I was raised at Fort Qu’Appelle Sanatorium, a former sanatorium for the treatment of tuberculosis. l now live in Regina on Treaty 4 territory and the homeland of the Michif people. I am a white appearing, Métis Nation - Saskatchewan citizen.
My parents, Frank Froh and Peggy Marchand met at a party held near Fort San in 1955. They got married in 1956 and soon they were raising children on the grounds of a working tuberculosis hospital. Immediately following a three-year confinement and treatment for tuberculosis, Frank started working for Dr. George Ferguson in 1945, which became a lifelong career with the Saskatchewan Anti-Tuberculosis League.
In 1952, Frank became the League’s Secretary responsible for multiple, mass tuberculosis surveys that covered Saskatchewan in the 1950s and 1960s. After graduating from Regina’s Grey Nun’s Hospital School of Nursing in 1953, Peggy worked as a registered nurse in hospitals located in St. Boniface, Prince Albert, and Pine Falls before accepting a tuberculosis nurse position in 1955 at Fort San.
Growing Up At Fort San
My siblings and children of other families on the grounds of Fort San had the valley and Echo Lake as our playground. There was not an inch of ground that we did not explore, or workers at Fort San we did not call by name. I remember the freedoms we took for granted; thankfully, most of our adventures were safe.
But what I recall best are the times spent with friends sliding on the brown dry grass in August, playing hide and seek in spring until being called to come home for bed when it turned dark. We also played street hockey under the sole streetlight until we couldn’t feel our hands. I remember also going to collect our father from his office when he was late for supper; these are all fond memories for me.
Coming Full Circle
Growing up at Fort San influenced my lifelong interests in health policy and governance, particularly, the fight to eliminate preventable lung disease. The COVID-19 pandemic showed how credible and trusted Lung Saskatchewan’s leadership has served the people who call Saskatchewan home.
Connection To Lung Saskatchewan
In 2016, I was asked to volunteer with Lung Saskatchewan and I am honoured to serve on its board of directors. My family’s history and connection to lung health, together with my commitment to public service excellence, has been of service to Lung Saskatchewan’s board, governance, and medical advisory committees. I am proud of our innovative work to create safe spaces and healthy lungs for all, particularly our commitment to work with partners, sponsors, and donors on equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation.
Improving Lung Health
Lungs and hearts working together is a beautiful thing, but nothing else matters when you cannot breathe. Emergency medicine’s ABC (Airway, Breathing, Circulation), are vital for life and each of these is required in that order for the next to work effectively. We all make our way in life as best as we can. Living well requires us to navigate the waters of life. For me, I have the ability to give back with my time, talent, and treasure. Lung Saskatchewan is a credible health charity in Saskatchewan that prioritizes relations with donors and leverages their donations. I became a monthly donor because it was simple and easy to improve lung health, one breath at a time.
Thank you for supporting lung health in Saskatchewan!
Sincerely,
James Froh