Minden dentist Bill Kerr, and his late wife, Lisa, were on their way back from Honduras – doing charitable dental work – when they thought their volunteer team should actually be doing something at home.
That thought birthed Volunteer Dental Outreach (VDO) for Haliburton County, which is now into its 14th year.
On May 19, 2011, VDO opened its doors at 739 Mountain St. in Haliburton to fill a need in the Highlands.
From those humble beginnings, VDO has come a long way thanks to community support, a team of devoted volunteers and dental professionals, and many generous financial contributions.
VDO has remained true to its mission: provide free urgent dental care for low-income residents in the area.
The clinic’s volunteers have improved the smiles and oral health of 1,582 patients, totalling more than $4.5 million in free dentistry as of Sept. 20. For many, the transformations have been life-changing, giving them the confidence to pursue employment opportunities and live without crippling pain.
It was largely through the work of Lisa Kerr that a partnership was established with the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit to launch the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program for Haliburton County.
October 9, 2024 marked another watershed moment for VDO.
That’s when the board of directors officially responded to the evolving landscape of dental care in Canada – with the federal government’s continuing rollout of the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
VDO is adjusting its services to better meet community needs in Haliburton County since many low-income residents will now have wide access to affordable dental care, resulting in a decreased patient load at VDO.
As of the new year, VDO will no longer provide dental care through the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program.
However, it will remain open to provide care to those County residents who do not qualify for the CDCP but meet the qualifications for dental care under VDO’s original mandate.
In light of the changes, the 2025 Lisa Kerr Memorial Golf Tournament fundraising event has been suspended. The board will assess future community needs before making further decisions.
With one-third of clinic patients to disappear as of Jan. 1, 2024 and the CDCP roll-out expected to hit all ages groups in the next calendar year, it is evident the clinic will see a lot fewer people in future. However, with a federal election on the horizon and a change in government possible, VDO is also prudently leaving the door open in case their services will be needed on a larger scale in future.
Ultimately, it is a good news story. The VDO team has been filling a gap that the government should have been providing all along. And while the Lisa Kerr Memorial Golf Tournament is not happening in 2025, there is enough in the fundraising coffers to sustain the Mountain Street clinic going forward.
Bill Kerr is pretty confident his wife wouldn’t mind the decision to shelve her namesake tournament for now. After all, he said she was passionate about ensuring free dental care for those with nowhere else to turn.
We applaud VDO for its continuing service. The fact it may become obsolete one day because government has finally stepped in is not a bad thing.
