Electronic blood pressure machines and stands for Rossburn and Melita
The Primary Health Care program would like to thank the Rossburn Health Auxiliary and Melita Ladies Auxiliary for their generous donation of electronic blood pressure machines and stands. The recent addition of new health care providers to these clinics has increased the demand for reliable clinical tools, making this donation especially timely.
These contributions will directly enhance patient care by ensuring accurate and efficient blood pressure monitoring. The Nurse Practitioners and Clinic Nurses will be using this equipment daily to support timely assessments and informed clinical decisions. We greatly appreciate your continued commitment to improving health services in our community.
FREE Play, Explore & Get Active Kits
FREE Play, Explore & Get Active Kits
Spring is the perfect time to get outside, get active, and explore your community in new ways!
Prairie Mountain Health offers a variety of free activity kits that make it easy to plan fun, active experiences for families, classrooms, and community groups. Choose from physical literacy kits to build movement skills through play, geocaching kits for real-life treasure hunts, or nature discovery backpacks for hands-on outdoor learning.
Whether you’re planning a family outing, a school activity, or a community event, these kits are a simple way to support active living and outdoor exploration—at no cost.
Visit our website or check out our poster to learn more and book a kit.
Move for Your Mental Health
Move for Your Mental Health
Welcome to PMH Moves – a year-long Health Promotion series shared through PMH Communications. Each month, we’ll highlight a different way movement supports health across the lifespan — from boosting mood and focus to strength, walking, healthy aging, and staying active through the seasons.
While the topics will change, the message stays the same: every bit of movement counts — and it all adds up. Take what works for you and leave the rest.
This month’s article highlights how movement can support mental health by boosting mood, reducing stress, and improving overall well-being.
Movement is one of the simplest ways to support your mental health. It can boost mood, reduce stress, and help you feel more energized—no matter how you choose to move. This month, we’re exploring easy, enjoyable ways to get started.
As the seasons change, spring offers a natural opportunity to refresh routines and spend more time moving outdoors. The sun is shining, days are stretching out, the earth is waking up. Spring is a time of fresh beginnings for nature as trees and flowers sprout new leaves and animals come out from a winter of hibernation. Use nature as your cue to start moving for your physical and mental health.
Being physically active looks different to everyone but can be as individual as each person. If you have not been active recently, start small. Choose simple exercises, 10-minute periods of time and a place where you are comfortable. Choosing activities you enjoy will increase motivation to exercise.
Yoga movements are low impact with a focus on mindfulness and breathing. Benefits of yoga include reducing stress, increasing oxygen flow to the brain and improving flexibility. Videos are available for at-home practice as well as in-person sessions in many communities with classes in chair yoga, and for beginner to advanced skill levels. Tai chi and Pilates are other forms of mind and body exercise worth trying.
Walking is simple, can be purposeful and accomplished virtually anywhere. Sleep improves with walking, especially outdoors in fresh air. Other aerobic activities such as swimming (including aquasize exercise classes) provide low-impact movement for the body.
Dancing in the comfort of your home or with a group is sure to put a smile on your face. Allow your body to move to music without rules.
Gardening counts as exercise. Muscles are engaged as holes are dug, weeds are pulled and the harvest is carried away. This activity has bonus benefits of time outdoors, connecting with the earth, seeing and smelling flowers, and the feeling of accomplishment in harvesting vegetables.
Next PMH Accreditation Survey Coming This May
Next PMH Accreditation Survey Coming This May
With May fast approaching, PMH is once again preparing for its yearly Regional Accreditation Survey. Accreditation is a voluntary, comprehensive review process conducted by Accreditation Canada that evaluates the health region’s services against national quality and safety standards and required organizational practices. This process helps identify areas for improvement and ensures a commitment to safe, high-quality patient care. Accreditation Canada not only works with health care providers, it includes stakeholders, patients and their families. PMH will be hosting an Accreditation Canada on-site survey, May 24-29, 2026.
This year the standards and practices being surveyed are acute care focused – Critical Care (ICU), Emergency Department, EMS and Interfacility Transport, Inpatient Services, Obstetrics (maternity), Perioperative and es (surgery) and Medical Device Reprocessing (sterilization). As well, Medication Management and Infection Control will be assessed.
