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Investing in the Ongoing Enhancement of Animal Care

As hog farmers work to raise safe and nutritious pork, they also strive to provide the best possible care for their pigs, ensuring their animals remain healthy and comfortable year-round. Following 105 Code of Practice requirements and undergoing rigorous assessments through federally recognized quality assurance programs, those who work in the hog sector are committed to maintaining animal health and wellbeing at each stage of life including providing veterinarian and nutritionist attention. “Right from a young age, I knew that I wanted to work with livestock,” says Andrea Elias, a barn manager from southern Manitoba. “I really love working with the animals and I am really proud of the work we do here. I believe we go the extra mile to make sure they’re comfortable and their wellbeing is maintained, and that is our main goal.”

Hog farmers and barn staff are dependent on the health of their animals for their livelihood and are part of a highly dedicated team of animal care professionals who look after the best interests of pigs. All barn staff, including managers and supervisors, have access to specialized training in learning modules provided by their local and national producer organizations, the new Swine Production Program through Assiniboine Community College, and training offered as part of quality assurance programs. This training gives barn staff access to best management practices and new and emerging trends in animal care, allowing for continuous improvement in all facets of the care and handling of pigs.

New quality assurance programs PigCARE and PigSAFE set high standards, backed up by on-farm audits. These audits assess the completion of vital tasks including personnel training, barn maintenance and sanitation, the testing of feed and water supplies, transportation, and other key items. Audits include the ability to assess improvement orders to make necessary changes to operations. Hog farms are also governed by both federal and provincial law, and the 105 Code of Practice requirements for raising pigs are enshrined in the provincial Animal Care Act.

“The hog sector has very high standards when it comes to the health and wellbeing of their pigs,” Andrea adds. “Transportation standards, living standards, health standards. All these things are very well documented, we’re always working to improve them, and they are always science-based.”

Rosé Soirée – Tickets On Sale Now!

St. Boniface Hospital Foundation’s annual Rosé Soirée will be a night of elegance, glamour, and unforgettable memories. Set against the enchanting backdrop of the open-air St. Boniface Cathedral Ruins at dusk, this event promises to be an experience like no other.

Your support will directly help a worthy cause from which all the women in your life will benefit: women’s heart health research at St. Boniface Hospital.

Indulge in culinary creations from local chefs, signature cocktails, a jewelry raffle, and more surprises to delight your senses.

Mark your calendar: Wednesday, September 13, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. in the St. Boniface Cathedral Ruins, 180 Avenue de la Cathédrale. The dress code will be cocktail/semi-formal.

A community campaign for surgical innovation at HSC

“With the support of generous Manitobans, we can ensure that HSC stays on the leading edge of health care for years to come. Together, we will equip HSC with the latest in diagnostic and surgical technology for all Manitobans. Thank you for your support!”

— Tina Jones, O.M., Chair, HSC Foundation Board of Director

‘LGBTQ+ Inclusion at Work’ Lecture on Demand FREE during Pride Month *2SLGBTQIA+ in Canada

Work Wellness InstituteThe Work Wellness Institute’s goal is to lead evidence-informed change through continued collaborative work with partners across academia, industry, government, and the community. Founded in Canada in 1985, the Work Wellness Institute is committed to a core vision of turning research into practice, conducting and supporting global research, and mobilizing knowledge that positively impacts workplace health practices. June is Pride month, which began with the Stonewall riots on June 28, 1969 in New York City. The riots began after a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Manhattan. To celebrate Pride month, the Work Wellness Institute is going to allow its lecture on demand titled ‘LGBTQ+ Inclusion at Work’ to be available for free. This lecture connects learners with recent research and thought leadership on the topic along with some practical recommendations that can be utilised within the workplace. Dr. Luke Fletcher, Associate Professor in HRM, University of Bath School of Management focuses on aspects related to disclosure and ‘coming out’ as well as the importance of authenticity and psychological safety. He will also detail which types of supportive practices and initiatives an organisation can develop to strengthen LGBTQ+ inclusion at work.

