Larry Rankin Awarded the 2009 Dr. David Scott Award

Orangeville, ON, June 16, 2009 – The 2009 Dr. David Scott Award was presented to Larry Rankin today at Headwaters Health Care Centre’s Annual General Meeting.

“This award recognizes the outstanding contribution Larry Rankin has made for people with disabilities in our community. In particular, Larry has advocated for inclusive, barrier free access, and promoted standards of safety and public convenience. Larry’s goal is the full participation and equality of disabled persons in all aspects of mainstream community life,” says Cholly Boland, President and CEO, Headwaters Health Care Centre.

In 1995, Larry suffered a stroke that left him a quadriplegic with minimal speech. He uses a computer with a mouse device built into his glasses to communicate. With the assistance of his family and support workers he campaigns for and has initiated several accessibility projects in the community. He has been a member of the Town of Orangeville’s first Accessibility Committee since 2000. Through his work he focuses on citizenship, rights and responsibilities for persons with disabilities.

For disabled persons, built environments are full of uncertainties, anxieties and obstacles that prevent them from moving about freely and safely. For wheelchair users, steps and stairways are obstacles. Blind people are endangered by the absence of directional and safety features that they can hear and touch. Through his work with the Town of Orangeville’s Accessibility Committee, Larry has lobbied for curb cuts, a voice activated elevator, trails built with accessibility in mind, he has also introduced a letter on accessibility that goes with every building permit application, and he introduced portable ramps in the community.

“Larry has contributed to the betterment of the Orangeville community, motivating and inspiring others to overcome adversity. Mr. Rankin’s attitude is truly inspiring to all who know him,” says Bob Burnside, Chairman and Founder of RJ Burnside & Associates Ltd in Orangeville.

The Dr. David Scott Award was created in the fall of 1999 to recognize individuals or groups who have made an outstanding contribution to the overall health and well-being of the Dufferin-Caledon community.

Previous recipients of the Dr. David Scott Award include:

• Dr. Dirk Huyer in 2000 for his work with survivors of abuse
• Erna Baniulis in 2001 for her work in long term care
• Ronnie Inglis in 2002 for her leadership in Emergency Services, Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence and Organ Donation
• Dr. Faye Lindsey in 2003 for her work in physician recruitment
• Headwaters Health Care Auxiliaries (Orangeville and Shelburne sites) in 2004 for the outstanding contribution our volunteers have made for over fifty years
• John (Doc) Gillies in 2005 for his outstanding contribution to the hospital and community
• Don Stewart in 2006 for his outstanding contribution to the hospital, and to many community projects in Shelburne
• Dr. David Knox in 2007 for his outstanding contribution to improving access to care in the community by establishing an after hours clinic
• Dori Ebel in 2008 for her significant volunteer contributions to improve health care, and children’s safety and well-being

Dr. David Scott is a graduate of medicine from the University of Toronto (1956), with a Fellowship in General Surgery (1962). He practiced general surgery in Orangeville from 1962 to 1997 and continues to provide surgical assist at Headwaters Health Care Centre. A life-long resident of Orangeville, Dr. Scott has provided outstanding leadership in health care in our community, and currently serves as a key member of the Greater Dufferin Physician Search Committee.

About Headwaters
Headwaters Health Care Centre serves 110,000 residents in Caledon, Orangeville, Shelburne and Dufferin County. The hospital operates two sites – Headwaters Orangeville, a 108 bed acute care hospital and Headwaters Shelburne, a 33 bed chronic care hospital. Visit www.headwatershealth.ca.

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