Wednesday Wave
News and updates for Interlake-Eastern Health staff
Oct. 7, 2026
| | Congrats to the Chair's Award winners! | | |
Congratulations are in order for several Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority employees who earned recognition for their outstanding contributions.
At the Oct. 5 AGM, board chair Michele Polinuk announced four winners of the Chair’s Award, which acknowledge staff who are an inspiration to their colleagues, going above and beyond in delivering care to clients and staff. Any staff member can submit a nomination.
“I had the tough job of narrowing it down from 41 nominations to four very deserving individuals who embody the values of the IERHA in their day-to-day work,” said Michele, who personally phoned the nominees and presented them with their awards in person at their facility.
Melissa Ireland, a pharmacist from Ashern and Eriksdale, has a wealth of pharmacy knowledge and is a respected member of the team at both hospitals.
Selkirk-based Krystal Irvine shows exemplary leadership, integrity and commitment to residents, families and staff in her role as infection prevention and control coordinator for the long-term care program.
Based in Oakbank, Monica Penner is a caring occupational therapist who goes above and beyond in her role.
Marlo Gusberti is hard-working, diligent and trustworthy in every aspect of her role as health information services clerk.
Read more
| | Pine Falls Hospital team marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | | The team posed for a quick photo with some of the rocks. Left to right: Vicki, ward clerk; Dr. Soltani; Chrissy, health-care aide; Laurie, PTNT RN; Amanda, CRN; Dorielle, health-care aide; Wendy, health-care aide; Joseph, RN. Second row: Dr. Badri; Anju, RN; Cynthia, RN. | | |
On Sept. 30, the Pine Falls Hospital team came together with incredible spirit and community heart to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
They listened, learned and honoured the children and Survivors of the residential school system through:
- A traditional meal: Gloria Kohinski cooked a traditional wild rice chicken soup. They paired it with delicious fresh bannock and frybread provided by one of their amazing co-workers, Eileen Starr.
- Memorial painted rocks: Staff painted memorial rocks as a visual tribute to the children who never returned home. (Vicki brought in the painted rocks and the paints and then protected them with a clear coat.)
- Community display: While they originally planned to put the rocks outside, Kathy from Gigewigamig kindly stepped in to feature them in their indoor community display case. Thank you, Kathy!
Click here to see more photos.
| | A meaningful gift from one Elder to another | | |
Elder Alfred Pruden gifted Elder Robert Maytwayashing with beautiful white jacket, pictured here at the Ashern Legion on Sept. 23.
Elder Pruden explained the significance of the jacket:
The fringed jacket represents the thunder birds.
The fringes represent the feathers of the thunderbird, also the rain.
It's also protection and strength for the people.
Spiritually significant connection to nature.
The beading designs also have different meanings such as Mother Nature, the Earth, wind, mountains, fire and medicines of any kind.
As we get older, we earn the right to wear different colours.
Red is a warrior colour.
Black is also a warrior colour.
White is worn by the elders.
| | Employee Assistance Program workshops | | |
Manitoba Blue Cross offers expert-led workshops and seminars to help you gain new perspectives, improve communication, reduce stress, strengthen resilience and support a healthy workplace culture.
Neurodiversity in the Workplace
Thursday, Oct. 8 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
As workplaces become more aware of the importance of diversity and inclusion, it is vital to understand and embrace the unique strengths and challenges that come with different ways of thinking and functioning – also known as neurodiversity.
This session will explore the spectrum of neurodiversity and how embracing diverse cognitive styles can foster a more inclusive and innovative organizational culture. Attendees will gain practical strategies for creating supportive environments that promote the unique talents of neurodivergent individuals.
Reserve your spot
Financial Planning and Your Retirement
Wednesday, Oct. 14 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Retirement planning often leads to many questions: Can I afford to retire? What will my pension provide? Will government sources help me? Have I saved and invested sufficiently? This retirement planning seminar will address these and many other questions we ask ourselves and others as we prepare for the next stage of our lives.
Reserve your spot
Check out more upcoming sessions. We encourage all staff to review the sessions available and sign up for any you may find valuable.
| | Student overcomes uncertainty through job-shadow experience | | |
When Russel Nato first had the idea to volunteer and shadow in a hospital, he was initially filled with fear and uncertainty.
“In my mind, the hospital was a dreadful place where people went when they were in pain, were told difficult news and experienced some of the darkest times of their life,” said the Grade 11 Arborg Collegiate student.
