We’re acknowledging this day by wearing buttons designed by youth from the region.

Click here to read the full story about the young artists and their inspiration.

Staff in Teulon joined artist Alivia with her winning pin design.

"My design was created because the dreamcatcher gets rid of the bad dreams and lets in good dreams," she said. "The feathers are for strength as we remember all the children."

From left to right are recreation facilitator Sophia Kroeker, health-care aide Mallory Osbak, artist Alivia, clinical team manager Kim Hansen and admitting clerk Rose-Ann Campbell.

Bruno was welcomed at Stonewall and District Health Centre for presentation of his award.

"The yellow is like the sun of a new day, and the heart shows love. Orange is to remember every child matters," Bruno said of his design. "The words mean I'm here to learn and be there for my family and friends."

From left to right are Janice Baryliuk, LPN; Erin Fontaine-Walsh, clinical resource nurse; Kim Minnis, interim clinical team manager; artist Bruno; Wendy Sadowski, ward clerk; Laurel Woods, RN; Marjorie Myhre, LPN; and Lindsay Slaney, health-care aide.

Staff at Whitemouth Personal Care Home joined artist Christina with her winning pin design.

"My submission represents the bond between a mother, the one who nurtures and cultivates life and the pure soul in her arms, representing the grief that comes with the loss of our children that never returned home," Christina said. "The sweet grass represents the strength and the connection to the creator and all our relations; every child matters."

From left to right: health-care aide Tessa Stead, housekeeping aide Kayla Gross, housekeeping aide Kathleen Burns, clinical team manager Clayton Fisher, receptionist Lillian Bilynsky, health-care aide Candace Pommer, artist Christina, health-care aide Cheri Mutch, Christina’s mom Samantha Dumas, recreation co-ordinator Kristine Wood, Christina’s dad Patrick Ducasse and Christina’s teacher Heather McBurney.

Staff at St. Laurent Health Centre congratulated Emily on her win.

"I was attempting to draw an eye-catching design that would make the general public think of the Indigenous peoples — a dreamcatcher," Emily said of her design. "It also represents their spirituality and how the Indigenous traditions and culture still thrive today, despite residential schools, in most families’ homes."

From left to right are Janna Buors, primary care receptionist clerk; Amanda Halldorson, home care resource co-ordinator; artist Emily; Lori Carriere, RN and French language services co-ordinator.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is coming up on Sept. 30. Let us know if you've committed to a challenge to further your journey towards reconciliation.

• Another idea for a challenge is to read the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report. Click here to learn more.

• CBC also shared 10 simple actions you can take to learn more about reconciliation.

Let us know what steps you're taking and we might share your thoughts in an upcoming edition of the Wave. Email ierhawave@ierha.ca.

Da-giiwewaat (So They Can Go Home) Moccasin Project is a national campaign that is raising awareness about child apprehension impacting Indigenous children in Canada.

The goal is to eradicate racism and bring children home to their families and communities

The project aims to get everyone involved in making 165,000 moccasins for Indigenous children affected by the child welfare system of Canada. Learn more.

Survivors Flags are flying at hospitals across the region.

This video called A Mother's Voice shares the history of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools and their legacy seen through the eyes of a survivor and her daughter.

All are welcome to join Manitoba Harm Reduction Network for an engaging conversation on harm reduction and reconciliation. The event will explore how harm reduction and reconciliation are connected and paths forward for a safer, more caring community. The event is free to attend and open to the public. 

The event takes place Friday, Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at United Church Selkirk, located at 202 McLean Ave. They will also try to stream the event via this link.

Check out this poster for more details. And click here to learn more about the panelists.

For more info, contact MHRN network co-ordinator Tristan Dreilich at tristan@mhrn.ca or 204-785-7501.

Thank you to Samantha Roberts, lead of occupational safety and health, disability management and regional education, for this submission.

Occupational Safety and Health featured a Safety Superstar event earlier this year. The goal was to acknowledge the dedicated work our staff do to keep themselves and others safe in the workplace and celebrate them. Manitoba Association for Safety in Healthcare selected the winners.



Rose-Ann was nominated for “being a driving force in Teulon’s success in being Safe Work Certified. She took on the challenge and with her positive attitude and determination has been a fantastic asset to Teulon as part of our safety committee and always gives constructive feedback and is willing to help problem-solve."

Rose-Ann received a gift earlier this month for earning the title of Safety Superstar!

Pictured left to right: Candace Blahey, director of health services acute – rural; main prize winner Rose-Ann Campbell, admitting clerk in Teulon; Julene Sawatzky, regional human resources lead; and (in the back) Cameron Benedictson, occupational safety and health officer.