Five surveyors, from all across Canada, will be visiting the following 11 health care facilities: Brandon, Boissevain, Carberry, Deloraine, Dauphin, Grandview, Minnedosa, Ste. Rose, Russell (EMS), Neepawa (EMS) and Virden (EMS).
Preparation for the Accreditation Survey occurs year-round, with teams of direct care providers, support staff, administration, management and patients. Ongoing partnerships with educational institutions, First Nation communities as well as physicians occurs continuously to ensure the best decisions are being made for staff, patients and their families.
Accreditation Canada Seal
As a patient or family, if you happen to be at one of the sites being surveyed this May, please feel welcome to participate. Surveyors do approach patients and families, and although conversations are not mandatory, they help provide direct experience on how well PMH is meeting the Standards and Required Organizational Practices.
When you see the Accreditation Canada seal, you can be certain that the health care organization is working hard to meet Accreditation Canada standards to deliver safe, high-quality care. Better quality means better health.
Brandon Critical Care Centre nears completion
Brandon Critical Care Centre nears completion
The new Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) Critical Care Centre is set to open this spring, expanding access to services for patients within Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) region and western Manitoba.
The redevelopment project represents an investment of approximately $120 million and includes a major expansion of critical care and inpatient medicine services, along with upgrades to support infrastructure to meet growing demand.
Provincial and Prairie Mountain Health officials gathered April 2 to provide an update on the new critical centre. From (l-r) are Dr. Adrian Fung, PMH VP Medical Services, Brandon East MLA and Municipal Affairs Minister Glen Simard, PMH CEO Treena Slate, Manitoba Health, Long Term Care and Seniors Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Advanced Education and Training Minister Renée Cable.
Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Uzoma Asagwara provided the update at a construction milestone event held at BRHC on April 2.
“This expansion means people in western Manitoba can get the care they need closer to home, at some of the most critical moments in their lives,” said Asagwara. “It reduces the need for transfers to Winnipeg, eases pressure on families and helps improve patient flow across the system so care is available sooner for everyone who needs it.”
Once open, the centre will eventually increase adult ICU capacity from 10 to 16 beds, with 12 beds coming online in an initial phase and the remaining four to follow as staffing and system capacity continue to grow. The project also includes a new 30-bed Internal Medicine Unit, with 15 beds opening now and the remaining 15 to follow as additional staffing is in place.
The BRHC is the only ICU between Winnipeg and Regina along the Trans-Canada Highway, and one of four in the province. Prairie Mountain Health CEO Treena Slate says the expansion will transform how care is delivered.
“The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role BRHC plays in caring for patients from across the region and beyond—and reinforced the need for expanded, modern infrastructure, Slate said. “We will eventually be moving from a 10-bed ICU with only three private rooms to a modern 16-bed unit made up entirely of private rooms, many with their own bathrooms. The new 30-bed Internal Medicine Unit will offer single rooms for every patient, promoting privacy, comfort, and improved infection prevention.”
Dr. Adrian Fung, PMH VP of Medical Services, says BRHC is the province’s second referral centre and sees patients from all over Manitoba and even neighbouring Saskatchewan.
BRHC ICU Manager Sheilagh Remillard (right) shows Manitoba Health, Long Term Care and Seniors Minister Uzoma Asagwara one of the new rooms.
“Our current ICU is dated, crowded and lacks the necessary physical layout, capacity and infrastructure that is required today,” Fung stated.
“I can’t overstate that currently, only three spaces in our ICU are private. With private rooms, there will be more space to care for and mobilize patients. With individual rooms, this reduces the risk of infection,” Fung added.
BRHC ICU Manager Sheilagh Remillard says patient-centered care was at the heart of planning for the redevelopment project.
“The new Critical Care Unit has been designed with comfort and care in mind and will make a meaningful difference for patients and families. It will allow the health care team to provide high-quality care in a space better suited to patients’ needs.”
Slate added that projects of this scale don’t happen without strong partnerships.
We thank the province and Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care for supporting this project, and recognize the Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, and Chairperson Jo-Anne Lewis, for leading the ‘Foundation for Care’ campaign.
