May 5, 2025
Adeline Peake, left, and Meagan McCoy-McLevin stand in front of the Westlock Healthcare Centre, where a generous donation from the late Pete Tymko is making a lasting impact on patient care. Tymko’s gift will fund three medication dispensing units, enhancing staff efficiency and improving safety for patients. Supplied.
Adeline Peake and Pete Tymko used to love going out to share a restaurant meal. Supplied.
Adeline Peake and Pete Tymko spent many happy winters traveling across North America in their motorhome. Supplied.
Story by Lisa Laferriere
WESTLOCK — Thanks to a generous donation from the late Pete Tymko, a long-time community member and retired farmer, the Westlock Healthcare Centre is getting new equipment that will help staff work more efficiently and improve patient care.
Tymko, originally from Jarvie, a hamlet about 38 km north of Westlock, died in October 2022 at the age of 82. Before his passing, he made the decision to leave a donation to the local healthcare centre.
His long-time partner, Adeline Peake, met with the site manager to discuss how to best allocate the funds. Peake wanted the donation to go toward something that would have a lasting impact. Drawing on her background in chemistry, she explored options that would best support the staff and how they deliver patient care.
It was decided that Tymko’s donation would fund three new Omnicell medication dispensing units for the centre.
An Omnicell medication dispensing unit is a high-tech piece of equipment used to keep medication organized and secure. For staff, it makes the job of giving out medications faster and more accurate. For patients, it ensures they get the right medicine at exactly the right time. Since the system keeps track of everything, there’s less chance of error.
The new units were recently purchased and are planned to be installed in the East Wing, West Wing and Emergency Department of the healthcare centre later this year.
“We are beyond grateful to Pete for this generous and thoughtful donation, and to Adeline for helping make it happen,” says Meagan McCoy-McLevin, site manager for Westlock Healthcare Centre.
The Healthcare Centre will also install a plaque in Tymko’s memory.
“These medication dispensing units will be a game-changer for the site,” adds McCoy-McLevin. “They save nurses time, increase patient safety, and make the process of giving medication smoother and more accurate. It will really improve how care is delivered. We are very fortunate to have had the funds to purchase them.”
Medication dispensing units are typically found in larger hospitals in bigger cities. Westlock is now one of the few smaller communities in the North Zone to be getting this advanced technology.
Tymko is remembered as a kind, generous man who loved to chat, share a laugh and connect with others. He spent many years farming in Jarvie, while working winters on oil rigs in the Arctic. He also enjoyed fishing and socializing with folks wherever he went.
After he and Peake retired, they spent 20 happy winters in Yuma, Arizona, travelling extensively in their motorhome and enjoying music festivals along the way. They covered most of the United States and all of Canada. Peake recalls their travels as very happy times.
Peake, a former federal government employee with a background in chemistry, lived in High River before meeting Tymko and moving to Jarvie.
“Pete wanted to make sure his donation was kept local. He was very community-minded, so the healthcare centre was a good fit,” she adds.
“After talking with Meagan, it sounded like this equipment would be really helpful to both staff and patients.”
“We’re so thankful for this gift,” says McCoy-McLevin. “Pete’s legacy will live on through care delivered at the Westlock Healthcare Centre.”
