February is Heart Health Month

Wellness Connection banner showing a person holding a red paper heart.

February is Heart Month

IERHA chronic disease nurses work in a primary health care setting with other health-care professionals such as your doctor, nurse practitioner and dietitian. They work as part of team to help you stay healthy and maintain as much independence as possible while living with a chronic disease.

Together you’ll focus on disease prevention as well as the day-to-day management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.

To connect with a chronic disease nurse near you, visit our website.

Community Wellness Website

Photo of a person using a laptop with a dog sitting nearby.

Free Provincial Park Entry in February and Inaugural Manitoba Winter Trails Day Celebrated on February 8

Source: Province of Manitoba

"The Manitoba government is encouraging Manitobans to hit the trails this winter and once again offering free park entry for the entire month of February." ~ Mike Moyes, Environment and Climate Change Minister

In addition to free park entry, Manitoba Winter Trails Day will be celebrated for the first time on Saturday, February 8. The day will occur annually on the second Saturday in February to showcase the province’s amazing winter trails and activities, celebrate the dedicated partners who create and maintain trails, and inspire Manitobans to embrace the season by enjoying outdoor adventures with family and friends, said Moyes. Read more from the Province of Manitoba.

Discover Provincial Park Locations.

Photo Credit: Marilyn Sitar, Community Wellness Facilitator. Location: Pine Point Trail, Whiteshell Provincial Park

Alzheimer Society of Manitoba

Contributor: Jackie Dokken Interlake/Eastern Regional Coordinator Alzheimer Society of Manitoba

As we age, forgetting is natural and expected. Now, at what point should you consider the occasional memory lapse to be something more serious?

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include loss of memory, difficulty with day-to-day tasks, and changes in mood and behaviour. Many people may think these symptoms are part of normal aging, still they aren’t.

It is important to see your health care provider when you notice any of these symptoms as they may be due to other conditions such as depression, drug interactions or an infection. If the symptoms are not treatable and progress over time, they may be due to damage to the nerve cells in the brain. If that’s the case, getting an early diagnosis is critical for you and your family, to ensure you and your care partners can get the support needed to maintain quality of life and also prepare for your future. If the diagnosis is Alzheimer’s disease or any other Dementia, the Alzheimer Society can help.

To help you know what warning signs to look for, the Alzheimer Society has developed a list of 10 warning signs.

Veuillez cliquer ici pour la version française.

New! Apply for your plastic health card.

Source: Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care

Have you requested your new plastic Manitoba Health Card yet? You can now apply for a modernized plastic health card online!

The new plastic health card will be delivered to you in the coming months, and don’t worry – your paper health card is still valid at healthcare facilities.

Apply for your card by visiting the Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long Term Care website.

Healthy Together Now Logos in English and French.

The Spring 2025-26 Healthy Together Now (HTN) Intake will be underway soon!

Information on the process and community meeting dates will be released in early February.

Healthy Together Now is a community-led grassroots program to help prevent chronic diseases in Manitoba. The program is coordinated by the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority and supported by the Province of Manitoba, Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery/Health Promotion and Wellness Branch.

HTN focuses on prevention activities for all ages and strives to engage the highest needs population, individuals, families, and communities. Limited funds are available, and are to be used within a year.

Community organizations can apply for funding for prevention activities in the areas of:

· Mental Well-Being

· Healthy Eating

· Tobacco Prevention & Reduction

· Physical Activity

Projects that address the Social Determinants of Health and a Health Equity Approach will receive priority for funding.

Subscribe to receive notification when the funding intake goes live.

Collage photo credit: Freepik

Bowl of soup with dishes of vegetables around it.

Budget Friendly Recipe of the Month:

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Contributors: Dana Mandryk, Nursing Student with the Home for the Summer Program; Caroline Le Clair, Registered Dietitian and Certified Chef and is a Community Wellness Faclitator with the Interlake-Eastern RHA

Our theme for 2025 is “Staff & Community Favourites!” Thank you to Dana Mandryk, Public Health summer nursing student, for submitting this month’s recipe!

“I have a very busy school schedule over the winter months. Being able to throwsomething into a crockpot, let it cook for the day, and come home to a preparedmeal after a busy day is so helpful and such a time saver!" ~ Dana Mandryk

Soup is one of the many meals that can be based on your own preferences. You can add any vegetables, meats, and toppings you like to customize this dish.

Find the recipe here!

Photo credit: Kamran Aydinov, Freepik

Banner promoting Canadian Mental Health Association Winter Classes.

Selkirk in-person classes at the Gaynor Library include: Insights to Self-Esteem (Feb. 13), Challenging Lonliness and Isolation (Feb. 27), Insights Into OCD (March 13) and Insights Into Journaling (March 27). To register please email Learningcentre@cmhawpg.mb.ca

More information can also be found on the CMHA website.

Poster or the E.M. Crowe Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room Renovation Community Survey.

We are seeking your input. Complete the Community Survey for the E.M. Crowe Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room Renovation.

Respiratory Season Update:

It’s Not Too Late to Get Vaccinated! As long as flu viruses are circulating, influenza, COVID-19 and Pneumococcal Vaccines continue to be available for you and your family’s protection.

Please visit our website for more information.

Childhood Vaccine Update:

During the school year, Manitoba public health nurses routinely offer students the following vaccines in schools with the consent of parents/legal guardians:

Grade 6 – Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Meningococcal conjugate quadrivalent (Men-C-ACYQ-135) vaccine and Hepatitis B (HBV) vaccine.
Grade 8 – Tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine or Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis and polio (Tdap-IPV) vaccine.

For more information regarding the above vaccines, please see School Immunization Program | Province of Manitoba.

Image credit: Designed by Pixabay

Join the Team!

Interlake-Eastern RHA Careers

Exciting Career Opportunities in Ashern! Join the Interlake-Eastern Health team during an exciting time of growth! With our expansion at Lakeshore General Hospital in full swing, we’re enhancing services and creating a positive, dynamic workplace to better support our community. ⁠ ⁠

Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting your healthcare career, this is your chance to make a real impact where it matters most—close to home.

Apply today and become part of our mission to deliver exceptional care:

Explore Careers on our website: ierha.ca/careers

Photo: Heather Woitowicz, Ashern Diagnostics

This information is available in alternate formats on request.

Our next issue will be in circulation in March 2025.

Community Wellness Team | Toll Free 1-877-979-9355

wellness@ierha.ca | ierha.ca