Need an Idea for a Workplace Pride Month Activity?Consider holding a viewing of the Work Wellness Institute ‘LGBTQ+ Inclusion at Work’ lecture in your workplace, possibly in the style of a lunch and learn or even on a large projector screen similar to a movie viewing.

The Work Wellness Institute is making the lecture free for the entire month of June in the hopes that as many workplaces as possible will hold a viewing, potentially hold discussions as a team but ultimately focus on some of the resources taught that can be implemented to make workplaces more LGBTQ+ inclusive. Please enter the promo code: workwellnesspride whenever you want to watch the lecture in June with your team members.

Dr. Luke Fletcher will discuss why understanding and improving LGBTQ+ Inclusion at work is important. This particular lecture also builds an understanding of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people at work as well as provides a downloadable takeaway list of ways to learn more.

Match Made

If good things come to those who wait, then, in John Bond's case, even better thing come to those who don't.

Last April, Bond received the life-saving call that he was a match for a kidney transplant. Bond, who received medical management of his deteriorating kidneys for fifteen years and was on dialysis for three years - first at home then at HSC - signed up to be on the waitlist upon discovering he would be a suitable candidate, and received the call in just a few weeks.

The 76-year-old retired professor and former Manager of Research at Riverview Health Centre was surprised at the very short time he had to wait. But, as an older person he is so appreciative to receive the gift of a kidney from the donor and the family who provided it. "I don't need the same kidney that, say, a 30-year-old recipient does. If I can get 10 years out of this kidney, I am elated," says Bond. Now his quality of life has improved and he plans for future possibilities.

Post-surgery, Bond spent a total of four weeks at HSC Winnipeg while the hospital was battling the Omicron variant of COVID-19. "The level of care was remarkable. Everyone's attitude was so positive - you wouldn't know that staff were working overtime. I felt very monitored and received excellent care," says Bond.

In recognition of National Physiotherapy Month – Where Physiotherapy Can Help

Ninety percent of physiotherapy patients seek support because they are in pain. Indeed, the profession is built on pain management and rehabilitation, dating back to its origins in World War I while treating the traumas of injured soldiers. This gives physiotherapists unique experience and expertise and puts them in a strong position as key healthcare players to inform and guide change in how pain is managed in Canada.

Physiotherapists are skilled health professionals who assess, diagnose within scope, and analyze the impact of injury, disease, disorders, or lifestyle on movement and function. Physiotherapy is a health profession that promotes physical activity and overall health; prevents and rehabilitates disease, injury, and disability; and manages and improves acute and chronic conditions, activity limitations, participation restrictions, and physical performance through intervention and education.

Physiotherapists are trained to use diagnostics and assessment procedures and tools to develop and implement preventive and therapeutic courses of intervention to promote optimal mobility, physical activity, and overall health and wellness. Physiotherapists work with people in one-on-one or group-based settings. They provide treatment in all health care settings including hospitals, long-term care facilities, home care, community-based clinics, schools, private practice clinics, and primary care networks, in workplaces and in research settings.

Working with patients, physiotherapists promote independence and prevent injuries and disability, addressing conditions such as:

Donna Holt’s Story – “Today, I Feel Light”

March 18, 2020, was a day Donna Holt will never forget. It was the day many Canadians learned of the “lockdown,” as the federal and provincial governments attempted to deal with the rising threat of Covid-19, the new coronavirus that had been spreading across the planet.

For Holt, it was memorable for other reasons.

Beyond learning her downtown office was shutting down, she also discovered plans with friends and family were being cancelled or changed. The world suddenly seemed a scary place. On top of that, it was the day Holt was diagnosed with shingles. “It was actually one of the lowest days of my entire life,” she recalls. “I was sitting there in the doctor’s office, and there were no other people in the waiting room. The chairs were all distanced. I didn’t know where my people were — my work people. Everyone just scattered once it was announced that we were going to work from home.

