Steve Ashton

There is a unique dedication that characterizes many of our Northern health care professionals.

Whether it is in Northern urban centres like Thompson or in remote communities we have been fortunate to have many excellent health care professionals who have committed themselves to ensuring we receive the health care we need.

This dedication was one of the themes of a play, “Tempting Providence” that I had the opportunity to see this past week in Thompson. The play is based on the true story of Myra Bennett a nurse who practised in remote communities in Newfoundland after migrating to Canada.

In many ways, the story echoed the story of our very own, the late Jo Lutley.  Jo came to Canada as an immigrant from England and practiced nursing throughout the North. She eventually moved to Thompson. Like Myra Bennett, Jo was awarded the Order of Canada. She continued to contribute toward improving Northern health care throughout her life.

There are many other health care professionals that have dedicated themselves to the North, I have seen the commitment in my own family. My brother Martin has been the doctor in Oxford House and South Indian Lake for more than twenty years.

We often tend to focus on the importance of our health care professionals when we face periodic shortages in the North.

Perhaps we need to do more to thank our health care professionals on a regular basis.

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