Hungarian Heritage Review, 1988 (17. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1988-06-01 / 6. szám
■■ línrítle* = CO-FOUNDER OF CANADA’S “LANGUAGE” HOSPITAL: DR. PAUL RÉKAI — by — KATI RÉKAI There is a new feather in Dr. Paul Rekai’s hat. His numerous achievements are a matter of historical record spanning a lifetime enriched by an intellectual homelife in Hungary, a bilingual atmosphere with travels throughout Europe and a rigourous and disciplined professional life and a natural intuition able to recognize the needs and possibilities of his fellow men. The Canadian Government showered him with numerous distinctions in recognition for his medical work for the betterment of the healthcare of the multicultural society of this land, and for his and his brothers, Dr. John Rekai’s effort to establish with their meager savings the first active treatment hospital to serve the multilingual community which has become Toronto after the Second World War. This small 32 bed hospital housed in a historical 100 year-old home — it used to belong to the Goderham distillers family became the model of teaching hospitals across Canada, in dealing with the language problems of the immigrants. The 32 bed hospital which opened in 1957 grew to 72 beds in 1961 and became a modern new building in 1969 with 175 beds. In 1976 another building was added housing the outpatient department and medical offices. The latest addition adjacent to the hospital rounds out the highly esteemed achievements of Dr. Paul Rékai. His vision to help the immigrants didn’t stop with the active medical treatment of these patients, but he became more and more concerned with those seniors who were unable to look after themselves once they were compelled to leave the hospital care. Not only physical, but also emotional support was needed. So the Drs. Paul and John Rékai Centre opened its door in mid- January 1988 to the first patients and this thus became the first multicultural, nonprofit hospital-affiliated 120-bed nursing home in Canada. Residents, who originally came from every corner of the world are cared for in 17 languages. They are greeted in their own language, their special holidays are observed and the food, which is prepared by Central Hospital’s kitchen satisfies the most discriminating gourmet. This is a major factor in the well-being of the patients and Central Hospital has provided this service over 30 years. The Drs. Paul and John Rékai Centre, named so by the Board of Governors of Central Hospital to honour the outstanding achievements of the founders, resembles a first class hotel with a spacious dining room, lounges on every floor overlooking the century old Allan Gardens, activity rooms, a beauty salon, a chapel, a multilingual library and airy, colourful, well-lit spacious rooms. Dr. Paul, as he is affectlionately known to his staff and collegues is a legendary figure, whose interest in music, history, archeology, his dedication to his medical work and the administration of Central Hospital the Clinic and the Rékai Centre earned him the admiration of his friends, his fellow-workers and patients, and his advice is sought. 8 HUNGARIAN HERITAGE REVIEW JUNE 1988
