One Person

Picture this if you will. . . .
It is the early 1900's and you are an educated doctor married to an educated woman who is also an anesthetist.  You want to help people.  You want to make a difference.  You  want to use your skills to the best of their abilities.  You want to serve a mission in China, but it is too dangerous out there.  Instead, you are sent a request to move to a small, little town in a province called Alberta.  There are not many people there, but they need a doctor.  Without you, they will have no medical help.  You decide to make the journey to this small town to become their doctor.
This little town, called Lamont is full of poor immigrants who have left their countries with nothing in the hopes of finding a better place to raise their families.  Most don't speak English and most have nothing, but they need you.  They need a doctor.  You are their doctor.
You build a hospital.  You travel around and help people in different counties. . . whether they can pay or not. . . and then it hits. . . the Great Depression.
The people have nothing.  They cannot pay you.  You try to accept produce as payment and animals as payment.  The hospital even sets up a pig farm in the back to try and raise money.  You realize, however, that you cannot accept produce forever because there are bills to pay.  What do you do?  These people need help.  They need YOUR help.  They need a doctor.
And then it hits you.

BAM!

AN IDEA!!!

Wouldn't it be better if the community helps bear the burden of the medical costs.  What if each family pays $25 for a year and then you wouldn't have to charge the sick and the wounded for their hospital costs as their bills will already have been paid.  You could help those in need and still pay the hospital bills.  It could work!  The community can work together and help each other.

They do. 

It works.

The hospital expands and grows.  A nursing school is built in the community which becomes well known and attracts many nurses to the school and consequently to the town.  The hospital and nursing school become the largest employer for the town for generations, even in 2010.  Your small idea of community health care becomes the foundation on which Universal Health care in Canada is born.

You are one man.

You have changed the lives of an entire town for generations and the health care of a country forever.

You are remembered for your gentle spirit and kind heart and innovative ideas.

Your name is Albert Ernest Archer.

And I am proud to be your Great-Great Granddaughter.

Thank you for your legacy and for teaching me that one person can make a difference.