Sidebars with additional tidbits.
Images of artifacts to complement the text.
Lister, Andrea. (2011). Commitment to caring: Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary’s 100 years 1911-2011. Chilliwack, BC: Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary.
This succinct and readable history by a skilled editor-writer-historian provides an excellent overview on the Chilliwack Hospital Auxiliary. This volunteer organization was extremely active and the community owes a great deal to the group’s fund-raising skills. The many descriptions of the fun-filled events throughout 10 decades could offer innovative ideas for today’s groups. As well, the 64-page, well-illustrated book identifies, describes, and recognizes the efforts of the Auxiliary’s hard-working volunteer leaders. By using sidebars to the main narrative, the author works in many interesting anecdotes and information on the social background of the times. Although limited by space, the book also provides an overview of the early cottage hospitals in Chilliwack, of the first nurse, and, briefly, of the hospital itself, areas on which there is sadly is little published information available. Drawing on interviews and excellent primary materials in the local archives and newspaper, Lister has produced a thoroughly professional, interesting, and well-researched book with an index and brief bibliography, something too often lacking in local histories. It is no surprise that it received a 2012 Heritage Award from the Chilliwack Museum and Historical Society.
– Reviewed by Glennis Zilm, nursing historian, member B.C. History of Nursing Society