“I was anxious and intimidated by the idea that the staff and patients would be unwelcoming or find it awkward being around me. I assume I would be dismissed for being a student. I am happy to say that I was very wrong.”
Russel job-shadowed for seven weeks at the Arborg hospital and one week at the Gimli hospital – and he was surprised by how much he enjoyed the experience.
“Job shadowing with IERHA has given me a much better understanding of how the people and departments in medicine work together to keep our loved ones healthy and provide us with their genuine care. I got first-hand insight from both hospital and personal care home settings,” he said.
“I had the opportunity to learn from nurses, health-care aides, lab staff, rehabilitation teams, physicians and the patients themselves. My earlier fears turned into inspiration as I saw the effort, compassion and responsibility our health-care workers put into caring for others.”
At the same time, he also became more aware of how providing good patient care depends not only on the people working in hospitals but also on the resources and support available to them.
“Experiencing medical in both Arborg and Gimli also helped me understand how essential these services are to the rural communities. It meant so much to hear encouragement from those I shadowed and the patients who I observed, making me feel truly welcomed by the community,” he said.
“I am very thankful to everyone who has taken the time to welcome me, answer my questions and let me learn from their work. This experience has made me even more motivated to pursue a future in health care here in Manitoba – and, hopefully one day, in the Interlake.”
Lori Buors, Indigenous human resources officer, thanked staff in Arborg and Gimli for making Russel’s experience a success.
“Even though staff were taking holidays, they made it work,” she said.
| | Services to Seniors offices launch new Community Cupboard initiative | | |
Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority’s Beausejour and Ashern Services to Seniors offices are pleased to introduce a new initiative called the Community Cupboard.
Inspired by the compassionate, community-focused work of two women in Lundar, the Community Cupboard was created with the understanding that local initiatives can make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults.
“We are grateful for their example and the inspiration they provided in developing this resource,” said Amanda Dillabough, Services to Seniors coordinator.
The Community Cupboard has since been passed on to Lundar Seniors Resource, where it continues to support community members in need. It is designed to support older adults in the community who may be experiencing food insecurity or unexpected financial hardship.
With the rising costs of groceries and personal care items, many older adults are facing increased financial pressures. This growing resource provides discreet access to essential non-perishable food and hygiene items, helping older adults maintain their independence and remain safely in their homes longer.
This initiative is supported through both the Beausejour and Ashern Services to Seniors offices, each working within their own communities to increase awareness and access to the Community Cupboard and to ensure older adults can connect with supports closer to home.
In addition to the Community Cupboard, the Beausejour and Ashern Services to Seniors offices assist older adults with a variety of practical support and community connections, such as housekeeping, transportation and other supports that promote independent living. Community members interested in giving back are encouraged to inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Community donations to the Community Cupboard are also welcomed and appreciated. This program is not intended to replace the local food bank but rather to complement existing services by focusing specifically on the needs of older adults and by providing greater daytime accessibility throughout the year.
Donations of non-perishable food items and personal hygiene products — such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap and incontinence supplies — are greatly appreciated. The programs may also accept complete puzzles (with no missing pieces) since they hope to coordinate a puzzle exchange to help keep older adults engaged, active and socially connected.
For more information about local programs, volunteer opportunities or available services, please contact:
Beausejour Services to Seniors
Amy Friederici, Healthy Aging Facilitator
Phone: 204-403-8205
Email: afriederici@ierha.ca
Ashern Services to Seniors
Maria Michaniuk, Healthy Aging Facilitator
Phone: 431-253-0476
Email: MMichaniuk@ierha.ca
| | Interlake Eastern Health Foundation | | Marlene and Bev from SRHC Gift Shop share a laugh at the AGM. | | Allied Health staff with Bob and Wendy McLeary. | | |
Interlake Eastern Health Foundation Annual General Meeting
At the Annual General Meeting on Sept. 29, the Foundation celebrated an incredible year of community support and investment, including:
- More than $633,000 invested in health care — a 21 per cent increase over the previous year, helping enhance care across our region.
- A new IERHA Staff Payday Payout 50/50 Raffle — another fun way for our community to support local health care.
- More than $33,000 raised through the IERHA $5 Club, showing how small monthly gifts can make a big difference.
- A new Development Committee of the board was established to help strengthen our fundraising efforts and build for the future.
- A new Strategic Plan was introduced, providing a clear direction for the Foundation and our work in the years ahead.
- More than $16,000 was granted from Endowment Funds, supporting health-care priorities while honouring the generosity and vision of donors who established these funds.
