Picton physician to receive the Order of Canada

PICTON, ON (06/07/11) Dr. Robert McMurtry is a new member of the Order of Canada. He thanks his wife and family for all the support throughout the years. Photo by Steph Crosier

By Steph Crosier

A Picton doctor, professor and father who lives his life trying to make a difference will receive the Order of Canada.

Dr. Robert Younghusband McMurtry, 71, will receive the honour for his work in the medical field and social equality.

Teaching for over 40 years, piloting new medical programs, and advocating for early childhood development, literacy for women and post-secondary are just some reasons why McMurtry was nominated.

He found out he was nominated on June 7. Though McMurtry is not allowed to know who nominated him, he expects it was one of his close friends.

The governor general’s office called McMurtry to inform him.

“It was quite a delight,” said McMurtry. “He asked me for my address, then he asked me if I accept. I responded with laughter. I asked him, are you serious? Are there people you call who turn this down?”

Originally from Toronto, McMurtry completed most of his education, including his medical degree, there. During his residency he did missionary work in Africa and then came home to establish the first integrated trauma unit in Canada.

He also developed the first multi-disciplinary hand unit and became the chief and chair of surgery in Calgary. After leaving Calgary, he became the Dean of Medicine at the University of Western Ontario from 1992 to 1999. McMurtry is on the Health Council of Canada, became the first Cameron Visiting Chair at Health Canada, where he gave advice to the ministers of health Canada, and was a special advisor to the deputy minister of Nunavut.

McMurtry is a visiting specialist at the Prince Edward Family Health team, a professor emeritus at the University of Western Ontario, and an orthopaedic consultant at St. Joseph’s Health Care in London.

He has been living in Picton since 2007.

The McMurtrys found Picton while traveling around Ontario with their son. They thought Picton as the best place to settle down.

“Not only it’s beauty but the fact that there’s so much culture here in a way of visual arts, and performing arts,” said McMurtry. “And of course the vineyards add a very nice touch to it all. And the people here seem very nice, it’s a lovely area.”

“What I love about here is I love meeting the people from Picton and the surrounding area,” he said. “There’s a palpable and delightful difference. They are not urbanized and I find them very charming and forthcoming and I delight in seeing them.”

McMurtry believes he was nominated for his work in addressing social equities.

“People have knowledge of what I’ve always focused on, it’s been a mission of mine in life to be interested in social justice,” said McMurtry. “As it relates to health care, but also as it relates to what’s called healthy policy.  So equity and policy is very important for health and well-being.”

McMurtry’s time in Africa during the apartheid in South Africa is what really led him on to social injustices. He said the biggest thing someone could do to fix the social injustices around the world would be to promote female literacy and clean water.

“A man is educated unquestionably, and he benefits. You educate a woman and everyone around her benefits,” said McMurtry. “The world bank even went so far as to say the one of the best measures of progress in sociality is women’s rights.”

After speaking to many Canadians across the country while apart of the Romanow Commission on the future of health care, McMurtry saw that Canadians feels a responsibility to help the less fortunate.

“It’s just remarkable how all Canadians, wherever they are, whatever walk of life, all Canadians feel a responsibility for the less fortunate,” said McMurtry. “I find very few who say no to that concept. That is a defining Canadian characteristic. I hope it doesn’t erode.”

If McMurtry could change some things about Canada, he would focus more on childhood development.

“I think every child should be loved, stimulated and nourished,” said McMurtry. “Second of all I think everyone should have an opportunity for post secondary education. Why would you want to sidetrack talented people, who can contribute to society by saying, nope sorry you need to come up with four, five, six thousand dollars.”

“I have no intentions of stopping, or retiring per se,” said McMurtry. “But doing things at a different pace for sure.”

Slowing things down is not going to change how McMurtry sees Canada and the world.

He quotes George Bernard Shaw: “Some people see things as they are and ask why. Others see things as they never were and ask why not?”