1

Althea Contant

Althea Contant (nee Simms) was born in Latchford, Ontario on December 11, 1922. At the age of four, her father moved the family to Kirkland Lake where he found work in the mines. With the exception of two years, Althea has spent her entire life in Kirkland Lake making contributions through her personal interests, her work, her family and her many years of volunteering.

Althea recalls her high school years at Kirkland Lake Collegiate and Vocational Institute fondly. She says that she never missed a dance, and although she was not the top student in the class, she was definitely not at the bottom.

2

Althea Contant
Circa 2000

Credits:
Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Image loaned from Althea Contant

3

Althea Contant - "Born a Nurse"
1 July 2012
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Video from the Museum of Northern History Collection

4

After graduating from the nursing course at St. Joseph's General Hospital in North Bay, Althea returned to Kirkland Lake, where she married Arthur Contant of Nosbonsing. They travelled to Kapuskasing for their honeymoon, living and working there for two years.

In 1947 Althea and Arthur returned to Kirkland Lake. Althea would work throughout her married life while bringing up her six children. She started working in clinics for Doctors Messenger and Rumble.
Althea originally volunteered as a captain with the Girl Guides at the Holy Name Parish, and stayed with the Guides for 18 years. She also took on the responsibilities of District Commissioner for half of that time.

5

Althea Contant - "Girl Guides"
1 July 2012
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Video from the Museum of Northern History Collection

6

In 1955, Althea decided to return to bedside nursing and accepted a position at the Kirkland and District Hospital. Because of her previous experience, she was asked to set up the first Emergency Room unit in the Kirkland Hospital. She remained there until retiring from nursing in 1965. Althea was also asked to set up the Poison Control Centre for Northern Ontario, another first for the Kirkland and District Hospital.

7

Althea Contant - "First Emergency Room"
1 July 2012
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Video from the Museum of Northern History Collection

8

Kirkland District Hospital on Second Street, Kirkland Lake
Circa 1950's
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Image loaned from Museum of Northern History Collection

9

Kirkland Lake Collegiate and Vocational Institute on left, Kirkland District Hospital on right
Circa 1940's
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Image loaned from Museum of Northern History Collection

10

Althea's fourth child, Raymond, was born in 1955 with Down Syndrome. Wanting to make a difference in the lives of Raymond and others with special needs, she became a member of the Association for the Developmentally Handicapped, today known as Community Living Kirkland Lake. She was a board member for forty-two years and served as president of the board approximately twenty-six times.

11

Althea Contant - "The Developmentally Handicapped"
1 July 2012
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Video from the Museum of Northern History Collection

12

By 1965, the last of Althea's children had been born and she was ready for a new challenge, that of becoming a High School teacher. She spent the next twenty years teaching students with special needs. Althea retired from work in the mid-eighties but continued to devote her time to volunteering.

13

Althea Contant - Newspaper Article
21 December 1999
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Image loaned from MNH Auxiliary (Women of Kirkland Lake 2012 Exhibit)
Image loaned from the Museum of Northern History Collection

14

Althea Contant - "Marriage Course"
1 July 2012
Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada

Credits:
Video from the Museum of Northern History Collection