StettlerLocal.com July 20, 2021
Where are you from? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Regina Saskatchewan and moved around a lot with my Dad being in the RCMP. I have called Regina, High Prairie, Lloydminster, Stettler, Red Deer, Windsor Ontario and Edmonton all home at some point. We were transferred to here halfway through my Grade 11 year, moving from Lloydminster to Stettler had its challenges but I did meet some great people.
Why do you (did you) choose Stettler as home?
I moved away right after high school but found myself coming back to this community to be closer to my family to help raise my son. That was 14 yrs ago now.
What do you do?
I was lucky enough that when I decided I wanted to go into nursing that Bow Valley College was offering the Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program here. I was able to work towards a career in nursing while not having to leave work or my then 2 yr old for very long. Since graduating that program over 10 yrs ago, I am still working in a field I love. I have even taught for both Bow Valley College and Red Deer College in the blended adult learner and high school students Health Care Aide programs and have done some clinical work for the LPN programs. I Love being a nurse, I love the relationships I have formed over the years with so many colleagues, I love the ability to help people on their best days and their worst. I must admit that Emergency Room nursing and Labour and Delivery are two of my favorite areas of nursing to work in and we are blessed in Stettler to have gotten new labour and delivery suites as well as the new ER.
Besides being an LPN, I am also a Massage Therapist and a Heart and Stroke CPR Certified Instructor.
Tell us about your family?
I am currently a single mom of my amazing son, Deacon. Being single in a small town has its challenges. However, I decided many years ago that my son was my focus and my priority.
Who inspired you growing up?
It seems cliche to say it but honestly, my parents inspired me growing up. I was honored to have my dad be a police officer and go through what he had to. Even more so now being older and understanding the career. And my mom, wow raising 3 kids at a young age, husband working long hours, high risk job, missing holidays, birthdays, being transferred every few years and her having a job as well. And us kids were a handful! Well I was delightful, my brothers were the hand full. Both my parents still inspire me every day.
Who inspires you now?
These days I surround myself with people who inspire me for so many reasons. It took me awhile to learn to surround myself with amazing people I respect and that push me to be better, and that is my circle today. I am so blessed to call so many people from so many walks of life my friends. Genuinely I am also inspired my son, Deacon. I have no idea what I did to have been blessed with such a handful of charm, wit, humor, and love.
Do you have any hobbies?
Hobbies? I work too much to have these! All kidding aside, I do love to kayak, enjoy hiking, cooking and spending time with friends.
What are your plans for the future?
Right now, Deacon starts high school this year, so my focus is helping him navigate through that. COVID turned everyone's world upside down and I feel for kids in school, it’s hard enough without all the changes.
My passion would be to go do some travel nursing once he has graduated. I have always felt a draw to travel nursing and missions. But honestly no one knows what our futures hold, especially in this day and age.
Anything else you would like to tell your community?
When I first started working as a health care aide, I thought it was just a way to make some money, not a field I was going to stay in. Over the years I have been blessed with some amazing experiences in my career with many of the people that live in this community. Some of the hardest parts of nursing is knowing the people you see in the ER, but that is also one of the best because we know we are making a difference. I have cried with many people in our community as they bring new life into the world and with others as they say goodbye to ones leaving it.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, they were not kidding. I'm lucky enough to get a whole town. I made some person sacrifices to move back to Stettler to raise Deacon surrounded by friends and family, but I do not ever regret making Stettler the place he calls home.
Thank you to Tricia Wagner for being a part of the Stettlerlocal.com Stettler Spotlights.
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