The radio comes on, and it plays this Adele song that my niece had put behind a slideshow at my mother’s memorial service.” As she recounted in a personal diary a few days earlier, she noticed new health issues. What follows is her entry for that day: “I had a chiropractor appointment. My right shoulder and neck were particularly stiff. Probably just poor posture and tension from work.” – March 12, 2020

A community campaign for surgical innovation at HSC

"Operation Excellence will have a profound and lasting impact on our health care system, which is vital for the well-being of all Manitobans. Donors at all levels have a role to play in transforming and modernizing care. Your gift will change lives. Please support HSC-Manitoba's hospital. OUR hospital."

-Jackie Wild, HSC Foundation Board-Member

Your support will end wait times for diagnostic tests and surgeries, and help HSC deliver tomorrow's health care-today.

Learn more and donate at operationexcellence.ca or call 204-515-5612 or toll-free at 1-800-679-8493.

When your need is knowledge

Thanks to Perimeter Aviation, a subsidiary of Winnipeg’s Exchange Income Corporation, four students from the remote community of Brochet in Northern Manitoba were introduced to authentic, hands-on science experiences in Winnipeg last month.

Donated flights with Perimeter Aviation made the trip possible. The kids visited the RBC Youth BIOlab Jeunesse at the St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, where they looked at both mouse heart cells and cells swabbed from their own cheeks under microscopes.

Four ways your gift to St. Boniface Hospital Foundation will promote health literacy in other students:

Introduce youth from across Manitoba in Grades 5 to 12 to authentic experiences in a real science lab.The Youth BIOlab offers a great scope and range of activities, depending on the grade level.Programs are directly related to Manitoba’s science curriculum and teach kids about the science behind health.The Youth BIOlab helps kids understand their own health and helps them connect their classroom learning to cutting-edge science and research in their community.Support health literacy through science education.

2023 Tri-Hospital Dream Lottery – help make dreams come true!

If you’re like most Manitobans, you may have begun to dream about the hot days of summer. As you long for fun diversions such as hiking, boating or golfing, some Manitobans just dream of being healthy.

Health Sciences Centre Foundation, St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, and the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba understand this dream well. And they have dreams, too. For eight years, the foundations have come together to raise funds through the Tri-Hospital Dream Lottery in order to improve Manitobans’ lives – today and for the future.

With your help, the foundations plan to improve surgery outcomes, fund groundbreaking research, expand vital programs, and so much more! Their hard work touches hundreds of thousands of Manitobans’ lives annually.

“Every day, patients across Manitoba rely on life-saving care from HSC,” said Jonathon Lyon, HSC Foundation President & CEO.

A community campaign for surgical innovation at HSC

"We like the innovative, entrepreneurial spirit that is driving Operation Excellence. This campaign presents Manitobans with an unprecedented opportunity to invest in making health care more efficient. By improving systems and upgrading equipment and spaces at HSC, we can ensure better care for everyone." -Lisa and Steve Kroft, Operation Excellence Donors

Your support will end wait times for diagnostic tests and surgeries, and help HSC deliver tomorrow's health care-today.

Learn more and donate at OperationExcellence.ca or call 204-515-5612 or toll-free at 1-800-679-8493.

The Work in Manitoba Job Portal: Connecting employers and qualified candidates

The Work in Manitoba job portal, launched by the Manitoba government in November 2022, is helping connect employers with job seekers to fill vacancies and provide meaningful employment to Manitobans.

“We have heard from employers across the province that they are facing recruitment issues due to world-wide labour market challenges,” said Jeff Wharton, Minister for Economic Development, Investment and Trade.

“Our government is taking action to help alleviate these challenges while supporting job seekers, and we are thrilled to have launched the Work in Manitoba job portal, which is helping match employers with potential employees.”