- We welcomed new board member Stephanie Jeffrey and said a heartfelt thank you and farewell to long-time board member Brent Wynnyk for his years of service and commitment to the Foundation.
Thank you to all the IERHA staff who attended the AGM – it has a huge impact on our donors to have you there!
View our annual report.
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Payday Payout 50/50!
Congratulations to our most recent winners!
Kevin S took home $5,947.50 in the Sept. 17 draw with Ticket Number D-6318!
Anita C. took home our largest prize ever. She won $6,147.50 in the Oct. 1 draw with Ticket Number C-2619!
Want your chance to get in on the fun? Visit https://www.iehf.ca/ierha-payday-payout-50-50-raffle/ to learn more.
Upcoming Draw Information – Please note!
Tickets for the Oct.15 raffle will be sent out early this time only because of Thanksgiving and Foundation staff holidays. Please look for them to arrive late in the day on Thursday, Oct. 8.
| | Thank you to Interlake Eastern Health Foundation executive director Averill Stephenson for sharing this submission. If you have any questions — or if you'd like to know more about fundraising and upcoming projects — please contact Averill at 204-485-5139 or astephenson@ierha.ca | | |
When an animal is in distress or unresponsive, many people may feel an instinct to help such as by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In Manitoba, CPR courses for cats or dogs are offered for this reason and are becoming more popular.
However, public health does not recommend mouth-to-nose (or mouth-to-mouth) resuscitation for animal CPR since it can put the person performing it at risk of being bitten or contracting diseases like rabies from the animal. It is important for everyone to be aware of these health risks.
Read more
| | Regional Knowledge Keeper Robert Maytwayashing, Indigenous Health Elder and Knowledge Keeper Alfred Pruden and clinical assistant Cibil Jones at the Indigenous Cultural Awareness session at the Ashern Legion on Sept. 23. A total of 27 people attended the session. | | |
Indigenous Cultural Awareness sessions
This one-day workshop introduces basic knowledge of world views, spiritual and cultural values of Indigenous peoples.
Seats are available for the following sessions:
Learn more in this poster, including additional dates.
Register on LMS.
Please only register for one session. LMS will send a confirmation for the course date that you are regitered for. If you need to cancel, please ensure to do so at least two weeks prior to the date.
For more info, contact Lori at lbuors@ierha.ca. Please also contact Lori if you cancel your registration on LMS.
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Ethics Education Series Schedule 2026-27
The St. Boniface Hospital Health Care Ethics Service and Shared Health Ethics are offering monthly hour-long virtual ethics education sessions for health-care providers. Registration is free and sessions run from noon to 1 p.m.
Upcoming topics include:
- Oct. 8: Small Patients, Weighty Choices: Pediatric Decision Making
- Nov. 10: Compassion without Condition: Harm Reduction Ethics
- Nov. 26: Who Gets What: The Ethics of Allocation
- See more dates and topics
To register go to https://www.healthcareethics.ca/education An MS Teams link will be sent to you a day prior to each session.
Questions? Please email Lydia Shawarsky at lshawarsky@sbgh.mb.ca or call 204.235.3619
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WCB Lunch and Learn
WCB is hosting a virtual lunch and learn on TODAY (Oct. 7) at noon via Teams.
The session is being hosted by Jennifer Williams from WCB. The purpose is to provide understanding on return to work via an interactive training, which provides supervisors and front-line leaders with a comprehensive overview of their responsibilities in supporting workplace injury management and successful return-to-work outcomes.
Participants will explore their role before, during and after a workplace incident, with a focus on effective communication, timely reporting, accommodation planning and supporting workers throughout recovery.
If you would like to attend, please email hello@mashmb.ca
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Nursing Grand Rounds
Date: Tuesday, Oct. 13 from noon to 1 p.m.
Presenter: Dr. Heidi Fan, assistant professor, College of Nursing, University of Manitoba
Topic: Perceptions of Virtual Breastfeeding Support
Click here for Zoom link.
Click here for recordings of previous presentations.
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IERHA International Nurses’ Community of Practice
Meets Oct. 14 from 11 a.m. to noon via Teams.
Speaker: Rachel Mamott, Labour Relations Officer from the Manitoba Nurses’ Union, will take your questions about working in a unionized environment. Bring your questions: heavy workload forms, mandating – anything you’d like to know, she’ll help you find the first steps. A comfortable place to get informed about MNU resources and processes available to you!
To receive your meeting invite and link, email ehertz@ierha.ca. If you will be on shift, inform your manager you’d like committee time to attend. Attendance supported for those joining from home.
