, it’s not about the title.
“The time I’ve spent working at Southlake demonstrates that it is a place worth dedicating a career. We’re a vital part of the community, and every day, I see patients who are so grateful for the incredible care they receive here. They know their health is in good hands with a hospital like Southlake right in our own backyard. As long as we stay on that road and always work to improve where we can, this journey and all our hard work is worth it.”
Today, Meyers is one of the only people who can say that she has been with Southlake for more than half of its history, but it is a history she is proud to share with her colleagues. Her journey over the last 51 years is an inspiration to the next generation of health-care professionals. Nearly 6,000 clinicians, nurses, staff and volunteers work together to care for patients every day.
For 100 years and counting, Southlake has built healthy communities through leading-edge care with an unwavering pride for people, place and performance. To celebrate its centennial anniversary, Southlake is revisiting some of its hallmark stories and achievements over the years through the Southlake Centennial series. Learn more about Southlake’s esteemed history and how they’re celebrating throughout the year at www.southlake.ca.
