The 1962 Doctors’ Strike

On July 1, 1962, Saskatchewan’s doctors left their practices, and only limited emergency services were available. The parents of nine-month-old Carl Derhousoff drove from their farm to Preeceville, Canora and finally Yorkton to seek help for their baby, who had meningitis. He died on the way to Yorkton. Other families had seriously ill members who were discharged from hospital and sent home. Concern intensified as local papers began to report that 100 or more of the province’s doctors had left to seek positions elsewhere. How long would the voluntary emergency services be able to cope? When would the government-sponsored doctors arrive? Would they be as competent as those they replaced? While Saskatchewan’s citizens were debating these issues, the strike itself was the focus of international attention.

This sign was on the door of the Prince Albert Clinic to notify patients that the doctors were going on strike on July 1, 1962.
Saskatchewan Archives Board, George and Tillie Taylor Fonds, A998-496

Transcription:
To Our Patients
This office will be closed after July 1st, 1962
We do not intend to carry on practice under the Saskatchewan Medical Care Insurance Act.