Two local dentists are looking forward to retirement - Dr. Lornce Harder and Dr. Gord Johnsson.
After 50 years providing dental services to patients in North Battleford, Dr. Harder of Battlefords Dental has retired. However, he loves the community and has no intention of living anywhere else.
From the time Dr. Harder arrived in North Battleford to work with Dr. Ralph Hall, he was enamoured with the area.
Dr. Harder says he had offers to go to other locations, but he chose the Battlefords for its natural beauty and its friendly people.
After a year in the community, he began his own practice and served patients out of his clinic for 49 years. Throughout those years he has also been involved in the organizational aspect of dentistry, having served on federal and provincial committees, and is a past president of the College of Dental Surgeons of Saskatchewan.
It has been a wonderful 50 years in the Battlefords, he says. He has loved his work, he has many friends, including his patients, and has enjoyed a variety of outdoor activities throughout that time, including hunting, fishing and golfing. A sportsman who has hunted all over the world, with New Zealand the destination of this year's trip, Dr. Harder's favourite outdoors area is still his home.
Neither can Dr. Harder say enough nice things about the people of his community.
"I love the community and the people of the area I've been fortunate to live in," he says.
He also has praise for his staff, including his wife Brenda, saying they are a group of dedicated people who are supportive of one another and who create an atmosphere of welcome and helpfulness for their patients. They also create an atmosphere that is pleasant to work in, he says.
Dr. Russell Butler is now seeing patients at Battlefords Dental, coming originally from Saskatoon and having studied dentistry at the University of Saskatchewan. Dr. Harder says he hopes Dr. Butler enjoys the Battlefords community as much as he has.
A retirement celebration for Dr. Harder will be held at Battlefords Dental located at 1251-100th St. Friday, June 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be cake and refreshments and Dr. Harder's patients and friends are invited to attend.
Dr. Harder grew up in Waldheim and studied dentistry in Edmonton. He and his first wife, the late Sophie Harder, had three children. Two are in now dentistry, in Calgary and Lethbridge, Alta., and one works in finance in New York. He also has eight grandchildren.
Dr. Harder was honoured, along with Dr. Gord Johnson, who is retiring after 37 years in practice in North Battleford, at an event hosted by the College of Saskatchewan Dental Surgeons and the North Battleford Dental Society Sunday at the Dekker Centre for the Performing Arts. Approximately 100 people attended.
Dr. Johnson's last official day of work is June 18. He has been working in the same building, at 1711-91st St., for all of the 37 years he's been in North Battleford.
Like Dr. Harder, Dr. Johnson has no plans to change his place of residence. He enjoys the Battlefords.
He and his wife Sheila, who have two daughters attending university, may do some travelling, he says, but the main plan is just to enjoy time at home and outdoors. Gardening and camping are on the agenda, however golf comes out on top. He may also take up curling, he says.
Dr. Johnson is originally from Kindersley and received his degree in dentistry from the University of Saskatchewan in 1977.
Working with Dr. Johnson is Dr. Stacie Churchill. On his retirement, Dr. Meagan Gratton, a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, will be joining the clinic. She is originally from North Battleford and is looking forward to practising in her home community, says Dr. Johnson.
