Tell us a bit about your career background?
I began my healthcare journey at 16 as a nurse’s aide (HCA), where I dedicated 10 years to HCA/home care work. In 1996, as a single mom, I returned to school and earned my Bachelor of Nursing degree in 2001. I started my nursing career working in high-risk obstetrics in Calgary, then moved to Texas for five years, before landing in Manitoba working at Selkirk General Hospital. There, I gained experience across various units and eventually saw an ad that changed my career path — I became the Regional Obstetrical Educator for Southern Health-Santé Sud in 2013.

In that role, I standardized obstetrical practices, wrote policies, developed regional and provincial education modules, and launched MoreOB — it truly was my dream job. Encouraged by supportive leadership, I pursued management and became the manager at Carman Memorial Hospital, where I grew alongside an amazing team of physicians and healthcare staff that were very forgiving as I developed a new set of skills in my leadership role.

I continued my leadership journey by applying for the Director role at Boundary Trails Health Centre (BTHC) where I had the pleasure once again to work with a strong team of healthcare providers. I recognize that many of the most prominent leadership skills acquired during this time were enabled by continued support of other regional leaders, the Chief Nursing Officer and that amazing teams of staff I had the pleasure of working with each and every day. I am thankful to everyone who made themselves available to answer my many questions with patience and grace.

In 2022, I stepped into the role I hold today – Vice President-Acute Care and Chief Nursing Officer — a humbling opportunity. It’s been an incredible journey, and I feel truly fortunate to be part of Southern Health-Santé Sud leadership team.

Are you from Manitoba? What do you like most about living in Manitoba?
I grew up right next to where I live now, in Interlake-Eastern. When we decided to move back to Canada, my parents offered to carve off 70 acres of their homestead for my family and I. My husband had always been an urban person, so living rural was a bit of a shock and adjustment to him. For me, I have always enjoyed rural life – having the peace and quiet, less noise and light pollution…I was excited for our children to grow up in a rural setting.

What do you do for fun? (hobbies, interests etc.)
I love camping, hiking, kayaking, downhill skiing (although I am somewhat accident prone and this sport does not serve me well) and reading. One day I would like to take up yoga and aspire to learn to knit or crochet.

What is a piece of advice you would give someone considering a career in nursing?
Nursing is an incredible field with more paths than you can imagine. From bedside nursing (extremely rewarding) to research (cutting edge) to education (molding minds) to leadership and beyond. I have done many different jobs within nursing, all with so many different rewarding aspects to them. I have always been fulfilled in my positions. It is not always easy – hours are long and sore feet abound, but it has always been worth it. I have learned so many valuable lessons in nursing. It’s funny how even on some of my worst days, a kind word from a patient or their family could lift my heart and reassure me that I am following the right career path.

What matters to you as a Chief Nursing Officer?
Supporting and advocating for our front line staff. Much of my time is dedicated to working with our leadership team, Shared Health and government partners to develop system efficiencies and address staffing challenges being felt across the health system. Progress is never fast with this type of work, but I have seen some positive changes and will continue to push the staffing agenda every chance I can.

As the CNO for Southern-Health Santé Sud, what is one thing you wish to say to all staff in our region?
My door is open and I want to hear from you – good and bad. Sometimes it is hard to understand why something happens a certain way and having a conversation can bring clarity. So please, reach out with your comments and concerns and I will do my best to respond.

This is an opportunity for an outstanding person or group of people to be recognized for their amazing accomplishments this past year. We invite you to submit your nomination today!

Quality Service Awards are offered in recognition of the extraordinary achievements and contributions of employees that extend their efforts beyond the day-to-day performance of duties by sharing their gifts of compassion, patience, kindness and professionalism with clients and colleagues (Employee Recognition ORG.1511.PL.009). The awards are presented to nominees/recipients from region’s sites/programs/services.

The CEO Career Achievement Award honors a Southern Health-Santé Sud employee or service provider with 25 years or more of continuous service, whose passion for their work, sustained positive attitude and high personal ethic has earned them the greatest respect of their peers. The employee or service provider will have made significant contributions to Southern Health-Santé Sud within the scope of their position(s) and fostered wellness in the workplace.

The Service Excellence Team Award recognizes a team of Southern Health-Santé Sud employees or service providers for their commitment to excellence and exceptional performance as well as demonstrated achievement in transforming the patient experience. The nomination can reflect the work of more than the past year.

