Doug and Joanne Swartout, the son and daughter-in-law of Dr. Campion Swartout, the first female dentist in Melfort, in front of her new building at the Melfort and District Museum. (Ben Tompkins/northeastNOW)

By Ben Tompkins

Dr. Campion Swartout

Melfort museum unveils new dentist office in honour of local historic figure

Sep 6, 2025 | 1:00 PM

A very well-remembered and well-respected woman in Melfort’s history was honoured on Thursday.

The Dr. Campion Swartout dentist’s office had its grand opening at the Melfort and District Museum.

“I think it’s fantastic that it will live on, there will be lots of stories coming out of there from the memories that people have. This museum has done a marvellous job, and there’s a lot of very interesting stuff here. On behalf of our family, thank you to everyone here in Melfort,” explained Campion Swartout’s son, Doug.

“My mom loved this community, and I think they loved her, too. She had a really good following, especially for being a female dentist, because there weren’t too many back then. I know when she first started out it was difficult, but as it turned out, it was perfectly fine, and she had a great time in this town.”

Campion Swartout was the first female dentist in Melfort, beginning in 1951, and practiced in the community for many years.

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Now, a building has been constructed at the Melfort Museum, with plenty of her former tools and chairs residing inside.

“We are proud to display the life’s work of Dr. Campion Swartout in this building and to share her lasting legacy, particularly with the people of Melfort, and with all the visitors to our museum for many years to come,” added the Melfort and District Museum.

The equipment was donated to the museum in the late 90s and had been around for a while, but never truly had its own spot.

Now, however, after construction began in 2021 and finished last year, it’s finally where it belongs.

“I think what was happening is that they were going to take all of her stuff and send it to the dump, and somebody got the idea that maybe they should move it to the museum. Now, the building has been redone and retrofitted,” concluded Doug.

“It’s cute because the building is beside Dr. Shadd’s office at the museum, and his actual office in town was the same building that my mom’s dentist’s office later occupied. He was the first black doctor in town, and she was the first female dentist in town, so a lot of great history between the two.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8