For about 40 years now, Carlyle has had a visiting doctor grace its townspeople with his skills in optometry.
Dr. Douglas Turnbull of Regina has been coming to Carlyle almost every week since 1980. The Carlyle optometrist office was founded by Dr. Jack Craig, followed by Dr. Don Hunter, who visited the town in the 1970's. But on Nov. 19, Turnbull’s time in Carlyle will come to an end.
“Carlyle has been a significant part of my professional life as an optometrist. When I started coming to Carlyle from Regina in 1980, we were located in the old post office building across the street, south of the Observer,” Turnbull explains.
After many years though, the old post office building was sold and razed and the Optometry office was relocated to Cornerstone Plaza next to Dairy Queen for approximately 12 years, then relocated once more to its current location on Main Street.
“Since late 2013 we increased our capacity by having two optometrists come together once weekly to Carlyle. This was stopped in March 2020 because of COVID 19 when only one optometrist has been coming at a time, but the office is now open two days a week, under COVID-19 protocols, to try to maintain consistent service and accessibility. Until COVID-19 is no longer a concern things will probably continue this way,” Turnbull explains.
Turnbull claims that though he has driven many times in dangerous weather and collided with three deer, he still enjoyed his drives back and forth from Regina to Carlyle on an almost weekly basis.
“Truthfully, I barely notice the travel time as it is peaceful I have gotten quite used to it. I have always been genuinely happy to see everyone who has chosen to see me and it feels like I am saying goodbye to a great number of friends from not only Carlyle but from throughout the region. I have nothing but gratitude and the warmest feelings for all.”
Turnbull is no longer going to be making the trip to Carlyle from Regina. He will also only be working in the Regina office once a week. That being said though, the optometrist office is still in good hands with its current doctors, Dr. Blanche Norbert and Dr. Kelly Morrell.