Angela Deloughery

Lucille Husluk

A mother and her two daughters continue to make a difference in the lives of others through their role in health care.

For more than 40 years, Lucille Husluk has been working as a health-care aide — and her passion for her profession inspired her daughters to follow in her footsteps.

Like her mom, Angela Deloughery decided to become a health-care aide and has been working in the role for about 16 years. Her sister, Sarah, has also served as a health-care aide for more than a decade.

Currently, Lucille is involved in home care throughout the Gimli area, although she has also worked stints in other communities including Teulon, Arborg and Riverton over the years.

“I’ve worked all around the Interlake area. I don’t just like my job, I love it," said Lucille.

“It’s a great job. I think people don’t realize how good you feel. I go home and feel like I’ve done something for someone.”

This enthusiasm encouraged her daughter Angela Deloughery to consider the same professional path.

“My mom would always come home happy. I thought it seemed like it would be a good job for myself too,” said Deloughery, works in home care based out of the Gimli area and sometimes travels to other communities such as Arnes and Winnipeg Beach.

“It’s a very rewarding job. I would definitely recommend it for others to try.”

Read the full story.

An uncertified health-care aide program is coming to Selkirk in fall 2023. With only 15 days of training, you can be working as an employee in the IERHA. Training is paid and there’s no tuition costs. Please contact Ian Magnan, recruitment and community engagement officer, at 204-340-5596 or imagnan@ierha.ca for more information. 

The Interlake-Eastern RHA board of directors would like to invite you to their annual general meeting that will be held virtually using Zoom on Tuesday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m.

Agenda highlights will include a review of this year’s activities by members of the board of directors, CEO report, audited financial statement and award announcements.

Click here to see a poster.

Click here for the Zoom link.

Thank you to Amanda Preachuk, infection prevention and control co-ordinator acute care, for this important reminder as we enter respiratory virus season.

Before each interaction, assess the following:

The Patient:

• What are their symptoms (cough, sneeze, diarrhea)?
• Are there additional precautions for infectious agents in place?
• Is the patient able to practice respiratory etiquette and perform hand hygiene?
• Has the patient been screened for infectious symptoms?

The Task:

• What type of task am I carrying out (direct face-to-face care, personal care, non-clinical care)?
• Is additional equipment required to safely carry out the task (dressings, emesis basin)?
• Am I trained and ready for the task?

The Environment:

• Are there potential hazards (ongoing AGMP)?
• Is there risk to/from others (shared rooms, patients with infectious symptoms)?
• Is there enough space to maintain physical distancing?
• Can the area be properly cleaned/disinfected? 

Then ask yourself the following:

• Could my hands be exposed to blood, body fluids or contaminated items? If YES, wear gloves.
• Could my clothing or skin come into contact with blood or body fluids, including splashes/sprays? If YES, wear a gown.
• Could my eyes or face be splashed/sprayed with blood or body fluids? If YES, wear face protection (mask & eye protection and/or face shield).
• Is there a risk or airborne transmission (e.g. TB, measles, patient with COVID-19 requiring AGMP)? If YES, wear a fit-tested N95 respirator or equivalent and perform a seal check.
• Is the patient on any additional precautions (e.g. contact, droplet, airborne)? If YES, wear PPE required by the type of additional precautions and/or zone in addition to your risk assessment.

Click here to see a poster. 

COVID-19, flu and other respiratory viruses will be circulating this fall and winter.

Public health officials recommend all previously immunized people aged six months and older receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall. This vaccine should be given six months since a person’s last dose or infection, whichever is later. Public health also continues to recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for anyone who has not been previously immunized. 

Updated vaccines will be available this fall and have been formulated to provide better protection against XBB.1.5, which is an offshoot of the omicron variant. To date, Health Canada has approved an updated Moderna vaccine for those six months of age and older and is reviewing updated Pfizer and Novavax vaccines. 

Public health officials also recommend all eligible people (aged six months and older) receive a seasonal flu vaccine. The vaccine is formulated every year to protect against the strains of flu virus expected to circulate. Manitoba also recommends the high-dose flu vaccine for all people aged 65 and older. This vaccine provides older people who are at greater risk of severe illness with a stronger immune response and better protection against infection and serious symptoms. 

Based on vaccine approvals and deliveries, the province expects the general public may begin to access vaccines by early to mid-October. Vaccines will once again be available at many convenient locations across the province including pharmacies, medical clinics, public health offices and immunization clinics organized by regional health authorities or in partnership with community organizations.

Most locations will be posted on the province’s online vaccine finder as details are confirmed. Information will also be available from local public health offices and posted in communities in the coming weeks. 

Click here to see the provincial government bulletin and watch the news conference.

