‘It’s absolutely brilliant what you do’: Prince Edward tours IWK Health Centre, presents awards

HALIFAX – Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, continued his tour of Nova Scotia Monday with a visit to the IWK Health Centre and presentations at the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards ceremony.

The Queen’s youngest son arrived in Halifax on Sunday evening and stayed at the Lieutenant Governor’s residence, Government House.

On Monday morning, Prince Edward toured IWK Health Centre, meeting staff, patients and family members at the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Garron Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

“It’s one of the foremost units in North America, we could say, for child and adolescent psychiatry,” said Dr. Alexa Bagnell, the interim chief of psychiatry at the IWK Health Centre.

“We’re very proud of that, so I think being able to show that to His Royal Highness was a very amazing experience for us.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We're very proud of that, so I think being able to show that to His Royal Highness was a very amazing experience for us."

During a reception for donors and staff, Prince Edward praised the hospital for their work with women and children.

“It’s absolutely brilliant what you do,” he said.

“There are so many of you who do this day in, day out. And every now and then, it’s really important to just acknowledge the fantastic work that you’re doing in the community.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There are so many of you who do this day in, day out. And every now and then, it's really important to just acknowledge the fantastic work that you're doing in the community."

To mark the royal’s first visit to the hospital, the IWK Health Centre and the IWK Foundation announced the creation of The Wessex Scholarship. The annual $5,000 scholarship will be awarded to a person who is committed to community service and pursuing a post-secondary degree in the health care field.

“We believe the Wessex Scholarship will not only provide much-deserved support and appreciation, but perhaps even develop professionals who commit to a career in health care right here at the IWK,” said the hospital’s president and CEO, Tracy Kitch.

From the IWK, Prince Edward headed to the central branch of the Halifax Public Library where he was greeted by a small crowd of well wishers.

Following a tour of the facility, he presented 62 Canadian youth with gold awards at the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Awards ceremony.

The program was started by his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, in 1956 and encourages youth to take part in physical recreation, community service and outdoor expeditions.

The Earl of Wessex has been chairman of the award’s council since 1992 and often travels on behalf of the program.

“This program essentially teaches people how to be able to take opportunities, seize opportunities and how to overcome challenges,” he said in an interview following the ceremony.

“Life is full of challenges and opportunities but unless you got the confidence to go through that open door and see where it leads you, you may never find out where your life may take you.”

Prince Edward’s tour will take him to Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.