A Balmoral resident has earned recognition for her countless contributions to community volunteerism and health advocacy over the past two decades.
Brenda Martinussen recently received the McMaster University School of Rehabilitation Science 2024 distinguished alumni award in the master of health management program.
Established in 2012, the award recognizes the 20th anniversary of the school’s first graduating class in occupational therapy and physiotherapy.
Vanessa Killinger nominated Martinussen for the award, describing her as an advocate who addresses relevant policy issues across Canada relating to older adults.
It all came as a surprise to Martinussen, who wasn’t aware she’d been nominated. She said it’s an honour to receive the award.
“The first I learned of it was when I received a letter from McMaster University telling me I had won,” said Martinussen, who graduated from the university in 2015 with a master’s degree in health management.
“The letter indicated that the award was for individuals who inspire a passion for personal growth, development and life-long learning.”
The award honours and recognizes alumni who are respected and admired for their leadership, achievements, and contributions in scholarly activity, education, clinical practice and in the community.
Martinussen was chosen for her community work. She started working in health care for Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority as the regional manager of allied health. From there, she transitioned to become a clinical team manager in home care, which involved overseeing seniors’ housing, services to seniors and adult day programs.
At the same time, she graduated from McMaster’s master of health management program and became a certified health executive with the Canadian College of Health Leaders.
After that, she became the chief operating officer and then the chief strategy and growth officer with a large non-profit that provides community care in Winnipeg.
“Around that time, I was diagnosed with breast cancer and took some time off for medical care,” she said. “This break helped me to determine the need for more balance in my life.”
Martinussen then moved on to working with the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health, where she oversaw national projects and public policy relating to the mental health of older adults in Canada.
“This was a contract position that I thoroughly loved with an organization I passionately believe in. When the contract came to an end, I moved into my current position as the chief executive officer at the Portage Clinic,” she said.
“This move was also in line with my passion for both community care and health care in our province.”
Through her extensive volunteer work, Martinussen continued to advocate for issues relating to older adults.
“Several years ago, given personal family experience, I joined the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba’s board of directors. During this time, I was also a member of the national board of the Alzheimer Society of Canada,” she said.
“As a board member, you are responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organization, including its advocacy with public policy. We sought improvements to dementia training in health-care facilities, advocated for ‘dementia-friendly communities’ — not just age-friendly — and more.”
Part of her role was to ensure that people with dementia and their care partners have a voice in programs and policies that impact them.
“This includes hearing stakeholders identify their more concerning issues, identifying an advocacy agenda based on what we hear and finding the right opportunities to advance that agenda,” she said.
She made efforts to seek meetings with key politicians to emphasize the importance of issues related to dementia, welcome politicians to key events where both board and clients are present, and ensure an appropriate cadence of interactions with the government so that Alzheimer Society of Manitoba is respected and consulted. As an example, Martinussen said Alzheimer Society of Manitoba was consulted during the recent development of the Seniors Strategy.
“When I was on the Alzheimer Society of Canada board, MAID (medical assistance in dying) was just coming into being and we developed a position statement on MAID as it related to those with dementia,” she added. “Alzheimer Society of Canada is regularly at the table with the federal government for topics relating to dementia.”
With the Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health, they aimed to keep on top of issues that might impact older adults. Martinussen co-authored and published an article titled “Timely Yet Long Overdue: Canadian Standards for Long-Term Care Homes” in the Canadian Geriatrics Journal (cgjonline.ca). This article was in response to the national standards of care for long-term care homes.
“We were consulted and had input into the development of the national mental health standards for long-term care in Canada that are currently being developed,” she said.
“We also had input into the Safe Long Term Care Act, speaking to the need for cultural safety; quality care; communication; infrastructure and the physical environment; the critical role of the individual, families and loved ones in the system; access to mental health services; the need to meet the new long-term care standards; minimum staffing levels and the need to support staff; transparency and public reporting; standardized assessments and reporting; and more.”
In addition, they secured a seat on a panel relating to overcrowding in emergency rooms to ensure the voice of older adults was not forgotten.
“In my time with Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health, we also developed national evidence-based best practice clinical standards for anxiety in older adults, social isolation and loneliness in older adults and behaviours in dementia,” she said.
“We also created and launched the behavioursindementia.ca website — an online resource library for health-care professionals and the public.”
When considering volunteer opportunities, Martinussen seeks to spend her volunteer hours doing work that is meaningful to her.
“My board involvement is with organizations that I feel strongly about in terms of the work that they do,” she said.
She was recently appointed to the national board of Jack.org, which is a Canadian mental health non-profit organization devoted to ensuring young people get essential mental health education.
“Through its programs, young people learn how to recognize signs of struggle in themselves and others, how to support friends and classmates who might be dealing with a mental health struggle, and when a situation requires professional support — and how and where to get that support,” she said.
“This work matters because youth mental health struggle is on the rise in Canada and has been for a long time. Young people in rural and remote areas often face distinct barriers with their mental health. More work needs to be done to provide youth in rural and remote areas with the support they need.”
Jack.org is looking for partners and collaborators in bringing its programs to communities across the country and in co-developing initiatives to support vulnerable youth, she added.
“We all have a role to play,” she said. “Young people need the support of their parents, teachers, coaches and other adults.”
Her long list of volunteer roles includes serving as the South Interlake Regional Library’s vice-chair and public representative appointed by the RM of Rockwood. She’s also currently the treasurer for the Teulon Skating Club, and she’s involved with Canada’s Volunteer Awards national advisory council as a public representative appointed by the federal government.
With both the College of Occupational Therapy of Manitoba and the College of Pharmacists of Manitoba, Martinussen serves as a public representative appointed by the provincial government.
She’s also currently a member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders. Previously, she served on the national awards advisory committee and the Manitoba professional development committee.
Other past volunteer roles included committee and board positions with Big Brothers and Sisters of Winnipeg and committee positions with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. She also served on the boards for Interlake Minor Ball and Balmoral Baseball Club.
These extensive volunteer roles contributed to the reasons why McMaster University recognized Martinussen, who attended the June 12 award ceremony virtually.
Dina Brooks, McMaster’s executive vice-dean and associate vice-president academic in the faculty of health sciences, shared congratulatory sentiments.
“We were thrilled to include Brenda as a recipient of the School of Rehabilitation alumni award. Brenda, who graduated with her masters in health management in 2015, has made significant contributions in senior support programs and health-care management,” Brooks said.
“Her leadership and innovative initiatives, including the launch of DASCHWorks, and her extensive volunteer work exemplify the qualities we honour with this award.”
For Martinussen, she gleans inspiration in the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
“I believe that for society to be the place we want it to be, we need to take personal responsibility and take steps to help it get there,” she said.
“I am very fortunate to have a family who supports me in all my endeavours, including my volunteering, academic pursuits and career. “
