Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join Bethune Memorial House in celebrating the birthday of Dr. Norman Bethune, born in my home town of Gravenhurst on March 3, 1890.
Dr. Bethune was a medical pioneer known in North America for tubercular research, in Spain for the first mobile blood service, and in China for building hospitals, training nurses and doctors, and treating the wounded.
His life was declared to be of national historical significance in this country in August 1972. His birth home was purchased and turned over to the Canadian parks service, which restored it as an interpretive memorial. The house has been open since
1976 to visitors from around the world, especially China where Dr. Bethune's humanitarian works were considered heroic.
On March 3, in conjunction with Frontier College, the Gravenhurst Public Library and Muskoka Literacy Council, Bethune Memorial House hosts a celebration of reading with story telling in honour of Dr. Bethune.
I wish all participants well as we celebrate Dr. Bethune's birthday.