Nickel Belt News
Volume 58 Number 11
Friday, March 16, 2018
Thompson, Manitoba
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UCN diploma in practical Bookadding a way37tomore preserve and pass on nursing seats memories of including growing 20 upininThompson Churchill
Thompson Citizen photos by Ian Graham Manitoba Advanced Education Minister Wayne Ewasko poses with University College of the North president Doug Lauvstad, faculty members from UCN’s diploma in practical nursing program and Mayor Colleen Smook during a visit to Thompson Dec. 14.
University College of the North president Doug Lauvstad says training northerners in the north to fill northern jobs is one way to address the challenges the region has attracting and retaining health care professionals.
market needs both now gram in Thompson will be degree program in Thompand in the future,” said Ad- easier than in the other two son through a partnership 37 more nursing seats vanced Education, Skills locations because of the fa- with the University of are being created at three and Immigration Minister cilities that already exist. Manitoba but health care of University College of Wayne Ewasko. “Today’s “We’ve got the equip- facilities need staff with a the North’s (UCN) cam- announcement provides ment. We don’t have to range of training and skills. puses through $4.3 million Northern Manitoba the build any additional lab“You need the right and in provincial funding, the ability to train the nurses oratories. In other areas, the most appropriate mix,” said advanced education minis- they need. Students who facilities we have are in- Lauvstad, who anticipates ter announced in Thompson want to become nurses sufficient for an expanded the expansion in Thompson Dec. 14. can do so closer to home cohort so we may have to will result in the hiring of The seats will be divided and eventually gain em- do renovations and lease at least two additional inup between the Thompson, ployment close to home different space. In Thomp- structors in Thompson. A Swan River and Flin Flon as well.” son we’re all set up and co-ordinator will also be campuses, with Thompson UCN president Doug ready to go.” needed across all three sites Nickel Belt News photo by Ian Graham adding 20 seats by doubling Lauvstad said training There were more than to help arrange things like Addictions Foundation of Manitoba northern director Gisele deMeulles has written a book about her experiences growing up, mostly in Churchill. the number of intakes. The northerners in the north is 100 applicants for the first clinical placements. diploma in practical nurs- atogood to that keepyou profesManitoba currently has swallow when people say BY IAN GRAHAM For all the harsh weather write way things have intake ‘Oh, I’mof justthe as Thompson bad, right?’ was not a very safe thing ing (DPN) program that sionals like nurses in the DPN program so Lauvstad about 800 nurse training 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 began in she’s Thompson last when regionI for long haul. many seats spread across six should just find somewhere bears, deMeulles said if it Though now written get the through.” Idoesn’t need toanticipate capture them for thought that was exciting September will have “The northsaid is challenged in finding enough institua book about hernow experienDeMeulles she wrote problems my grandchildren really post-secondary until the plane landed and easier to live. had been viable she would yearly intakes of in recruitment or for around throwing the province. ces growing up ininstead Churchill, herterms book,oftitled Whispersand in students because for theynext willyear be lost if tions they started the “To say, ‘Those people have moved back to Churchone intake every two years. professionals, students finding jobs More announcements Addictions Foundation of retention the Wind:of Stories from the those I don’t.” fuel off and I realized, about ‘Holy choose to live there. They ill in a heartbeat. “Our government knows particularly care theyhas complete their the of nursing Manitoba northern director North - Life in health Churchill for when She also a reputation cats,expansion I was probably sitting should just leave,’ is quite “I miss the shoreline, I Manitoba Advanced Education Minister Wayne Ewasko that peoplesaid are writthis professionals,” Lauvstad education. education Giseleour deMeulles a couple of reasons. as a storyteller herself. on a bomb.’” were made simplistic. It’s quite disre- miss the rock, I miss the in Thompson Dec. that even the provincial province’s greatest asset “Thatsort grow own “If yousuch graduate, you’ll 15 by Premier ing wasn’t something she said. “I just of your thought, “I had a varied his- Dec. Another thing Heathat was spectful. If we were in14 theto announce polar bears though and today we are haswhat, worked across job,” he said. ther Stefanson andwas Health government providing millionvery in funding forand 37 always thought she buildwould strategy you know this his- get toryaand I would tell people spurred her on the same boat inisanother area$4.3they’re dangerous ing UCNand alsothey offers a bachAudrey in Iadditional training seatsmiss at three do. the skills, talent and the tory,north.” this stuff that’s in my stories hard times facingGordon Churchill think wepractical would nurse scream I really theUniversity Hudson would go, Minister knowledge that ourI labour Expanding thetoDPN pro- elor ofnot nursing College of so thewhy North campuses. “In my youth never head, it’s going be gone ‘That’s true, isfour-year it?’ I’d go, Winnipeg. since the Hudson Bay Rail- about that don’t they Bay,” she says. “When I go BY IAN GRAHAM
EDITOR@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
felt good at writing,” she said. “But when I moved to Thompson to get into the school of social work, at that point I had to write for university and realized, ‘Holy, I’m not bad at this, right?’ I certainly developed a lot of skill in university and came out of there with a very strong skill in my writing and confidence in my writing. I write very clear and that’s it. It’s there. Some people say it’s kind of blunt or direct. I don’t tend
if I don’t write it down,” she ‘Yeah it’s true.’ They’d go, way suspended operations said. “My kids are not go- ‘You didn’t do all that, did north of Gillam last spring. ing to get it if I don’t do it you? You’ve got to be really “It used to be a really and it’s something I’ve al- old.’ I was like, ‘No, actually thriving large community ways wanted my mom to I did all that before I was and it’s just dwindled down do. My mom’s an elder and 27,’ and they went ‘What?’” to such a small population Contact she’s an artist,Nelson she’s got so at 204-307-0281 Looking back, some of now,” deMeulles says. many wonderful stories be- those experiences are things Though she’s not there pruderspropertyservices@gmail.com cause she always tells her she might not do again. any longer, her parents and stories at Parks Canada in “I did some pretty bizarre her sister and other family to discuss your property needs! Churchill and I’ve always stuff like fuel hauls into the members still are. hounded her, ‘Please, just high Arctic at -35,” said “My cousin owns the put it on tape, I will write it deMeulles. “It didn’t dawn hardware store there,” she for you because your story on me until after. That was a says. is going to be lost,’ and she’s very dangerous thing to do. Because of that, never done it and I thought, Being on a plane full of fuel deMeulles finds it hard to
Yer snow gotta go!
have the option to do that? I think right now they’re feeling like they’re pawns in a political game and that’s really sad for them because I think the people of Churchill really want to thrive. They’ve built their worlds there. How would we feel if someone came to you and said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to leave your home community and we’re going to displace you somewhere else and all your loved ones and your history is gone?’”
back home, standing on the Hudson Bay looking out on the bay, it just gives you an incredible sense. You feel so small and you feel great.” 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.”