The Foundation’s commitment, alongside the generosity of many donors and contributors, has been essential in bringing this project to fruition.
Therapy dogs and volunteers: Keeping it ‘pawsitive’
Therapy dogs and volunteers: Keeping it ‘pawsitive’
Ngaire Abernethy and Koki Therapy Dog since 2023 Breed: Yorkie Birthday: December 28, 2020. Koki is a tiny little dog with buckets of cuteness who is always on the go. As one of the certified therapy dogs in the PATDogs team, she has experienced planes, trains, automobiles, backpacks, bicycles, and boats. However, her favorite places to be are hiking in the woods and curling up on laps. Born in Florida, Koki has been living with Ngaire, George, and her big brother Tai for 3 years.
There are nearly 1100 registered facility volunteers within Prairie Mountain Health who have provided nearly 52,000 volunteer hours this year to the betterment of patients, clients and residents within the region. When we think of volunteers, we naturally assume that it’s all our ‘people’ in the region who are doing the volunteering. However, here’s something to chew on. There are ‘ruffly’ 50 registered pet therapy teams that provide therapeutic visits for the health and well-being of patients and residents within our hospitals and personal care homes.
The Therapy Dogs Program, coordinated through PMH and St. John Ambulance, continues to receive positive feedback across the region. Volunteer Ngaire Abernethy and certified dog Tai have visited Brandon Regional Health Centre since 2017. Abernethy, a volunteer for over 20 years, says dogs’ connections with people lift spirits and may help reduce pain and distress.
“There has been scientific research that has shown those exposed to animal therapy have demonstrated an overall improvement in physical pain. A compassionate visit can also help people cope with illness, trauma, stress and anxiety.”
Louise Stitt is a volunteer canine handler who has retired from working at Prairie Mountain Health.
“People ask me what I’m doing in my retirement, and I say I’ve gone to the dogs!” Stitt said. “Never have I experienced a time in my life when all I had to do was walk into a room with my therapy dog and automatically bring smiles and joy to those I met. It’s like carrying around a magic wand that makes everything a little bit better for people.”
And you don’t have to go far to chase additional accolades for the dog therapy initiative.
“Your visit is the highlight of my day and brings back happy memories of my own dogs.” (care home resident)
Louise Stitt with Sadie Therapy Dog since 2023. Breed: Boxer Mix. Birthday: April 16, 2021. Sadie is a gentle soul her blue eyes and warm smile attract the attention she craves, ensuring she gets the ‘pats’ she thrives on.
“So glad to see Sadie visiting. This will help Mom’s care home transition. We’ll try to visit too” (from new PCH resident’s family at River’s Care Home).
“She’s here (the therapy dog)!! They’re (the residents) all waiting in the multi-purpose room, waiting to give her the ‘pats’ she craves….. but first, come over here, girl. I could use some lovin’ too, ha ha.” (from staff at a care home).
The Trauma Response Emotional Assistance Team (TREAT) is a specialized group of PATDogs who have received intensive training for both canines and handlers to manage more challenging and emotionally intense situations. Their role includes supporting staff who have experienced a critical event during their shift or responding to facility or community crises that require extra support.
Across Canada, National Volunteer Week (April 19 – 25) celebrates the individual and collective actions that volunteers participate in to create strong, interconnected and vibrant communities. The Palliative Care Volunteer Service would like to acknowledge and applaud the contributions of over 200 palliative care volunteers in many communities across Prairie Mountain Health.
The Palliative Care Volunteer Service is comprised of a network of 20 individual committees who are dedicated to the improvement of palliative care in their local community. Palliative care volunteers come alongside, and complement, the existing professional services to provide compassionate, non-medical support, to clients and families. Volunteers share a sense of interconnectedness and hold the thread of common hope, “that at some time, or in some way, we will all face the end of life; and when that time comes, we will have the love and support of our family and the greater community” (Holly, Palliative Care Volunteer)
The theme of National Volunteer Week “Ignite Volunteerism” is about inspiring Canadians to reconnect with their communities through acts of service, civic action, and mutual support. These goals are demonstrated amongst our specialized palliative care volunteers every day. Our volunteers offer client companionship, caregiver respite, relevant resources, end of life vigil sitting and bereavement follow-up. Volunteers also engage in activities that promote palliative care awareness, such as fundraisers, advocacy events and educational opportunities. In 2025, volunteers contributed over 4,000 hours in support of palliative care in our region! “After having gone through the loss of my daughter, the grieving process has taught me that giving back can help recovery. I volunteer with Palliative patients to help them through the end of life process by being an eager listener and a comfort to them and their loved ones”. (Linda, Palliative Care Volunteer)
Thank you to all our dedicated volunteers from the following Palliative Care Committees: Birtle, Boissevain, Carberry, Dauphin, Deloraine, Erickson and District, Glenboro, Hamiota, Killarney, Melita, Minnedosa, Neepawa and District, Reston, Riverdale, Rossburn, Russell, Shoal Lake, Souris, Virden and Westman Hospice (Brandon).
