Premier Pat Binns today paid tribute to the late Dr. Harry Callaghan of Charlottetown, saying the passing of the popular city doctor is a loss for the medical community of PEI.
“Harry was respected throughout the province for his passion and dedication to the health and well being of Islanders,” said the Premier. “His commitment to his profession was admired by his colleagues and appreciated by the residents of our province.”
The Premier said Dr. Callaghan was a strong community person with a big heart for all Islanders and that commitment was evident every day. That commitment was rewarded in 2002, when the Canadian Medical Association honoured Dr. Callaghan with the Sir Charles Tupper Award.
“Harry enjoyed life to the fullest and tackled tasks in his life with a fiery determination to be the best he could be, but he always had time for people from all walks of life and that is what made him truly special,” Premier Binns said. “His large medical practice reflected the close connection Harry had with the Island community. Anybody in need of medical assistance always found a chair in Harry’s office. That was just the way he was.”
Dr. Callaghan spent 37 years in his city practice and in spite of long hours at the office, the Premier said he always gave unselfishly of his time to community groups and sporting teams. Dr. Callaghan was a team doctor for the UPEI Hockey Panthers for more than 30 years.
“Whether he was on the golf course, at the rink, at the office or with his family, Harry put his heart and soul into everything he did and always displayed a great sense of humour,” said the Premier. “On behalf of all Islanders, I express my deepest sympathies to his wife, Cheryl; daughters, Kerry, Jan and Marla; brother Frank; sister Rita and their families on the passing of this great Islander.”