Editor: On Sept. 25, members of the Langley Memorial Hospital Heritage Committee attended the official opening of Memorial Cottage. This new building — a mental health facility — sits on the site of the original hospital which opened in 1948.

We were impressed by Memorial Cottage, not only by the facility and the service it provides but also by the facade and how much it resembles the original building that had come to be known as the Cottage Hospital.

For several years our committee, in co-operation with Langley Heritage Society, Township council and City council, as well as many private citizens, worked hard to have the original building preserved. Fraser Health Authority had plans to demolish it and turn the site into a parking lot.

Finally, Fraser Health agreed to put a new building on the site, keeping the same footprint as the cottage hospital and preserving the stone wall which had been a part of it. They also promised that the new building would resemble the old one in appearance. In addition, they chose the name which our committee had suggested, honouring the people whom Langley Hospital had memorialized from its beginnings.

Our committee commends the FHA for honouring this commitment, and wishes to thank all who had a part in bringing the project to fruition

As we sat in front of the main door which closely resembles the front door of the former building, we could feel the presence of the citizens of Langley who, 61 years earlier, had gathered in that very spot for another grand opening. They, too, worked hard and long to realize a dream for a hospital of their own — an institution of which they could be proud.

Thank you, Fraser Health Authority, for honouring their dream.

Iris Mooney,

Doris Riedweg

LMH Heritage Committee