The Barriere Professional Recruitment Committee presented Dr. Cornel Barnard last month with a gift that was a ‘made in Barriere’ article, on behalf of Barriere and area. It was a print by local artist Marge Mitchell, with a beautiful frame made of barn wood and donated by Brian Watt.
The plaque presented read “Thank you Dr. Cornel Barnard for your service to Barriere and area, June 2008 – March 2012”. The picture of the Mitchell barn had been chosen to remind Dr. Cornel of his numerous trips to the Chinook Cove Golf Course where he had undoubtedly played many exiting games.
Dr. Barnard has returned to South Africa, where he will spend time in his hometown for a month. He says he will then probably return to Kamloops, and plans to do locum work in the area, before continuing his studies in a specialized medical field.
Dr. Barnard’s patients say they will miss him; they and everyone who has known him is wishing him well in his future endeavors, and they hope that practicing in Barriere has been a rewarding experience for him.
Dr. Ilke Marais has arrived in the community and will be taking Dr. Barnard’s place at the Barriere Medical Clinic.
She started seeing patients at the clinic on March 26. Dr. Marais and her husband, Nico Trimsloo, will be making their home in Barriere, as they had originally planned during a previous visit to the area.