Access the Nomination forms for the difference awards.

For any questions, please contact the Recruitment and Retention Team

Submitted by: Human Resources

Representatives from the Southern Health-Santé Sud (SH-SS) palliative care team recently attended the Canadian Public Health Association’s national conference in Winnipeg to present their groundbreaking project, Enhancing Palliative Care with First Nations Communities in Southern Health-Santé Sud. This innovative initiative, which is being carried out in partnership with Dakota Ojibway Health Services and five local First Nations, has been designed to bridge gaps in palliative care and ensure that culturally relevant services are accessible to Indigenous communities in the region.

Access the full story on our Public Website.

We’ve officially wrapped up year one of the four-year provincial sequential Accreditation model—an important milestone behind us! A heartfelt THANK YOU to all staff who contributed by participating in meetings and tracers. Your hospitality, professionalism, and kindness made a lasting impression on the surveyors at all the sites they visited.

While the full report will be available later this fall, here are some highlights from the survey.

Strengths Recognized by Surveyors:

• People-Centred Care
• Cultural Awareness and Support
• Patient Safety Incident Reporting
• Data-Informed Decision Making

Key Opportunities for Growth:

• Advancing the Electronic Health Record
• Improving Provincial Standardization
• Strengthening Environmental Stewardship
• Addressing Aging Infrastructure

What’s Next?
Looking ahead, Accreditation Canada surveyors will return in May 2026 to assess several acute care standards, along with Infection Prevention & Control and Medication Management. Preparation is underway to ensure that teams and sites have the support and resources they need for continued success.

• Be aware of Air Quality in your area – Check the Air Quality Health Index to find out current air quality observations and forecasted conditions for your area at Manitoba – Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) – Environment Canada or at Manitoba Air Quality Index (AQI) and Canada Air Pollution | IQAir
• Limit time outdoors – when air quality is low or hazardous in your area, reduce the time you spend outside. This means limiting / rescheduling outdoor sports activities, pushing yard work to a clearer day, and take more breaks in between outdoor activities
• Be aware of the symptoms of smoke inhalation – these can include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, or a mild cough. More moderate to severe symptoms can include shortness of breath, irritated / red eyes, and mild to severe nausea, to name a few
• Use a mask when capable – N95’s are effective against Wildfire smoke. They will not filter the smell of smoke, but will filter the particulates in the air present with wildfire smoke
• Hydrate – hydrating often can help prevent or deal with the minor symptoms associated with smoke inhalation
• Those at higher risk – People at higher risk of impact from outdoor smoke inhalation include those aged 65 or older, infants and young children, pregnant women, those with preexisting illnesses and conditions such as asthma, and people who work outdoors
• Keep indoor air as clean as possible – this includes both at work and at home. Keep windows and doors closed as much as possible & change your furnace / air filters if necessary. Report to your manager / supervisor early if you believe that smoke has entered your workplace
• Vehicles – When driving through smoky areas, set your AC to recirculate the air throughout the vehicle
• Mental Wellness – Going through emergencies like these effects everyone differently. Check in on your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers, both for their benefit and yours
• Seek help – get medical assistance early if you believe you have been impacted by poor air quality

June is Stroke Month and Heart & Stroke is sharing five facts everyone should know about stroke – but probably doesn’t. More than 108,000 strokes occur every year in Canada and yet, more than one-third of Canadians don’t know the most common signs of stroke* and seven in 10 Canadians don’t understand the risk factors for stroke and heart disease**.

Five Surprising Facts About Stroke

1. Stroke can happen at any age
   While stroke risk increases as people get older, stroke can happen to anyone. Young adults, babies and young children can all have strokes. In fact, risk of stroke in children is greatest in the weeks surrounding their birth; every day in Canada one baby has a stroke during this critical time and more than 10,000 children are living with stroke.
2. Stroke is on the rise — but more people survive
   A stroke now occurs roughly every five minutes in Canada. Our aging population is a big reason for the increase, but more younger people are also having strokes. This is linked to increases in risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. In fact, about one in 20 strokes in Canada occurs in people under the age of 45, according to Heart & Stroke funded research, and emerging evidence points to young women being at higher risk than young men.
   
   The number of people surviving stroke has increased over the past several decades and now almost one million people in Canada are living with stroke.
3. Stroke is linked to heart health “The heart can affect the brain, the brain can affect the heart, and they can both be affected by other processes in the body” says Dr. Thalia Field, a stroke neurologist, professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia and a Heart & Stroke-funded researcher.
   