Open to all IERHA nurses with international experience from all programs. Come and connect to learn and thrive!
Questions? Contact Erin Hertz, MHS – IEN Onboarding, at ehertz@ierha.ca
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Ethics Core Competencies Education Workshops
St. Boniface Hospital Health Care Ethics Service and Shared Health Ethics are offering the Ethics Core Competencies Education Workshops for 2026-27. The Ethics Core Competencies Education Day is an interactive workshop designed to build foundational knowledge in health-care ethics. It is open to members of ethics committees and anyone interested in strengthening their ethics knowledge and decision-making skills. No prior coursework is required.
All times are from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. In-person sessions are at Réseau Compassion Network Gathering Space, 101-156 Marion St. in Winnipeg.
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Oct. 14 – In person
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Dec. 9 – Virtual, MS Teams
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Jan. 20, 2027 – Virtual, MS Teams
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Feb. 25 – In person
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March 31 – In person
The content of each workshop offering is the same – you need only register once through LMS. Anyone who is unable to register through LMS should email Lydia Shawarsky at lshawarsky@sbgh.mb.ca
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30th Annual Bug Day
Thursday, Oct. 22
Open to everyone interested in the prevention and control of communicable diseases. Globally recognized experts will address timely, significant topics in infectious diseases and public health at Bug Day. Presentations are 15 minutes each, followed by Q&A.
Bug Day is a free health-care education event – Live-streamed online – Accredited for physicians and can be used for continuing education purposes by other health-care workers.
This popular day-long symposium is hosted by Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg in collaboration with University of Manitoba’s Continuing Professional Development Medicine Program. The event is offered free of charge, and you must register to attend online.
Agenda and registration link here
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Fourth Annual Health Care Ethics Workshop
Topic: Dignity of Risk: Honouring Choices, Values & Independence
Date: Friday, Nov. 6
Location: Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens Parish Hall, 289 Dussault Ave. (in person and virtual)
To view program and information on how to register please go to: Dignity of Risk: Honouring Choices, Values & Independence Tickets, Friday, November 6 • 8:30 AM - 3:45 PM | Eventbrite
Learn more.
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Coping with Change
Coping with Change groups provide an opportunity for parents with children under the age of one to talk about their experiences and the wide range of emotions that come with the addition of a new baby.
The next session starts Nov. 6 at Stonewall Community Health Office and runs for five Fridays from 1 to 3 p.m. Register by Oct. 30. Learn more.
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ASIST: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training
Nov. 19 and 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Selkirk Regional Health Centre
Participants must attend the two full days to receive certificate of completion.
Click here to see a poster.
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Ethics in Patient and Public Engagement: Principles, practices and pitfalls
March 9, 2027, from noon to 1 p.m.
This webinar will introduce key ethical principles, common challenges and practical strategies to support ethical engagement. Participants will explore real-world scenarios to reflect on ethical tensions and how to address them in their own work.
Learn more.
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Osez parler français! Dare to speak French!
“I might make a mistake.”
“My French isn’t good enough.”
“What if I don’t know the right word?”
These worries are examples of linguistic insecurity, the unease or anxiety we can feel when using a language. In health care, that insecurity can sometimes stop people who know French from using it with their patients. Difference en français has a simple message: it’s OK to try.
Your French does not have to be perfect to be valuable. Speaking with Francophone patients in their preferred language can help them better understand health information, feel heard and experience greater comfort and security during care.
So, whether you are a fluent French speaker, haven’t used your French in years or are still learning, take the chance and speak French when you can. A few words can open the door to connection, trust and better care.
Learn more about Difference en français and find supports to build your confidence.
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Addie's World of Color
IERHA employees can receive a 10 per cent discount on Benjamin Moore paint at Addie's World of Color in Selkirk.
Present your ID badge at time of purchase to be eligible. Learn more
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New Colours! ATC Everyday Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt
$27
Colours: Navy, Royal Blue, Maroon, Dark Green, Black, Athletic Grey, Military Green, Red.
Order cut-off is Nov. 13 for delivery to corporate office the week of Dec. 11.
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Budget-friendly Thanksgiving recipes
Harvest Manitoba has compiled a booklet of healthy and budget-friendly recipes. If you're looking for holiday inspiration, there's a section dedicated to delicious Thanksgiving ideas.
Check it out here.
| | | | We're looking for your story ideas! Send your submission to ierhawave@ierha.ca by Friday and we'll work to get your story into the next edition. | | | | |