In addition to our invaluable volunteer committees that reach across the region, we recognize the over 20 volunteers involved in the realization of Camp Bridges each year. The annual grief and bereavement camp for children and youth would not be possible without the committed individuals who come together for one memorable weekend each year to provide campers with a safe and supportive environment where they can explore their grief through community and memorial activities. Also, with the help of these volunteers, the campers participate in activities such as horseback riding and ziplining, where they are reminded that there is space for them to just be kids and have fun. Thank you. If you would like to learn more about the Palliative Care Volunteer Program, please contact the Palliative Care Volunteer & Bereavement Coordinator, Hope Roberts, 204-578-2310 or visit our website.
If Not You, Who? If Not Now, When?
If Not You, Who? If Not Now, When?
If you couldn’t communicate for yourself, even temporarily, who would make your health and personal care decisions? Would they truly understand what matters most to you?
Waiting too long to have these conversations, or not sharing your preferences, could leave important decisions in the hands of others who may not fully understand what matters most to you.
No one else can truly communicate for you when it comes to your health and personal care if you don’t have an advance care plan that is documented and shared.
It is never too early to start planning and sharing your wishes and preferences for your health and personal care
Advance care planning is something you can do now, before a crisis or sudden change forces decisions to be made under pressure. It gives you time to think about your values, wishes, and priorities, and to talk them through with the people you trust.
Starting these conversations early can ease stress for loved ones and help healthcare teams provide care that reflects what matters to you. By documenting your preferences now, you ensure your voice is heard and your care aligns with your choices, whatever the future brings. Advance care planning is for everyone, whether young or old, healthy or living with health challenges, and the best time to start is today.
This ACP Day 2026, take the opportunity to plan and share your wishes, take charge of your future care, and ease the burden on those close to you who might otherwise face difficult decisions on your behalf. Advance Care Planning Canada will be hosting an ACP Webinar on April 16th at 11:00am CT. For more information on advance care planning and to register, visit https://www.advancecareplanning.ca/
Submitted by Palliative Care Services
U.S. doctor, mentor makes rural Manitoba the next stop on career journey
U.S. doctor, mentor makes rural Manitoba the next stop on career journey
A Manitoba-born doctor who had been working in the Emergency Department at a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for the last 15 years has come ‘home’ to rural Manitoba to continue her medical career. Dr. Arleigh Trainor, who was trained in the U.S., had opportunities to take positions across Canada, but decided ‘home was where the heart was’ and recently began working in Brandon.
Dr. Arleigh Trainor
Dr. Trainor works in the Emergency Room at Brandon Regional Health Centre (BRHC) and has a separate academic position with the University of Manitoba’s Max Rady College of Medicine at Brandon’s Satellite Campus as Assistant Dean. The Campus provides training for medical students in their third and fourth years. Her relocation efforts were a bit of a challenge, but she’s glad to be in the ‘Wheat City.’
“Not many people relocate from Sioux Falls, SD, to Brandon, MB. There was the option of only one moving company, and they had never done that (move to MB) in 25 years, so there were many issues with transport across the border. But Canada Border Patrol was lovely!”
Dr. Trainor’s journey and career path have wound their way through many provinces and American states.
“I went to college at Univeristé Laval as well as the University of Manitoba and the University of North Dakota. I graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2003”.
