Bursary winners from Monday night's AGM

"South Eastman Health has grown from a ma and pa grocery store to a Walmart." That is how Chief Executive Officer John Stinson (right inset) sums up the growth of the Regional Health Authority over the last sixteen years. The RHA held its 16th annual general meeting Monday night in Vita.

In reflecting on the year that has just wrapped, Stinson referred to 2010-2011 as a rollercoaster ride. He says "knowing that we had the lowest percentage increase in funding and having to deal with that and to dip into our reserve was a challenge." Stinson says other challenges include the change in leadership with former CEO Monique Vielfaure Mackenzie resigning, as well as moving forward on some major construction projects.



Regarding finances, Stinson says the RHA had to rely on its reserve funds in order to stay away from a deficit. "This year we anticipate the same, we're going to be dipping into our reserve to avoid a deficit. I think next year is going to tell the tale, it will depend on where our funding increase, what level it's at for next year. But we know we're going to face challenges based on our population growth and our volume growth, so we're anticipating that."

But on the flipside Stinson notes there's a lot of exciting projects happening including a Quick Care Clinic and expanded emergency room for Steinbach, new state of the art surgical centre for Ste.Anne and personal care home for Niverville.

Meanwhile, $8,500 worth of bursaries were handed out Monday night to students from the region studying in the health field. There were a total of fourteen bursaries handed to twelve different individuals. Board Chair Guy Levesque (left inset) says the reason the RHA places so much emphasis on bursaries is because "we are short of nurses and doctors. If we can get anybody to look and go into nursing or go into anything in the medical field, even mental health and all that, it's a bonus for us. If we can get them interested in our area and the bursaries will usually do that, then it's double bonus that we may have a chance at retaining some of them."

The list of winners Monday is as follows.

South Eastman Health presented bursary in the amount of $750 each to:
Gitane Ouellet, Université de Saint-Boniface, Bachelor of Nursing Program
Nicole Nissen, Red River College, Bachelor of Nursing Program

Bethesda Foundation presented bursary in the amount of $1000 to:
Nia Rogers, University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Nursing

Bethesda Regional Health Care Auxiliary presented bursaries in the amount of $750 each to:           
Chantelle Caron, Assiniboine Community College (Brandon)  Practical Nursing Program (LPN)
Rachel Wiebe, University of Manitoba, Master of Nursing Program – Nurse Practitioner Focus

Niverville Health & Community Foundation presented bursaries in the amount of $500 each to:
Rachel Wiebe, University of Manitoba, Master of Nursing Program – Nurse Practitioner Focus
Jennifer Lagassé, Université de Saint-Boniface, Bachelor of Nursing Program
Stephanie Gosselin, University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Nursing Program
Ivan Desharnais, University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Nursing Program

DeSalaberry Health Centre Foundation presented bursaries in the amount of $500 each to:
Ivan Desharnais, University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Nursing Program
Eleanor Naylor, University of Manitoba, Bachelor of Nursing Program
Maxine Laroche, Université de Saint-Boniface, Nursing Diploma Program
Mélanie Therrien-Hébert, Université de Saint-Boniface, Bachelor of Social Work

Ste.Anne Hospital Fund presented bursary in the amount of $500 to:    
Cheyenne Legal, Université de Saint-Boniface, Bachelor of Nursing Program