“Our team’s goal is to attract, connect, mobilize and retain talent to ensure a strong talent pipeline for Manitoba employers. The portal is a powerful tool to support businesses seeking candidates and to demonstrate the breadth of career opportunities that exist in Winnipeg to attract new residents,” says Yvonne Kinley, Director, Talent & Workforce Development with Economic Development Winnipeg. The Work in Manitoba portal has already helped many local businesses identify and recruit skilled talent needed to fill critical vacancies.

Community Supporting Community

My son Tom is 48-years-old. He has a bright personality, a positive outlook on life, and a winning smile. He also has UBE2A deficiency syndrome, a genetic condition that is accompanied by a severe intellectual disability and regular seizures.

When tom was little, my husband Phil and I would invite Tom's school friends over to play with Tom in our backyard treehouse. tom loved his friends and they loved him. The treehouse was a magnet, and our yard became a community.

Now, my family and I are looking to rally community once again. Not to enjoy a treehouse, of course, but to join together in supporting another special space - the new Unit B5B at Health Sciences Centre. B5B will be a four-bed unit serving patients living with epilepsy and seizures, and it will also serve as a step-down space for patients recovering from neurosurgery. This new space will be fully occupied, 24/7 as soon as it is available, benefiting many hundreds of Manitobans like Tom every year. Unit B5B positioned right beside the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, will also allow the remarkable people at HSC to provide even better care while helping the hospital become more efficient.

I am excited to support this new initiative and proud to ask for your support as well. I am confident that this new unit will be a positive development for all of us.

A community campaign for surgical innovation at HSC

"Through my experience, I know that donors can have a significant impact on the well-being of our patients. When my colleagues and I have access to state-of-the-art diagnostic and surgical equipment, we can do our best work. Operation Excellence is raising the bar." -Dr. Biniam Kidane, HSC Thoracic Surgeon

Your support will end wait times for diagnostic tests and surgeries, and help HSC deliver tomorrow's health care-today.

Learn more and donate at OperationExcellence.ca or call 204-515-5612 or toll-free at 1-800-679-8493.

The Role of Physiotherapy in Long Covid Rehabilitation

After COVID-19 infection, most people will start to feel better within a few weeks. However, for some people, symptoms can last for months afterinitial infection. Long Covid or “Post-Covid Condition” is now recognized by the World Health Organization. Long Covid can affect people who were admitted to hospital with Covid-19, as well as those who recovered at home. Even younger people or people with “mild” initial infection can develop Long Covid. Many people with Long Covid were previously healthy.

Over 200 symptoms of Long Covid have been identified including extreme fatigue, exercise intolerance, shortness of breath, dizziness, and cognitive impairment or “brain fog”. People may experience multiple symptoms across different body systems. Symptoms can be unpredictable, fluctuate, and change or develop over time. Extreme fatigue is the most common symptom reported. This fatigue is not the type that is easily relieved with rest or reconditioning. Fatigue can affect both physical and cognitive functioning. Many people with Long Covid experience ongoing difficulty with attention, memory, and concentration. A key feature of Long Covid fatigue is post-exertion symptom exacerbation (PESE), where symptoms worsen after physical, cognitive, or emotional energy expenditure.

The impact of Long Covid symptoms may affect a person’s ability to participate in their work and life roles. Long Covid can also have a significant impact on well-being and mental health. While there is still much to be learned about Long Covid, health care professionals, including physiotherapists an assist individuals with Long Covid to self-manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Rehabilitation approaches must be safe and tailored to the individual. Rehabilitation should be at an appropriate pace that does not cause worsening of symptoms or prolong recovery. People with Long Covid may need to modify their activity and daily tasks to stay within new energy limitations. Pacing and heart rate monitoring can be safe and effective self-management strategies for people with fatigue.

Top things to check out at the Winnipeg Home + Garden Show

| The Winnipeg Home and Garden Show is set to return to the RBC Convention Centre from April 13-16 2023 and this year's lineup of home renovation, design, landscaping and garden experts will help Winnipeggers up their home and garden game in no time!