   Heart conditions like heart failure, congenital heart disease and atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of stroke – sometimes dramatically – and stroke can increase the risk of heart conditions including cardiac arrest. This is because the heart and brain are connected by the vascular system – a network of vessels that carry blood and oxygen throughout the body.
4. Stroke can be prevented
   Up to 80% of premature stroke and heart disease can be prevented by embracing healthy habits like eating a healthy diet, being active and living smoke-free. This is harder for some people than others because of factors like their financial situation, where they live and other inequities. And some risk factors like age, sex and family history cannot be changed.
5. Knowing the FAST stroke signs saves lives
   Recognizing the signs of stroke and acting quickly can mean the difference between life and death, or between a better recovery and a lasting disability. FAST is an easy and memorable way to remember the major signs of stroke.
   
   Since launching the FAST campaign in 2014, the number of Canadians who can name at least two FAST signs of stroke has doubled. But despite this progress more needs to be done to increase awareness, and recognition varies across the country.

*National, bilingual online poll of 3824 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out November 13, 2024 – December 17, 2024 by Environics Research Group.
** National, bilingual online poll of 2003 Canadian residents 18 years and older, carried out May 29 – June 9 2023 by Environics Research Group.

For more information:

• Backgrounder
• More information about stroke

Navigating Moral Distress in Healthcare – A Panel Discussion

Wednesday, June 11 from 1-2 p.m. (Microsoft Teams)

Tune in to our upcoming panel discussion on Navigating Moral Distress in Healthcare. Discussion points will include root causes, organizational change, and advice moving forward. We invite staff to submit questions they would like addressed to the panel. Learn more here.

Drop-in Virtual Wellbeing Practice Sessions for Staff and Leaders

The Provincial Wellbeing team is pleased to announce the next series of virtual drop-in wellbeing practice sessions for staff and leaders. These short, informal, 15-minute drop-in sessions provide a supportive safe space to practice mindfulness techniques, stress management tools, and self-care strategies in a peer-supported environment. Whether you only have a few minutes or can stay for the full session, you’re welcome to come as you are and stay for as long as your schedule allows. These sessions are offered virtually.

Information on sessions and details on how to attend

• June 4 at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. – Mental Health During Menopause
• June 18 at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. – Compassion Fatigue
• June 25 at 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. – Introduction to Psychological Body Armour

Note: No sessions scheduled for June 11

Access the latest April 2025 be resilient. publication of the Blue Cross Employee Assistance Program.

Tell us a bit about your career background?
I completed my Family Medicine residency in Dauphin, where I discovered a strong desire to continue with a rural family practice. I was drawn to the flexibility and variety of practice opportunities especially in emergency, hospital medicine, and CancerCare—I found a great opportunity to build that kind of practice at Boundary Trails Health Centre and CW Wiebe Medical Centre.

Over time, I became increasingly involved in health systems leadership, starting with local initiatives during the pandemic. Those experiences grew into broader regional work and eventually led me to taking on the role of Regional Lead – Medical Services.

Are you from Manitoba? What do you like most about living in Manitoba?
I’m originally from Toronto but have lived in Manitoba for the past 12 years—and I’m happy to call it home. What’s kept me here are the people. There’s a strong sense of community, supportive friendships, and great colleagues. It’s a place where people look out for one another, and that makes a big difference both personally and professionally. It’s these relationships that have kept me and my family here.

You wear many hats in your new role. Tell us what a week in the life of a Regional Lead – Medical Services & Chief Medical Officer looks like. Are you still a practicing physician?
No two weeks look the same, which is part of what I enjoy. A big part of the role involves connecting with physicians, operational leaders, and teams – listening, aligning, and helping solve problems. There’s a strong focus on recruitment, workforce planning, and supporting broader system initiatives.
I still practice clinically – mostly in CancerCare and long-term care. It gives me a clear view of what patients and staff are experiencing and helps ensure that leadership decisions stay connected to the day-to-day reality of care.

What matters to you as a physician?
Patient experience is always at the centre. I also see it as my responsibility to advocate for our physician teams—supporting them so they can deliver the best care possible. Beyond that, I’m focused on helping build and modernize a health care system that truly fits the needs of our communities, both now and into the future.