how it all began
The moments that led us here...
1978 |
Marlene Grass, RN, was a guest speaker at a CDA meeting with Dr. Anthony Sun. Dr. Sun spoke about islet cell encapsulation. Marlene spoke about the saccharine ban. After her talk, Marlene was approached by a number of parents who were desperate for more information about their children’s diabetes. A support group was established. |
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1988 |
At a special CDA meeting for Diabetes Educators and parents, called by Fran Moreau, Marlene presented her wish list for diabetes care. On it was the establishment of a programme that would specialize in paediatric Type 1 care. Marlene drove home after a meeting, after having been asked questions from the parents that clearly indicated to her that the “system” was simply not providing the kind of education and support that these families truly needed. It was on that evening that she made up her mind to pursue the cause of supporting patients with paediatric Type 1 diabetes and their families. |
1989 |
Funding was sought and committed by a service club. However, the funding source decided that the preferred route would be to fund a hospital programme. Upon the urging of the Durham District Health Council, a decision was made to carry on with the planned opening of the proposed centre. The Charles H. Best Diabetes Centre for Children & Youth was established at 178 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa – in the basement of a dental office and hair salon. The Best Centre was set up to serve paediatric patients with Type 1 Diabetes, also providing education, diabetes management and support to families. The Centre was the first and only one of its kind in Canada – nurse-driven and community based. However, the struggle for support from the medical community and the public began. Many were not prepared to accept a centre that was not headed by a physician and not in a traditional hospital setting. The struggle for funding also began. |
1990 |
The Centre’s founder, Marlene Grass, received the prestigious Frederick G. Banting Award. |
1992 |
The Best Centre moved to new (larger) site at 901 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa. |
1995 |
The current hummingbird logo designed and adopted. Bingo was established as a consistent fundraising activity. |
1999 |
Amalgamated with the diabetes programme of Lakeridge Health Corporation, taking on all of Oshawa General Hospital’s paediatric patients. With new diagnoses plus the amalgamation, the Centre doubled its patient load from 250 to 500. Moved to new (even larger) site at 900 Victoria Street West, Whitby, on December 1, 1999. The new site was donated by Melody Homes. |
2000 |
Forged corporate partnership with Scotiabank |