Dr. Trainor completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Centre in 2006. She accepted a position in Fayetteville, Arkansas, at Washington Regional Medical Center, working clinically and in administration as the Assistant Director and then the Chief of the Emergency Department. There, she developed a love of academics, which led to a position as the Chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of South Dakota- Sanford School of Medicine.
“I am very excited about my academic position at the Brandon Satellite Campus, which is why I chose Brandon over the other job offers. I have a passion for academics, particularly rural academics. I am so pleased to be part of such warm and welcoming people. And of course, very happy to be working clinically within the BRHC Emergency Department.”
Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) Vice-President of Medical Services and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Adrian Fung says the region continues to build on its strong partnerships with the Max Rady College of Medicine (University of Manitoba) residency programs within the health region.
“The Brandon Satellite Campus, along with the Parkland Family Medicine Residency Unit, based in Dauphin and Neepawa Family Medicine Residency program have provided exceptional opportunities for physicians to train in rural settings. They’ve led to an increased number of physicians who continue to practice in PMH and in other rural and more remote communities,” Fung stated.
One thing that immediately impressed Dr. Trainor was how Brandon had flourished in the years since she left Keystone province.
“I grew up in Thompson and hadn’t been to Brandon since my mother had done summer school when I was a child, so it has grown tremendously, and there is construction everywhere! It’s been a very busy couple of months as I’m just getting oriented to my clinical and academic positions, which have taken up much of my time!
She was asked if there had been many adjustments from working in emergency medicine in the U.S. to seeing patients in the Emergency Department in Brandon.
“It has been a change to be sure, from the medications used to the units of measurement.”
For now, Dr. Trainor says each day is new, offering exciting challenges and opportunities ahead.
“I am really excited to be in Brandon, to provide service in rural Manitoba and to facilitate academic education to introduce others to the joy of rural health care!”
“There are some real positives in healthcare going forward here, including the new critical care centre, which is set to open soon at BRHC. I’m happy that there will be more beds as they are desperately needed in the area.”
Volunteer efforts appreciated within Prairie Mountain Health
Volunteer efforts appreciated within Prairie Mountain Health
2026 marks U.N. International Year of Volunteers
Volunteers within Prairie Mountain Health (PMH) play an important and essential role providing ongoing support to our personal care homes, hospitals, and community health programs across the region. Volunteers share their time, skills, empathy, and creativity day in and day out, attributes which are vital to the inclusivity, strength, and well-being of programs and services within our communities.
National Volunteer Week (April 19–25, 2026) is a celebration led by Volunteer Canada every April that recognizes, celebrates, and promotes volunteerism across the country. This year’s theme, “Ignite Volunteerism,” invites Canadians to reconnect with their communities through acts of service, civic action, and mutual support. It encourages people from all backgrounds to ‘Find Your Thing’ — discovering personal ways to contribute, whether through local events, grassroots initiatives, or ongoing volunteer commitments. This year, 2026 is also recognized as the UN International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development.
PMH Board of Directors Chair Lon Cullen says volunteers and volunteer organizations play a significant role in supporting PMH teams to make a difference in the health and well-being of the residents, patients, and clients within the health region
“We acknowledge and sincerely appreciate these heartfelt contributions not only during this nationally recognized week, but year-round! Our volunteers and volunteer organizations truly contribute in so many different ways and their time and dedication make a meaningful difference across PMH every day!
PMH CEO Treena Slate poses with St. John Ambulance Pet Therapy Team member Brian Wiltshire and “Rosie”!
PMH is currently supported by 1,085 registered volunteers, including our Palliative Care volunteers. Across the region, our volunteers provide support to 49 PMH facilities and have contributed an incredible 51,096 hours to date (not including palliative care hours). This reflects the strong commitment and impact volunteers continue to have on our communities.
We also have 50 pet therapy teams visiting 43 of our facilities, offering comfort, connection, and a positive experience for patients, residents, and staff.
“We very much appreciate all our volunteers and volunteer groups who dedicate their time, knowledge, talents, compassion and heart to help Prairie Mountain Health work towards its vision of Health and Wellness for All,” stated PMH CEO Treena Slate.
“On behalf of our board, staff and physicians, we sincerely thank you for all you do from the bottom of our hearts. If you see a volunteer, thank them for making every one of their moments matter!