October Staff Wellness & Health Booster Session – Loneliness

Humans everywhere are built for connections interactions and relationship. We thrive and become resilient when we are strongly connected.

Isolation and loneliness are social and public health issues that affect all ages. It can happen because of situations out of our control. Loneliness is silent suffering.

This session will talk about strategies to overcome that feeling of isolation and what we can do for ourselves and others

Presenter: Tara Brousseau Snider, CEO of Sara Riel Mental Health & Addictions

Live session: Wednesday, Oct. 18 at 12 p.m.

Rebroadcasts:

• Friday, Oct. 20 at 3 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 12 p.m.

Learn more.

KIDTHINK is launching a series of free live online workshops tailored for caregivers.

The workshops are led by KIDTHINK clinicians and are built to help you understand and support the young minds in your care. These sessions are available at no cost thanks to the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund.

Upcoming Workshops:

• Oct. 18: Managing Challenging Behaviour in Children | 5 to 7 p.m.
• Nov. 15: ADHD for Caregivers | 5 to 7 p.m.
• Dec. 20: Understanding Childhood Anxiety | 5 to 7 p.m.
• Jan. 17: Understanding Childhood OCD | 5 to 7 p.m.
• Feb. 21: Mindfulness for Children and Caregivers | 5 to 6:30 p.m.
• March 20:Self-Regulation in Children | 5 to 7 p.m.
• April 17: Parenting Tips for Healthy Sleep Habits | 5 to 7 p.m.
• May 15: Understanding Depression in Youths | 5 to 7 p.m.
• June 19: Managing Challenging Behaviour in Children | 5 to 7 p.m.

Register now by clicking HERE or by clicking on one of the links above. Spaces are filling up, so act fast!

Order cut-off is Sept. 29 for delivery to corporate office on Oct. 20.

The next order cut off is Nov. 17 for delivery to corporate office on Dec. 8.

Visit our online shop.

TNSE Preferred Group partners save on event tickets. INTERLAKE1 unlocks your seat.

CORTEO by CIRQUE DU SOLEIL has been added to the Canada Life Centre Super Group Program! Click here to check out a video preview of the show, which runs from Dec. 7 to 10.

To access the super group offer:

1. Click link - https://www.tnse.com/offers/
2. Select "Find tickets."
3. Select the show, date and time you want to attend.
4. Top right-hand page select the UNLOCK Icon
5. Enter IERHA's unique password – INTERLAKE1. If entered correctly it will turn green and say unlocked.
6. Select tickets, add to cart, review and proceed to checkout!

Check out other events that are part of the Super Group Program including Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill: The Musical at the Centennial Concert Hall.

To access TNSE Preferred Group Offers, visit https://www.tnse.com/offers/. Check often since they add discounts without sending notification. For all events, you will have to enter IERHA's unique password INTERLAKE1 prior to selecting seats. 

The discounts are not accessible by going directly to the event on Ticketmaster. You can only access from https://www.tnse.com/offers/ 

As a member of IERHA, you are eligible for exclusive savings on TELUS products and services.

• Get the all-new iPhone 15 Pro and enjoy special pricing! Be the first to get the all-new iPhone 15 Pro and enjoy special rate plan pricing with the TELUS Exclusive Partner Program.

• The ultimate offer for the ones you love: Samsung S23 for $2.29/month. On a 2-year term with TELUS Easy Payment and Bring-It-Back. Offer available exclusively when you add a line to an existing TELUS EPP account. New activations only

• Bring your own device and make your choice: 50GB CAN-US for $55/month or 30GB for $45/month. Offer includes a $5/month credit for 24 months when you bring your own device. Plus, get the $60 connection fee waived for all new activations.

Learn more.

IERHA employees save more on long distance calling!

IERHA employees receive preferred group rates on long distance calls for cellular, business and home phones.

Receive a free bill analysis to compare your savings with long distance rates starting at 6.5¢/minute (direct dial), 7.5¢/minute (toll free) and 10¢/minute (cellular long distance).

For the month of October, receive a $5 credit with each referral. Click here to see a flyer with more details.

For more information: email info@westcangroup.ca or call 1-800-665-0384 and mention HUB Select as well as that you are an IERHA employee.

IERHA employees are eligible for a corporate rate through Shapes.

Program Details:

• Put membership on hold if going away
• Anyone living with you can get your corporate rate
• Free meeting with personal fitness coach
• Free Group Fitness Classes
• Access to multiple locations
• State-of-the-art yoga rooms
• 24/7 access

Learn more.

We're looking for your story ideas!

Send your submission of 250 words or less to ierhawave@ierha.ca by Friday and we'll work to get your story into the next issue.

We're taking a break from publishing editions in weeks following statutory holidays.

There will be no issue of the Wednesday Wave published on Oct. 4.