Spring has finally arrived, and it's the perfect time to start planning your outdoor space and home renovation projects. As the days get warmer and longer, HGTV Canada experts are here to help you revitalize your living space. From Randy Spracklin, the host of Rock Solid Builds, to Heather and Nathan of Hoarder House Flippers and Instagram-famous organizer Megan Golightly of Simplified presented by Signature Cleaning Services, these experts along with some local pros specialize in a range of areas, including landscaping, kitchen and bathroom renovations, organizing, and home improvement projects.

Attending the Show is a fantastic way to discover the latest trends and practical solutions for all your home and garden projects ahead of spring. Whether you're looking for inspiration or want to gain valuable insights into the latest home trends, the Show is the perfect place to be. So, get ready to breathe new life into your living space and embrace the beauty of spring with guidance from these experts.

When your need is a second chance

“Paul, you are going to be here for the birth of your daughter. You are going to see your children grow up.” Paul Fontaine’s cardiologist said that to him in St. Boniface Hospital on the morning after Fontaine had his pacemaker put in to steady his heartbeat. Those words answered any other questions he had. “They still echo in my mind to this day,” said Fontaine. “I will get to see my children, Emmett, who is 4, and Elena, who is 1, grow up.”

Fontaine came close to death one week before his 33rd birthday. At the time, his fiancée, Shay, was eight months pregnant with their second child. On June 7, 2021, Shay rushed him to St. Boniface Hospital’s Emergency Department. He was diagnosed with a complete heart block caused by a rare inflammatory condition called cardiac sarcoidosis. They put in his pacemaker on June 9, 2021, and released him the next day.

“Coming out of the Hospital, I didn’t want to be like, “Why me?” Feeling sorry for myself would have been a waste of my energy,” he said. “Instead, I keep a positive attitude about being given a second chance by Foundation donors who supported my care at St. Boniface Hospital.”

bealifeline.ca

A community campaign for surgical innovation at HSC

"We are fortunate to have exceptional surgeons and other medical professionals at HSC. I have experienced their care and have tremendous confidence in their skill and dedication. Through Operation Excellence, we can provide them with state-of-the-art equipment so they can do their best work." - Melanie Tooley, Operation Excellence Donor

Your support will end wait times for diagnostic tests and surgeries, and help HSC deliver tomorrow's health care-today.

Learn more and donate at OperationExcellence.ca or call 204-515-5612 or toll-free at 1-800-679-8493.

Bringing Rossbrook House to You.

“I don’t know where I would be today if it wasn’t for Rossbrook House,” said Chantel, who started hanging out at Rossbrook House with her siblings when she was seven years old. Today, she is a mother of three and an Indigenous culture instructor.

Rossbrook House is a drop-in centre in the heart of Winnipeg that provides programs, employment opportunities and meals to children and youth. The doors of Rossbrook House have seen generations pass through them, including Chantel’s two oldest children who take part in programs and outings.

On April 27, Rossbrook House Foundation will be celebrating stories like Chantel’s, while raising funds for programs, at the No Child Alone Dinner at the RBC Convention Centre.

Join the celebration: rossbrookhouse.ca/nca-2023-tickets/

Bank of Canada’s Senior Deputy Governor shares economic outlook at Chambers event

Inflation has increased sharply across the world over the past year. Global supply challenges, elevated commodity prices, and a war in Ukraine all contributed to inflation in Canada. Global and domestic pressures combined to push inflation to 40-year highs.

When prices go up, money can’t buy as much as it used to. This loss of purchasing power hurts everyone’s standard of living. When inflation is high, consumers, businesses and investors are uncertain about what their costs will be from one day to the next. High inflation is often unstable and unpredictable, and that keeps the economy from performing at its best.

Manitobans have felt the impact of high inflation this past year, including having to pay higher prices for groceries, fuel, and rent. Inflation is especially challenging for people on fixed incomes, and it’s bad for business.

Earlier this year, the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce released our annual Manitoba Business Outlook Survey commissioned by Leger. It should perhaps come as no surprise that inflation was the number one concern expressed by businesses.

