37 WORLD NEWS CANADA
Evacu at ed, bu t n ot Aban don ed
Dr. Jennifer Ward (foreground left), pictured with fellow volunteers, and military support vehicles assisting in the evacuation of First Nation community members in Northern MB, Canada.
Members of Pim icik am ak Cr ee Nat ion, in Manitoba, served by Wor ld Spin e Car e Can ada, were forced to evacuate during wildfires, but were able to continue chiropractic care. Since October 2023, the Cross Lake Nursing Station has served as the site of a World Spine Care Canada clinic with the support of sevral national funding partners (Health Canada, Canadian Chiropractic Research Foundation, Canadian Chiropractic Association and Healthcare Excellence Canada). It is a chiropractic service implementation project, in collaboration with the community, providing care to the Pimicikamak People in Manitoba. Since inception, more than 225 community members have sought care, through 1380 treatment visits. In May of 2025, an evacuation order was issued to over 7,000 Pimicikamak Peoples due to out-of-control wildfires. For 19 days, people were evacuated to other cities in the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and neighbouring Ontario. Both World Spine Care Canada clinicians offered their skillsets to support the community through this natural disaster.
For community members displaced to Winnipeg, our clinical research team consulted with community members and created an opportunity to receive treatment from a chiropractor who typically flies to Cross Lake to deliver care. Dr. Jordan Myers was able to use the electronic medical record system to reach out to all patients, thanks to Juvonno?s electronic medical record text messaging system, that the chiropractic service was now available to them at the University of Manitoba campus. Concurrently, a postcard was created for the community?s social media to increase awareness of the service, clinic contact information, location and transportation availability. For patients displaced to other communities who had their care interrupted, the ability to provide advice, education about their condition, stretching, strengthening and exercises were available via telehealth appointments if desired.
Fires forced road closures, while smoke made air transport difficult through reduced visibility, leading to challenges for community access and evacuation.