Honourable Bronwyn Eyre, Minister of Energy and Resources, recently recognized MHS West’s Paramedics: Emergency Response television show in the Saskatchewan legislature.

“The series highlights the incredible brave work that paramedics do and what they face on a daily basis,” said Honourable Bronwyn Eyre. “Now more than ever it is so important to recognize the crucial role that paramedics play in our health system.”

The series, which started in 2017 on YouTube, has become a remarkable success. With five seasons and a potential sixth, the episodes are popular across Canada and in other countries as well.

Click on the video below to watch the introduction to the show.

On May 6, Atlantic Business Magazine’s 23rd Annual Top 50 CEO Awards were presented virtually, recognizing Atlantic Canada’s most accomplished business leaders

Our very own Bernard Lord was among the award winners – marking the second time he has earned this title for his outstanding leadership.

Nominations are submitted by readers and nominees are judged according to: their corporate, community and industry involvement; their company’s growth in recent years; and, their responses to various managerial challenges.

Click on the video below to see some of our employees congratulating Bernard on his most recent achievement.

From the frontlines to the phone lines, Medavie Health Services employees are working tirelessly to protect the health and safety of Canadians and their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an article on Medavie.ca, we look at how several MHS operations teams are playing key roles in virus screening tests and vaccine roll-outs.

As COVID-19 vaccines begin to roll out across Ontario, Chatham-Kent Public Health, the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance and our own, CKEMS have been working together collaboratively with the Chatham-Kent Ontario Health Team and community partners to coordinate the delivery of the COVID-19 vaccines.

In late January, a dedicated mobile team, made up of paramedics and CK Public Health staff, visited long-term care facilities in the community to provide residents with their first doses of the vaccine (with the second round made available as of February 22). And now, the health system partners in Chatham-Kent have an operational vaccination clinic.

Over the next few months, COVID-19 vaccines will be delivered to priority populations before being opened up to the broader general public for immunization. Currently, through the clinic, staff and essential caregivers at long-term care and high-risk retirement homes are eligible to receive a first dose of the vaccine.

“At CKEMS, we are proud to be working alongside our health care system partners to bring COVID-19 vaccinations to those in our community who are most vulnerable. We look forward to our ongoing work to support the health and wellbeing of our community through the phased vaccine roll-out approach. It’s a proud feeling to be part of this moment in health care history.” — Donald MacLellan, General Manager, CKEMS

You can read more in this article from the Ontario Hospital Association and in the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance news release. You can also see the program in action in the team’s vaccine rollout and vaccination clinic videos. 

Recently, through the Foundation, we announced a $500,000 donation to help support healthy living and modern recreational spaces for individuals and families in New Brunswick through the development of a new Riverview Recreation Complex.

 “Recreational facilities are at the heart of every community – providing a safe place to discover, connect and create,” said Bernard Lord, CEO of Medavie. “At Medavie, our mission is to improve the wellbeing of Canadians and we believe making a meaningful difference in our communities is more important than ever. The Riverview Recreation Complex will improve access to active living and wellbeing, while enriching the community for generations to come.”

 Rooted in a commitment to accessibility, inclusivity and activity, the new centre will feature a year-round cultural and sporting complex. Medavie’s support will help increase the number of recreational programs and services in the area, including a fully accessible complex for swimming, field sports, public meetings and community spaces.

 We are proud to support our communities and improve the wellbeing of Canadians. For more information, please visit Medavie.ca.

As a campaign dedicated to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health in Canada, Bell Let’s Talk is recognized all over the world. Today, on January 28, Bell will donate to mental health initiatives in Canada by contributing five cents for every applicable text, call, tweet or TikTok using #BellLetsTalk – including social media video views and use of their Facebook frame or Snapchat filter.

At Medavie, our mission is to improve the wellbeing of Canadians and we recognize the importance of mental health. Through the Medavie Health Foundation, we are focused on supporting initiatives that seek to strengthen access to mental health services and supports for children, youth, and young adults, as well as those who are living with post-traumatic stress. This need is especially true for our team members and frontline healthcare workers as they continue to keep patients and communities safe throughout this pandemic. As part of your benefits, there are a several services available to you and your covered family members.

• Digital therapist guided program, provided through MindBeacon and available to you and your immediate family members (16+) at no personal cost and offered in English and French, has been designed to help individuals experiencing mild to moderate symptoms related to conditions including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, managing stress, and chronic pain management. MindBeaconhas introduced therapy program customization for First Responders and Frontline Workers.  Click here to access.

• MindBeacon has introduced Live Therapy sessions that provide secure face-to-face therapy – wherever and whenever it’s most convenient for you. To access these sessions, you pay up front for the service and then submit your claim to be reimbursed under your psychology benefit, as you would for any other eligible claims. Through MindBeacon, you search directly for a therapist online based on your concerns, province and language preferences and then pick a date and time that works for you!

• Bell Let’s Talk has created a resource hub and Get Help section that houses information and resources about maintaining mental health during these unprecedented times and how to support people who are managing a mental illness as we continue to navigate this new normal.

Thank you for everything you continue to do as we move forward together during these challenging times.

Medavie, through its Foundation, has awarded a total of $50,000 in scholarships that will be distributed to 10 exceptional students across four provinces. The scholarships will support recipients in their post-secondary studies and future careers in health care.

“At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives and educational experiences of youth across the country, we were pleased this year to increase the number of scholarship recipients from two to 10. These young Canadians were selected based on their academic achievements and efforts to give back to their communities – all while overcoming challenges in their own lives,” said Joanne Kviring, Executive Director, Medavie Health Foundation. “As part of Medavie’s core mission to improve the wellbeing of Canadians, we hope these scholarships will support each recipient in their studies and path to being part of the next generation of health professionals in Canada.”

Since 2017, the charitable foundation has awarded these annual scholarships to Canadians, aged 17-29, who are enrolled in full- or part-time studies at a Canadian post-secondary school, are pursuing a health-related program of study, and have overcome adversity related to mental health, either through lived experience or a family member.

The Medavie Scholarship honours Pierre-Yves Julien, former CEO of Medavie, who believed in helping communities where employees and clients live and work, and supporting Canada’s next generation of health care leaders. The program aligns with the Foundation’s core causes including adolescent mental health, post-traumatic stress and healthy living.

2020 Scholarship Recipients

• Ashley Thornton, Fredericton, NB, St. Thomas University (BA in Psychology)
• Grace Dawson, Thunder Bay, ON, Lakehead University (Nursing)
• Ruby Gaudett, North York, ON, University of Toronto (BA in Sociology, Minor in Women and Gender Studies and Sexual Diversity Studies)
• Dylan Morrow, New Ross, NS, Acadia University (Bachelor of Kinesiology)
• Emily Roden, London, ON Western University (BA, Major in Sociology)
• Cassie O’Hagan, Barrie, ON, University of British Columbia (BA, major in Psychology)
• Molly Hingorani, Toronto, ON, George Brown College (Nursing)
• Blake Colbran, Burin Bay Arm, NL, Memorial University of Newfoundland (Bachelor of Science)
• Sophia Keast, Toronto, ON, York University (Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology)
• Ezra Morarescu, Ancaster, ON, Wilfred Laurier University (Psychology)

If you have questions or would like to be notified when the scholarship program opens in Spring 2021, email MHF@MedavieHealthFoundation.ca with “Scholarship” in your subject line.