Darcie Thomson, Author at Northern Health Region

‘Momma Bear’ Shannon’s Story

Clients at the Rosaire House Addiction Treatment Centre in The Pas know that when they walk through the centre’s doors they will be greeted with warmth, support and encouragement through each step of their recovery journey.

For many clients, that welcome and judgement free support is provided by “Momma Bear Shannon” social worker and team lead, who encourages clients to live by her personal daily mantra of ‘be grateful for today and work harder for tomorrow’.

“Momma Bear”, also known as Shannon Case, has intimate knowledge of what it’s like to struggle with addiction as well as the effects of losing loved ones to the battle.

“I have walked in the same shoes as some of my clients and I know what those feelings are,” said Case who uses her experiences and ongoing journey in support of her clients. “I have done a lot of healing through journaling and by taking a good look at myself – because if you don’t deal with your own issues it’s hard to help anybody else. To this day I still work on it.”

Case’s time in The Pas began more than twenty years ago, when her family moved to the community so Shannon could complete the Healthcare Aide program at University College of the North. Starting over and committing to a new career is a season of life that Case looks back on fondly, remembering nights as a mature student when she would sit at the kitchen table with her two daughters doing homework together in their new home.

“Going back to school was a big adjustment, not just for me but my whole family,” she said. “We didn’t think we would stay in The Pas for long but when my instructors saw me excel and believed I could do more they inspired me to continue my education here.”

“Now, at the end of each day, I go home proud of what I’ve done to help others within my community.”

The healing and recovery process at Rosaire House is a client led 28-day program and the centre can accommodate up to 12 clients at a time. Programming is tailored to the individual and may include different sharing circles and counselling sessions depending on their needs. The centre has everything you would expect in a home, including a kitchen with tasks assigned to each person, including washing dishes and cooking.

“Everybody’s needs are different because every client is different,” explained Case. “If you want to cook, you can. We’ll make deep fried perogies. You can smudge or pray if you want, we even offer acupuncture. We will do whatever it takes to get you better.”

For Case, serving in a role where she is able to provide encouragement and careful compassion to both her team as well as helping clients turn their dreams and goals into a reality, is extremely fulfilling.

“I walk alongside clients but they do the hard work. Nobody can fix your problems for you,” said Case. “I let them share and tell their story as they work through it, because that’s how we heal.”

Case follows the seven traditional sacred teachings in her practice; wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth, – while finding and sharing humour in the every day.

“Laughter is healing medicine and each of us need it,” she said. “We tend to take things too seriously. Having a good sense of humour is 101 when working with addictions.”

The team at Rosaire House Addiction Treatment Centre is focused on a holistic way of healing, understanding it isn’t easy to interrupt the negative cycle of addiction. The Centre is a safe place where clients may come back two or three times before they’re ready to truly understand the message and heal.

“When some of our previous clients come back through our doors, I always say, ‘I’m glad you’re back’” shared Case. “Having clients return to the program for another attempt at a substance-free life inspires me.”

“The most rewarding part of my work actually happens outside of work, when I run into clients who have left our program and are still maintaining their substance-free or a harm-reduction way of life while maintaining their families and employment goals,” Case added.

Case’s work has a positive impact that ripples throughout her community, touching the lives of her clients and the people around them.

“A client recently told me that I helped them move past their trauma to become who they are today and shared that they had brought a loved one to our centre, encouraging them to seek help from our team along their journey too.”

Emergency Nurses Day with Vanessa Heintz

Every time I step foot into the Emergency Department at The Pas Health Complex, I’m pushed to think outside the box. We see a lot of complex patients, and each of them brings a new set of challenges and experiences – we never quite see the same thing twice.

Some people feel that a rural setting won’t give them the same experience as a large urban centre, but the truth is we’re a very fast-paced department. There are plenty of opportunities to build your skills, and even though I’ve worked as an emergency nurse for fifteen years, I still feel like I’m learning something new every day.

In the North, we don’t always have access to the same resources as an urban centre, so we have to collaborate and problem solve to provide safe, competent care for our patients. It’s helped us become a close-knit team, and I know I can count on my coworkers for anything.

I grew up in The Pas, and I know a lot of the patients I care for. The satisfaction of seeing them get better, be discharged from the hospital, and return to the community is a huge highlight for me. Whenever I run into a former patient out in the community, I always get a big smile and a thank-you, and it just makes my job that much more special.

National Nursing Week with Danita Lechelt

Working in a role that involved caring for others was always what Danita Lechelt pictured when she thought about her future career. Growing up, Lechelt was inspired both by watching her mother (also a nurse) and from the experience of having someone close to her, a cousin, receiving health care throughout her childhood.

“Ever since I was in elementary school, I have known without a doubt that this was the career I wanted to pursue,” said Lechelt, a Clinical Resource Nurse at St. Anthony’s General Hospital in the northern community of The Pas. “It felt very natural for me to move into a role where I’m able to take care of others, and see people not just as patients but as people, with families who love them.”

Lechelt worked in a number of locations across Manitoba, including Dauphin and Winnipeg, before finding the perfect fit for her career – and her family – in The Pas.

“My husband and I moved here initially with the intention of staying for two years,” said Lechelt. “That was 14 years ago. We are still here in large part because I love my job.”

“We have a pretty great little nursing family here. We call it the tiniest work family because we are a small group, but we know that our team will grow again. Being in a smaller setting gives you that opportunity to develop more personal relationships with the other people in your unit and in the facility in general. I know pretty much everybody by their first name,” she added.

