Creating ripples of positive change together

This year for National Volunteer Appreciation Week (April 27 to May 3), Interlake-Eastern Health is acknowledging 368 people from around the region who are donating their time as volunteers in health facilities and programs.

The theme for volunteer appreciation is “Volunteers Make Waves.”

“Each of our volunteers contributes to the health care system in their own way. People who donate their time, energy and personal resources to help others are inspiring. Volunteers make communities stronger and healthier through the connections they make and the people they help. Together volunteers generate waves of positive change and we are grateful for all that they do,” says Interlake-Eastern RHA CEO, Marion Ellis.

Interlake-Eastern Health’s board chair, Michele Polinuk, identifies that health care offers many ways to contribute to enhancing people’s lives. 

“If you or someone you know is looking to make a difference in the community and be of help to patients, residents and staff members, we have many different opportunities available. We thank and applaud each volunteer for their service throughout the year,” Polinuk said.

Interlake-Eastern Health’s recreation program, palliative care program and spiritual care program are all seeking volunteers. Assistance is needed with friendly visiting, reading, offering activities and crafts, assisting with meal times, helping with transportation and more. Specific opportunities are also available in some health facilities and with community partners such seniors resource councils.

The palliative care program is seeking volunteers for Camp Stepping Stones, an annual grief camp  for children held at Camp Arnes, that runs May 30 to June 1 this year. To identify interest in volunteering,  please contact Barb Ramsay, Interlake-Eastern RHA’s volunteer coordinator, [email protected], 1-855-494-7369.

Starting April 30 to June 25, the spiritual care program is running a “Spirit of Caring” training course every Wednesday from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. People who complete training are eligible to become spiritual health care volunteers in Interlake-Eastern Health. To identify interest in this training, please contact Ferdinand Funk, regional spiritual health services coordinator by phoning 204-461-3414 or emailing [email protected] by April 25, 2025.

Learn more about other volunteer opportunities by visiting www.ierha.ca and click on About Us > Community Involvement > Volunteer-opportunities.

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Advanced care paramedic program being introduced into rural Manitoba

The Manitoba government is strengthening emergency care across rural and northern Manitoba through the introduction of advanced care paramedics (ACPs) throughout the province, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today. Read more on how this announcement will benefit Interlake-Eastern Health.

Interlake-Eastern Health spiritual care course being offered this spring

Interlake-Eastern Health is hosting a nine-week course in spiritual care starting April 30. Sessions will be led by Ferdinand Funk, the health region’s spiritual health care coordinator, who will be joined by a number of invited speakers.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about your own spirituality while gaining some valuable insights on how to support someone who may be going through a difficult time due to failing health or older age,” Funk said.

The number of registrants and their location will determine if the course will be virtual or in-person at a convenient location or possibly a combination of the two.

Anyone who completes training is eligible to become a spiritual care volunteer in Interlake-Eastern Health’s hospitals or personal care homes.

“People who are interested in giving back to their community by visiting patients and long term care residents may find this training interesting and helpful. The course is very well suited to those contemplating retirement and seeking meaningful opportunities to connect with others,” Funk said.

Funk, who is a certified spiritual care practitioner with a master of divinity degree, says he is always amazed at the wealth of personal experience and wisdom that students bring with them to the course.

“It is encouraging to observe how well connected many students are with their own community, and the immediate impact they have when they sign up to become volunteers,” Funk said.

Training focuses on respecting the beliefs and values of individuals regardless of their spiritual or religious preference. People will gain a greater appreciation for the spiritual and emotional needs of patients and residents and the diversity in spirituality and religion including Indigenous history, culture and spirituality.

Currently, Interlake-Eastern Health has 25 spiritual care volunteers in the region and, according to Funk, more volunteers are always welcomed.

“Patients and personal care home residents benefit from being able to discuss how their current situation affects them spiritually and emotionally. We are always looking for volunteers who will listen without judgment and without the need to fix someone,” Funk said.

For more information, contact Ferdinand Funk at [email protected] or 204-461-3414 or register online.

Camp Stepping Stones

Camp Stepping Stones will be back in person from May 30 – June 1, 2025 and is looking for volunteers and campers! This camp is geared for kids aged seven to 17 who have recently lost a parent or somebody close to them.

Volunteers create a safe environment for kids to explore their grief alongside other youth who are also grieving.

“Volunteers are welcome to come for the weekend or for a few hours,” said Barb Ramsay, Palliative Care Volunteer Coordinator. “We are looking for volunteers to come to camp to help the campers with craft activities on Saturday and Sunday morning.”

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can fill out an application form. Different volunteer options are available, such as serving as cabin leaders and helping with activities.

In addition to volunteers, Camp is also still accepting applications for campers are also available at:

https://www.ierha.ca/programs-services/palliative-care/camp-stepping-stones/

For more information, contact Barb at [email protected], 1-855-494-7369 or 204-785-7542 or visit:

https://www.ierha.ca/programs-services/palliative-care/camp-stepping-stones/

Public health officials with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care are notifying the public of a confirmed measles case, unrelated to previously announced cases. Read more.

