Nickel Belt News Volume Volume 58 60 Number • Issue 9 11
Friday,February March 16, Friday, 28, 2018 2020
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New training program will see med school grads complete family medicine residencies in Thompson and other northern communities
Book a way to preserve and pass on memories of growing up in Churchill
BY JAMES SNELL
JAMES@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
A family medicine training program in Thompson will bring new doctors to the community and elsewhere in Northern Manitoba to complete their residencies following graduation, Manitoba Health Minister Cameron Friesen announced Feb. 25. “Providing a program that lets physicians experience life in the north and how people in the region access health care is an excellent way to prepare them for a career in northern medicine,” Friesen said in a press release. “Following the success of similar programs in the other health regions, this new partnership between the University of Manitoba and the Northern Regional Health Authority (NRHA) will support stronger recruitment and retention efforts across Northern Manitoba.” NRHA CEO Helga Bryant said that the medical school graduates would gain invaluable experience through the program. “We believe this program will help physicians better understand the opportunities they can find while practising in Northern Manitoba,” she said.
Nickel Belt News photo by James Snell Dr. José François, medical director of Shared Health’s family medicine program and head of the Department of Family Medicine at the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba said during Feb. 25 at City Hall that he’s excited that Thompson has joined the list of community sites for teaching in family medicine. “Our medical teams are very excited to provide training opportunities for new physicians, while enhancing access to care for northern residents.” Dr. José François, medical director of Shared Health’s family medicine program and head of the Department of Family
Medicine at the Max Rady College of Medicine at the University of Manitoba said during an announcement at City Hall that he’s excited that Thompson has joined the list of community sites for teaching in family medicine. “Over the last 10 years, the Department of Family
Medicine has really taken a step to move learners away from Winnipeg, and into communities,” he explained, noting that Thompson is “an anchor” of health care in the north. “We look forward to working with family physicians at the Thompson clinic to make that experience
a positive one. Family medicine graduates spend two years in the residency program, and with the resources available in the community, we think that most of that training can happen here.” Mayor Colleen Smook said that she was hoping the program would hap-
pen in a “couple years,” but it ended up only taking about 16 months to become a reality in Thompson. “This is just the beginning of great things in Thompson,” she said at the press conference, adding that three operating rooms at the Thomspon General Hospital shut down by water damage last June are set to reopen in a couple of weeks. “This program, with the [medical] residents coming, is so exciting. I’m excited for the city.” While the program is based in Thompson, the medical school graduates will complete core training rotations across the region, preparing them to practise medicine in environments such as community hospitals, health centres, nursing stations and care homes in First Nation, rural and remote communities. “Addressing the unique health needs and inequities of Indigenous populations in the region is a core skill for family physicians working in the north,” the provincial press release said. “The 2016 census data shows that 71 per cent of the people living in the northern health region selfidentify as Indigenous.”
Leaf Rapids liquor vendor broken into six times since New Year’s Day, three times in last two weeks
Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. charged with break-and-enter 16 and 17 being charged ously at 1-800-222-8477. BY BY IAN IANGRAHAM GRAHAM For all the harsh weather to write things that you have ‘Oh, I’m just as bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing swallow when people say EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET and theft for the New Year’s and remanded into custody. Tips can also be submitted EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET to figure out. It’s pretty clear I have all these stories and to do but I jumped at it. I that Churchill residents and the dangers of polar The Leaf Rapids store Day break-in and later re- Two Leaf Rapids females anonymously online at www. Though she’s now written when I get through.” I need to capture them for thought that was exciting should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it that houses the town’s liquor leased on an undertaking aged 16 and 17 and one manitobacrimestoppers.com. a book about her experienDeMeulles said she wrote my grandchildren really until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would vendor has been broken into with conditions. Two Leaf 20-year-old male from Leaf A store manager declined ces growing up in Churchill, her book, titled Whispers in because they will be lost if they started throwing the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchsix times since New Year’s Rapids males aged 14 and Rapids were charged for the to comment except to say she Addictions Foundation of the Wind: Stories from the I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. Day – three times each in 16 were arrested for the Jan. Feb. 14 break-in, then re- hoped security in the Town Manitoba northern director North - Life in Churchill for She also has a reputation cats, I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I January and February. 8 break-in and charged with leased on undertakings with Centre would be improved Gisele deMeulles said writ- a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the The break-ins occurred break-and-enter and wear- conditions. soon. ing wasn’t something she “I just sort of thought, “I had such a varied hisAnother thing that spectful. If we were in the polar bears even though Jan. 1, Jan. 8, Jan. 11, Feb. ing a disguise with intent No charges have yet been always thought she would you know what, this his- tory and I would tell people spurred The Leaf her Rapids on store was that the same boat in another area they’re very dangerous and 14, Feb. 18 and Feb. 23 to commit an offence. They laid in the Feb. 18 and Feb. do. tory, this stuff that’s in my stories and they would go, hard times facing Churchill I think we would scream I really miss the Hudson houses the town’s liquor Charges have been laid were remanded into custody 23 break-ins, which are still “In my youth I never head, it’s going to be gone ‘That’s not true, is it?’ I’d go, since about that so why don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go the Hudson Bay Railin the first four break-ins to before being released a few being investigated. Anyone vendor has been broken into felt good at writing,” she if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way have the option to do that? back home, standing on the suspended operations King’s Health and Variety days later. with information about these six times since New Year’s said. “But when I moved said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. I think right now they’re Hudson Bay looking out on Store in the Leaf Rapids Investigation of the Jan. break-ins can call Leaf Rap- Day, including three times to Thompson to get into ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really feeling like they’re pawns the bay, it just gives you an Town Centre. A 14-year-old 11 break-in led to three ids RCMP at 204-473-2944 in February. the school of social work, and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community in a political game and that’s incredible sense. You feel so male from Leaf Rapids was Leaf Rapids males aged 14, or Crime Stoppers anonymphoto really sad for them because I small and you feel great.” at that point I had to write ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just Submitted dwindled down
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do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population she’s an artist, she’s got so Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there you were February us with your certificate cause she alwaysIftells her born sheonmight not 29, do visit again. anybirth longer, her parents and and government-issued ID, and get stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre herasister and other family Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. hounded her, ‘Please, just on any high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the size cake purchased for your birthday! put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she THE for you because your story on me until after. That was (BYPLAZA ) a says. is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, never done it and I thought, Beingdonutsrobin@gmail.com on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to
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for university and realized, ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, LEAPLINGS, LEAPERS, LEAP-YEAR BABIES: right?’ I certainly developed you in university a When lot ofdoskill celebrate and cameyour out birthday of there with in non-leap years? a very strong skill in my February 28? writing March 1?and confidence in my I write very Notwriting. at all? clear and that’s it. It’s there. Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
Now that she’s got one book under her belt, deMeulles says she may try to produce another. “I have another book in me,” she says. “It’s a darker story, more about personal growth and struggles. Maybe in the next five years it’s something I’ll focus on doing.”