North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Award

Presented to Geraldton District Hospital and the Thunderbird Friendship Centre for their innovative new program

‘Never Forgotten Program’

Geraldton District Hospital and Thunderbird Friendship Centre

Exceptional Practice in Diversity and Inclusion (Team) Award

L to R: Lucy Bonanno, CEO GDH; Keri Cloutier, LTC Manager GDH; Lorraine Cloutier, Vice Chair, Friendship Centre Board of Directors; Karen Stephenson, CEO Thunderbird Friendship Centre

The North West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) Board of Directors presented the fourth annual North West LHIN Leadership Award on Tuesday, December 11, 2018, at the LHIN’s Board meeting in Thunder Bay. The award acknowledges outstanding transformation, partnerships and leadership excellence across Northwestern Ontario’s health care system.

This program, between this newly formed partnership, has won the award, of exceptional practice in diversity and inclusion, from the North West LHIN. Many applicants were submitted and the Board of Directors of the North West LHIN chose this program to accept the award at a regional level.

The Never Forgotten program was formed jointly by Geraldton

District Hospital and the Thunderbird Friendship Centre in

Geraldton to address a shortage of programs for Indigenous

elders in the hospital’s long-term care wing.

The Never Forgotten program provides a collaborative approach

in helping Indigenous elders reconnect with their heritage and

improve the Long-Term Care resident experience. This approach

is aligned with Geraldton District Hospital’s Patient and Family

Centred Care model.

Through the program, staff from the Thunderbird Friendship

Centre come to the long-term care wing and hold activities twice

a week specific for the Indigenous experience, including making

bannock bread, dream catchers, beading work and quilting.

The program, which started small, has grown to include drummers and

song, celebrations on Indigenous Peoples Day, and excursions to

community cultural events. The program has the potential to grow

further, and the Never Forgotten Committee continues to meet

and discuss potential expansion.

As a result of the program, resident satisfaction has increased. The

activities offered through the program are the most popular with

increased resident participation and provides cultural education

for both staff and non-Indigenous residents.

The program is administered in a way that respects diversity, especially for

Indigenous elders.

At the awards ceremony in Thunder Bay, both CEO’s thanked the staff of each facility for their hard work and belief in the vision of this program. Keri Cloutier, Long Term Care Manager at the hospital, and Raquel Kashkeesh from the Friendship Centre, were instrumental in the success of its operational delivery.

Accepting the award at the Leadership Awards Ceremony at the LHIN offices in Thunder Bay and reflected in the attached photo are: Lorraine Cloutier, Vice Chair, Friendship Centre Board of Directors; Karen Stephenson, CEO Thunderbird Friendship Centre; Keri Cloutier, Long Term Care Manager, Geraldton District Hospital and Lucy Bonanno, CEO of Geraldton District Hospital.

The North West LHIN is pleased to congratulate all those at

Geraldton District Hospital and the Thunderbird Friendship Centre

who are a part of the Never Forgotten program for their Leadership

Award.

“This award is very much appreciated and shows that the

Thunderbird Friendship Centre is moving in the right direction for

our community.”

- Karen Stephenson, CEO, Thunderbird Friendship Centre

“I am honoured to accept this award on behalf of the hospital and

feel that together, with the Thunderbird Friendship Centre, we are

offering a unique program that is undoubtedly ‘patient and family

centred’ showing acceptance of diversity and respect for all of our

patients and residents. “

- Lucy Bonanno, CEO, Geraldton District Hospital