Tell us a bit about your career background?
I began my health care career in 2008 as a home care attendant, which helped support my nursing education. After earning my Baccalaureate degree in Nursing from the University of Manitoba in 2012, I worked briefly at Bethesda Regional Health Centre before transitioning to long term care (LTC) in Vita, where I found my passion. With the support of strong mentors and a deep interest in leadership, I advanced through roles including CRN, Client Services Manager, Director of LTC, and currently serve as interim VP – Community and Continuing Care.

What do you do for fun?
When I’m not working, you can usually find me reading. The amount of time I spend on the road has also introduced me to audiobooks – I love exploring all kinds of genres and topics. I also enjoy getting creative through sculpting and painting, which is a great way to relax. And when the weather’s nice, I try to spend a lot of time outdoors – ATVing, soaking up nature, or just enjoying the fresh air, to me that is a huge stress reliver and reset.

What is something about your program you think others might find interesting?
This portfolio is incredibly diverse, supporting individuals across the entire lifespan – from newborns in midwifery and public health to seniors in long-term care. That range brings a lot of complexity, and learning about the day-to-day work our teams do has been incredibly interesting. It’s given me a deep appreciation for the dedication and expertise across all areas of care that our staff provide on a daily basis.

What is the biggest challenge your program has faced since you stepped into the VP role?
The biggest challenge since I have come into this role would be hands down the unprecedented 2025 Manitoba Wildfire Season. We were called upon to be part of the provincial response to help support evacuees that were forced to leave their homes. This also included 26 Long-Term Care (LTC) residents that we accommodated within the LTC program in Southern Health-Santé Sud as well as hundreds of individuals in the Portage la Prairie area with very little notice. This required massive coordination across all levels of the health care system and the province as a whole. Staff at all levels of the organization and in all departments went over and above to support this work and ensure that the evacuees needs were met in a caring and compassionate way – despite the many challenges that presented along the way. I could not be more appreciative or proud of the work that the staff did during that incredibly difficult time.

What is a piece of advice you would give someone considering a leadership role?
One of the best pieces of advice I received when I was considering moving into leadership was to never say no to opportunities, even the ones that feel outside your comfort zone. Every new challenge is an opportunity to try something new, learn, and build confidence. Health care is so diverse that if you try something and realize it isn’t a good fit there are always other opportunities out there to explore.