The Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority is receiving a major boost to frontline healthcare training and digital patient care services thanks to a $10,000 donation from RBC Foundation and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC).
IERHA staff practice IV insertion using a “Chester Chest” training mannequin, part of expanded hands-on clinical education supported by a $10,000 donation from RBC and the RBC Foundation
Announced during National Nursing Week, the funding will help provide advanced emergency pediatric training to 29 nurses and healthcare staff connected to Selkirk Regional Health Centre and healthcare facilities across the Interlake-Eastern region.
The donation is part of a national healthcare campaign that will see RBC and the RBC Foundation contribute more than $30 million to 93 hospitals across Canada in support of workforce development, patient care and healthcare accessibility.
Local healthcare leaders say the investment comes at an important time for rural healthcare systems facing staffing shortages and increasing patient demands.
“Staffing pressures in healthcare are felt everywhere, and rural communities face unique challenges,” said Patrice Lee, Director of Health Services. “Investing in education is one of the most effective ways to recruit and retain skilled professionals.”
Lee said the funding will allow healthcare workers to receive specialized emergency pediatric education closer to home, eliminating the need for extensive travel and reducing barriers to professional development.
“By delivering training locally, we’re reducing barriers, supporting our teams and improving care for patients close to home,” she said. “We are grateful for RBC’s support in making this possible.”
The training initiative will include hands-on learning using advanced simulation equipment and mannequins that allow nurses to practice real-life emergency scenarios, including IV insertion and pediatric response procedures.
Healthcare educators within the IERHA say simulation-based learning is becoming an increasingly valuable tool in rural healthcare because it gives staff the opportunity to strengthen clinical skills in a safe environment before responding to actual emergencies.
The donation will also support the implementation of a region-wide online booking and patient messaging platform designed to improve patient access to care while reducing administrative workloads, wait times and missed appointments. The new platform will roll out in stages across the region over the next year.
Averill Stephenson, executive director of the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Foundation, said the donation will strengthen both clinical care and patient services across the region.
“Investing in both digital infrastructure and clinical capacity, this donation from RBC will help us support the IERHA in strengthening the full continuum of care, ensuring people receive timely, high-quality support in the communities where they live,” Stephenson said.
Stephenson noted the Selkirk Regional Health Centre continues to benefit from strong community support through donations made in honour of loved ones, by grateful patients and through community fundraising initiatives.
The most recent major contribution came on April 27 through the annual disbursement of the Selkirk Hospital (Equipment) Fund, held at the Selkirk & District Community Foundation. The fund provided $46,658 for urgently needed acute care equipment.
Stephenson said the funding will support the purchase of mattresses, wheelchairs, monitors and rehabilitation equipment used throughout the hospital.
The latest RBC contribution also builds on previous support provided in 2024, when RBC donated another $10,000 to help train internal educators throughout the region.
That earlier funding allowed healthcare staff to become certified instructors in programs such as Basic Life Support, Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course training and Trauma Nursing Core Course education, helping bring more advanced healthcare instruction directly into rural communities.
RBC Regional President Kim Ulmer said the campaign recognizes the essential role nurses and healthcare teams play in communities across Canada.
“National Nursing Week reminds us of the vital role nurses play in keeping our communities healthy,” Ulmer said. “We’re honoured to support nursing excellence and the strengthening of healthcare teams.”
Ulmer added the donations are intended to help hospitals address local priorities while building a strong and resilient healthcare workforce.
National Nursing Week, held annually in honour of nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, recognizes the contributions nurses make to healthcare across the country. Nurses represent Canada’s largest group of healthcare professionals, with approximately 400,000 members nationwide.
