O'Leary community hosts send-off celebration for Dr. Herb Dickieson

The O'Leary Community Health Foundation is throwing a celebration on Sunday to honourDr. Herb Dickieson.

After practicing medicine in West Prince for nearly 30 years, the formerNDPleader and MLAannounced his retirement from his medical practicein O'Leary, P.E.I.,this summer.

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EvaRodgerson, chair of the foundation, said the party is for the people of West Prince County to share their stories and appreciation for Dickieson.

"We're going to have an open house where people can come and show appreciation to Dr. Herbfor the commitment he's made to this community, the hours he's spent caring for us," she said.

"We just wanted to wish him well in his retirement, he's certainly well earned it."

1:30 p.m. at O'Leary Community Complex

Rodgersonhopes it'll be a special celebrationfor Dickieson, with plenty of food anddrinksas well as providing people an opportunity who"might want to tell a story about how he's made a difference in their life."

"He was one of those doctors that was always available 24/7 if you needed, you could have his cell phone [number]," she said.

"He's really an exceptional individual and has really served our community here well. We're really going to miss him being available because that doesn't happen so much anymore."

The party begins at 1:30 p.m. at the O'Leary Community Complex, aproper place to send off the doctor,Rodgerson said, because the building used to be the communityhospital, where Dickiesonfirst started his career.

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