In her role, Lechelt supports education and training at the hospital, passing forward her knowledge and approach to patient-centred care on to the next generation of northern nurses.

“Trust is a big part of healthcare, especially in northern Manitoba. Building those relationships with patients so that you really get to know them is important in our community,” said Lechelt. “As nurses, we advocate for our patients, we want them to be healthy and that extends beyond the care in the hospital to things in the community.”

“We live here, so making sure people in our community are safe and healthy matters to all of us, so whether that’s advocating for a crosswalk or to address barriers, those are the things we can do that improve a community’s health as a whole.”

With the experience of working through the pandemic behind her, Lechelt remains very positive and optimistic about the future of nursing.

“Even with the pandemic and everything that the health system has been through, I would absolutely choose nursing again,” she said. “I love being a nurse and even if I knew what was coming 17 years ago, it wouldn’t change my mind.”

Nursing Week runs May 6-12 this year and is a time to recognize the incredible accomplishments and contributions that nurses bring to health-care teams and the delivery of services across the province.

Green Shirt Day – The Logan Boulet Effect

Green Shirt Day was created to honour the legacy of Logan Boulet and inspire Canadians to support organ and tissue donation. His selfless decision sparked the nationwide “Logan Boulet Effect,” leading to a record number of donor registrations and conversations across the country.

Green Shirt Day encourages Canadians to wear green, talk with their families about their wishes, and register as donors—helping save lives and bring hope to those in need. Visit About – Green Shirt Day to learn more.

Nutrition Month: Tips for Healthy Eating

March is Nutrition Month, a time to highlight the importance of making healthy food choices that support overall health and well-being. Eating well helps provide energy, supports growth and development, and can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Include a variety of foods in your meals such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and protein foods.
Choose protein foods like fish, eggs, beans, lentils, dairy products, or lean meats to help keep you full and support muscle health.
Plan meals ahead to help stretch your food budget and make healthy meals easier to prepare.
Use frozen or canned fruits and vegetables when fresh options are limited—they are nutritious and last longer.
Keep affordable protein options on hand, such as canned fish, beans, or lentils.
Include traditional foods like fish, wild game, and berries when available—they are nutritious and an important part of northern diets.
Drink water regularly and try to limit sugary drinks.
Eat regular meals throughout the day to help maintain energy and focus.

Healthy eating looks different for everyone, but making small, positive food choices each day can support your health now and in the future. Visit Canada’s Food Guide for more information.

Hepatitis A Vaccine

Manitoba continues to see new cases of Hepatitis A associated with the ongoing provincial outbreak.

Hepatitis A is an acute liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A can be spread through contact with an infected person’s feces (stool) or by drinking or eating contaminated food or water. Hepatitis A can also pass from person to person through some forms of sexual contact or from sharing needles with someone who may be infected.

Some people infected with Hepatitis A, especially young children, have no symptoms. Others can develop symptoms that may include:

Fever
loss of appetite
tiredness
nausea & vomiting
stomach cramps
diarrhea
dark urine and/or clay-coloured stools
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)

Hepatitis A can be prevented by getting immunized with the Hepatitis A vaccine.

You can also reduce your risk by:

washing your hands after using the toilet, handling diapers, and before eating or preparing food
using safe food practices
following safe sex practices
not sharing needles or syringes

The following individuals who are 6 months of age and older are eligible for one dose of Hepatitis A vaccine:

Community members in the Island Lake area (Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack and Red Sucker Lake)
Community members in Peguis First Nation
Anyone travelling to or working in these communities
Those who have household visitors from these communities

All individuals who are 6 months of age and older who have high risk medical conditions, are experiencing homelessness, or have life-style risks for infection, including people engaging in illicit drug use and men having sex with men are eligible for two doses of the Hepatitis A vaccine.

For more information or to find out how to receive the Hepatitis A vaccine contact your local Public Health Office or visit https://northernhealthregion.com/programs-and-services/public-health/

Hope North – Recovery Centre for Youth

graphic of hope north recovery centre for youth – full services resuming

Spruce House

12 Spruce Road
Thompson, MB R8N 0T8

204-677-3280 | 204-677-3405

Services:

Physiotherapy
Occupational Therapy
FASD Diagnostic Assessments
Speech Language Pathology for pediatrics

Manitoba Substance Use and Addictions Awareness Week

Every year, Manitoba Substance Use and Addictions Awareness Week provides an opportunity for Manitobans from all walks of life to engage in meaningful discussions and explore solutions for addressing the harms caused by substance use and addictions. Manitoba Substance Use and Addictions Awareness Week runs from November 16-22 and the theme for 2025 is Anchoring Hope. Throughout the week several webinars discussing substance use and addiction will be held.

Visit https://sharedhealthmb.ca/services/mental-health/mha-education/msuaaw/ for more information on events taking place throughout the week.

Let’s Talk About Mental Health – Bell Let’s Talk Day

Join us for a Microsoft Teams presentation: Let’s Talk About Mental Health on Bell Let’s Talk Day, January 21, from 12:30–2:00 p.m.

Topics include understanding mental health, reducing stigma, how our nervous system responds to stress, and everyday coping strategies for stress, anxiety, and low mood. Follow the Microsoft Teams link below to join the session. We hope you can join the conversation.

Microsoft Teams – Let’s Talk About Mental Health