If your child has missed any of their immunizations, talk to your health-care provider or call your local public community health office (Click Community health office).

Assiniboine College celebrated the grand opening of its rural rotating Practical Nursing site in Beausejour. Read more: Assiniboine College celebrates grand opening for Practical Nursing rural rotating site in Beausejour | Assiniboine College

We are seeking your input to inform the renovation of E. M. Crowe Memorial Hospital’s emergency room in Eriksdale.

Public information session

Come and speak with project leads on Thursday, March 6  from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Eriksdale Recreation Centre, #2-1st Ave.

Everybody welcome!

If you have any questions, concerns or accessibility needs, please contact us at [email protected].

Public health officials with Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care are notifying the public of five confirmed cases of measles in southern Manitoba, all connected to an outbreak in Ontario. These cases involve five individuals living within the same household, all of whom were contacts of lab-confirmed cases while recently traveling in Ontario. The individuals have been asked to isolate at home. See locations where there is recent known potential for exposure to measles virus.

Time to ensure childhood vaccinations are up to date? Contact a community health office near you.

The Manitoba government is welcoming Interlake residents to weigh in on the design and development of the new Eriksdale emergency room at a project open house on March 6 at the Eriksdale Recreation Centre, Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced today. Read more

Manitobans can now apply for a modernized plastic health card online, Health, Seniors and Long-term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Innovation and New Technology Minister Mike Moroz announced today. Learn how to apply for your card.

Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (IERHA) leadership was made aware of a social media post disparaging the search for the remains of murdered Indigenous women. Multiple staff members recognized the post as racist and brought it forward to leadership.

An immediate investigation confirmed the post was linked to an IERHA employee. Direction was given to remove the post and the employee is now no longer working with IERHA.

Posts of this nature are deeply hurtful. We remain committed to reconciliation, anti-racism and to mitigating further harms through swift and decisive action.

Interlake-Eastern Health is now accepting nominations for this year’s Physician Emeritus Award.

Physicians who are retired or have reduced their practice in preparation for retirement are eligible for nomination if they have provided exemplary service and expertise to their communities.

The nomination can be submitted by either physician colleagues or by community members.

Nominations should have three signatures and a paragraph about why the physician should be considered for the award.

The regional Medical Advisory Committee will consider nominations and make the final decision about granting the designation based on the considerations listed above. The award will be presented at the annual physician dinner in April.

“As a medical professional, there is no higher honour than being recognized by the community you serve or the colleagues you work with daily,” said Dr. Charles Penner, regional lead of medical services and chief medical officer, Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority (RHA). “I look forward to the nominations of physicians in the region who go above and beyond every day for their patients.”

Have a physician in mind? Nominations should take into account the following factors:

• Length of service (commitment to the community)Scope of service

• Recognition of exemplary skill by colleagues

• Recognition by the community
• Demonstration of the Interlake-Eastern RHA values in their practice (always with compassion, success in collaboration, accountability in everything we do, acting with integrity and respectful of each other)

Please send nominations to Jennifer St. Laurent at [email protected] by February 7, 2025.

The regional Medical Advisory Committee will consider nominations and determine award recipients.

Award recipients will be recognized in-person at the annual physician dinner in April.

For past winners and other information, please see: Physician Emeritus Awards – Interlake-Eastern RHA

The first baby of 2025 arrived at Selkirk Regional Health Centre at 2:12 a.m. on New Year’s day.

Local to Selkirk, Tisha Hanson welcomed daughter Azayla who weighed seven pounds and 13 ounces and was 19.75 inches long.

Hanson says they had a good experience in the Selkirk obstetrical unit thanks to the staff.

“The staff were really good with her and me. They did everything I needed.,” Hanson said.

Chair of the Selkirk Hospital Gift Shop volunteers, Betty Milkowski, and volunteer Bev Hykawy maintained a tradition by gifting Azayla and mom with diapers, playpen, toys, blankets and clothing to celebrate the arrival of the first baby of 2025. Milkowski said the volunteers make the gift tradition possible.

“The most important thing is all the work that the volunteers do to help us. They make it possible for us to donate and help. This has been going on since the first hospital was built in Selkirk and the original ladies auxiliary was founded. Congratulations to Tisha and her new baby girl,” Milkowski said.

Dr. Bunkowsky attended the delivery. In 2024, 443 babies were born at Selkirk Regional Health Centre. Anyone interested in delivering with Selkirk’s obstetrics unit is invited to call 204.482.5800 for more information and to arrange a tour.

As part of our commitment to better service, we will begin collecting email addresses and cellphone numbers at hospital registration in our region starting January 6, 2025. We value your privacy and will only contact you from time to time for things like appointment reminders, to share educational material tailored to your care, or for occasional opportunities to share feedback.

Please visit Email Collection – Shared Health to learn more.