Elevating care for epilepsy and neurosurgery patients at Health Sciences Centre

Please support our $500,000 campaign to develop four new private rooms for specialized monitoring and care. Between the new, provincially-funded, four-bed Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) and Manitoba's Provincial Acute Neurosurgery Unit at HSC, lies underutilized space—and an opportunity to enhance patient care.

With your support, HSC will develop this available space into four modern, private rooms to support patients in hospital for epilepsy monitoring and assessment, and provide additional surgical step-down space for patients recovering from neurosurgery. The new space will be known as Unit B5B. These new rooms will be fully occupied, 24/7, as soon as they are available, benefitting many hundreds of Manitobans every year.

Highlights:Unit B5B will help address the backlog of patients who require the services of the new EMU, a waitlist that grew during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The central location of B5B will help hospital staff serve both patient populations-epilepsy and neurosurgery-seamlessly.

Unit B5B will meet the needs of EMU patients who live outside of Winnipeg when there are delays in returning to their home communities. The design of the four new private rooms in Unit B5B is driven by the unique needs of epilepsy and neurosurgery patients. This initiative will have a positive effect on the entire Surgery Program at HSC by improving overall patient flow and improving HSC's ability to address the overall surgical backlog. Your support will ensure that epilepsy and neurosurgery patients can have respectful, compassionate, and high-quality care at HSC. Your gift will help HSC deliver tomorrow's health care, today.

New family-owned HVAC company offers fresh approach

Business is already heating up for a new family-owned HVAC company that aims to be a leader in the industry.

In November 2022, cousins John Chua and Norman Castaneda teamed up to launch NEDA Heating and Cooling. Since then, they’ve been pleased to help customers find the right solutions for their heating, ventilation and air conditioning needs.

“We envisioned building a company that would take care of Winnipeggers for their HVAC needs,” said Chua, NEDA’s chief executive officer.

“We partnered up so we could start the business and make that happen.”

Aging in Place: Tips to make staying in your home possible

It has been estimated that over the next 20 years, Canada’s senior population, comprised of those aged 65 and older, is expected to grow by 68%. While “aging in place” (staying in one’s home while getting older) has long been touted as a worthy consideration that provides numerous benefits, the increasing volume of seniors combined with the post pandemic fear of shared accommodations will likely result in an increased number of seniors choosing this path.

Aging in place, when done with advanced planning and the assistance of professional guidance, provides numerous benefits including honoring dignity and independence, maintaining a higher quality of life, providing personalized/individualized care, reducing the risk of illnesses and injuries and improving recovery rates from same, all while minimizing some of the stressors of change.

Physiotherapists can assist with the pre planning stage to ensure that seniors can more safely and successfully age in place. A physiotherapist will perform a thorough assessment of the individual’s physical capacity (strength, mobility, balance, gait, etc) and make recommendations to improve or maintain these abilities. These recommendations may include a specific strength, balance and mobility exercise routine or something as simple as a regular walking routine with or without the use of a walking aide (cane, walker, walking poles). A physiotherapist may also recommend an Occupational Therapy assessment be performed to determine what adjustments should be made to the living quarters to maximize the client’s safety and level of function to facilitate a successful aging in place.

If you or a senior you know are considering aging in place it is worthwhile to consider the recommendations listed below to ensure your current home is suitably modified or a new home is appropriately equipped and organized for an aging senior:

A community campaign for surgical innovation at HSC

"Over my career, I have seen the impact HSC Foundation donors have on health care. Operation Excellence is our opportunity to have the greatest impact ever by supporting the acquisition of the next generation of minimally invasive surgical technology." -Dr. Michael West, O.C., Retired HSC Neurosurgeon; Operation Excellence Donor

Your support will end wait times for diagnostic tests and surgeries, and help HSC deliver tomorrow's health care today.

Learn more and donate at OperationExcellence.ca or call 204-515-5612 or toll-free at 1-800-679-8493.