Lyle and Heather Perkins were recently recognized as “Community Heroes” by the Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) Foundation. They were delighted to receive this unexpected recognition of their personal contributions over the years and their role in supporting the Hospital - as had Lyle’s father, Howard - through Perkins Hardware Building Centre in North Gower.*
Lyle said he remembers when KDH was being built in 1959. It was natural that his father would be curious about it - after all, his business focused on supplying materials for house and barn construction in North Gower. Lyle, then a young lad, would accompany him to the hospital building site on Concession Road, Kemptville where they would both marvel at the progress. KDH would eventually open its doors on June 29, 1960, when thousands of excited and curious visitors were greeted by the nurses and guided through the new facility on that glorious day.
Heather remarked that “the hospital has come a long way since those early days”.
As with the hospital, Perkins Lumber has also evolved with the times.
In the store’s office are numerous large aerial photographs showing Perkins Lumber near the intersection of Fourth Line Road and Roger Stevens Drive. They record the many changes which have occurred in the area since the business began in 1936 during the Great Depression.
Lyle grew the lumber company from when he assumed leadership in the early eighties. In 2011, along with his son Mark, he steered the company in a new direction and a new name. He was also involved in several community associations, including fifty years with the North Gower Volunteer Fire Department. He proudly shared that in 1948 his father was the first appointed Fire Chief of the Township Fire Department and that his son Mark is a volunteer fire fighter.
Heather is also very engaged with the community.
Presently she is helping to gather food and Christmas presents for those who are struggling locally. She said, “the need to fill sixty Angel tags is a real indicator of the times”.
The Perkins family connections to the hospital are deeply rooted to the urgent call which went out to the community more than sixty years ago to help build a hospital in Kemptville. In Howard Perkins’ footsteps they continue to support the hospital.
Heather said, “we need the hospital ourselves - and our family - and it’s where we want to go for care”.
KDHF is presently involved in a $2.2 million Crossroads Capital Campaign to bring a CT Scanner to KDH.
*North Gower was part of Rideau Township and then became part of Ottawa during the City’s Amalgamation in 2001.
