Protest on Thessalon hospital closure takes place on Highway 17

Community members in Thessalon took to Highway 17 yesterday to highlight the loss of their hospital.
Albert Dupuis, the co-chair of the Algoma Health Coalition, says the Thessalon hospital provided services to people throughout the area, but the emergency department has been subjected to repeated closures.
He says in 2020, the inpatient beds in the hospital were closed “temporarily” but has not since reopened.
Dupuis points out it is almost an hour get to any of the nearest hospitals in Blind River, Sault Ste. Marie or on St. Joseph Island.
He adds last week more than 100 residents took in a public meeting demanding commitments from the political parties in the election to take action to stop the closures and restore their services.
Dupuis says yesterday afternoon, a large contingent marched from the hospital to Highway 17 to slow down traffic and share their message with motorists.