SOUTHLAKE 100: Longest-tenured employee reflects on remarkable 51-year career

This is the first in a series of articles highlighting 100 years of care and community as Southlake Regional Health Center celebrates its centennial this year.

For Connie Meyers, a born-and-raised Newmarket resident, Southlake has always been her home.

Beginning with her first days on the job in 1973, this remarkable nurse built a lifelong career providing care to her community and neighbors. After five decades on the job and being part of the Southlake team for more than half of its 100-year history, she looks back fondly on those earliest memories.

“There was no better place for me to start my nursing career,” says Meyers. “Not only was it close to home, but it was a small community hospital at the time, so everyone knew everyone and it immediately felt like one big, happy family.”

When she joined what was then called York County Hospital, Meyers had already met many of her future co-workers while training as a student nurse. She was welcomed with open arms as a familiar face, benefiting from the guidance of her experienced colleagues. This friendly and supportive work environment set the tone when she joined Southlake’s ambulatory care facility, where she still works today.

Meyers’ connection to the hospital goes far beyond that of a nurse, having grown up and raised her own family just a stone’s throw from Southlake’s front doors.

“Like many of my colleagues, we have been part of this community for generations and our family, including myself, have often relied on the hospital. In fact, one of my most cherished memories at Southlake was when I had my baby here. These moments bring another level to my connection with the hospital, making it much more than just a job. He is a caretaker of the community and a cornerstone in our lives.”

Throughout her long journey with Southlake, both as an employee and as a patient, much more than the name has changed. As Newmarket and the surrounding area continued to expand, Meyers had a front-row seat to many important moments in Southlake’s history—from evolving the hospital’s offerings to meet the changing needs of patients, to growing an exceptional team of doctors, nurses and staff, to expansions to accommodate the growing needs of the communities it serves.

But despite the many changes and ways Southlake has grown its impact over the years, there’s one thing Meyers says has remained the same during her time at the hospital — and over the past century of care at Southlake.

“As big as we got, Southlake never lost heart. And that comes down to the people who work here and the patients we care for. Our team keeps a strong sense of community alive through the relationships we build not only with each other as co-workers, but also with our patients. I remember so many times when they would recognize me as I walk down the hall or go about my daily tasks and it reminds us why we do what we do.”

As the longest serving employee at 51 years and counting, Meyers embodies the best of Southlake through her commitment to her patients and her dedication to the hospital. But for her, it’s not about the title.

“The time I’ve spent working at Southlake proves it’s a place worth dedicating my career to. We are a vital part of the community and every day I see patients who are so grateful for the incredible care they receive here. They know their health is in good hands with a hospital like Southlake right in our backyard. As long as we stay on that path and always work to improve where we can, this journey and all our hard work will be worth it.”

Today, Meyers is one of the only people who can say she’s been with Southlake for more than half of its history, but it’s a history she’s proud to share with her teammates. Her journey over the past 51 years is an inspiration to the next generation of healthcare professionals. Nearly 6,000 clinicians, nurses, staff and volunteers work together to care for patients every day.

For 100 years and more, Southlake has built healthy communities through leading-edge care with an unwavering pride in people, place and performance. To celebrate its centennial anniversary, Southlake is revisiting some of its distinctive stories and achievements over the years through the Southlake Centennial Series. Learn more about Southlake’s storied history and how they celebrate year-round at southlake.ca.