Cancer centre staff recognized as outstanding

Health-care workers at Brandon’s Western Manitoba Cancer Centre were recognized for their collaborative approach to providing compassionate patient care during an awards ceremony last week.

The centre’s staff won the Outstanding Nursing Unit, Program or Interprofessional Team Award Thursday evening in Winnipeg at the 2026 Association of Regulated Nurses of Manitoba Celebration of Excellence.

More than 200 nurses, health-care leaders, community partners and family members gathered in celebration of the 11th annual event to acknowledge the contributions of nurses and health-care professionals across Manitoba.

Clinical resource nurse Jordana Jones, who has worked at the Brandon centre for about 12 years, said she nominated the cancer care staff alongside her former manager.

“I just think we’re a really kind of unique unit or program within the province, and I’m really happy everyone got the recognition that they deserved,” she said.

The team consists of nurses, clerks, health-care aides, dietitians, social workers, occupational therapists, radiation therapists, physicians, oncologists, pharmacists and administrative staff who work collaboratively to provide patient care.

“I am incredibly proud to be part of a team whose dedication, innovation, and camaraderie consistently result in high patient satisfaction and meaningful outcomes,” said Jennifer Hooke, an administrative assistant at the centre.

“This award is a true reflection of what we accomplish together.”

The Western Manitoba Cancer Centre opened in July 2011 in partnership with CancerCare Manitoba and Prairie Mountain Health. It’s the province’s only cancer treatment centre located outside of Winnipeg that provides both radiation and chemotherapy services.

Most patients can be treated at the centre, but some cases may require more specialized treatment in Winnipeg.

Jones said she’s super proud of her colleagues for receiving the award, especially because they work at a smaller centre that provides care for many rural patients in western Manitoba.

“I always say, like, I would never, you know, want a friend or family (member) to have to come to the cancer centre and receive care, but if they did, I know that they would be receiving kind of the best care in Manitoba,” she said.

“It makes you feel really good to work somewhere like that.”

She said staff believe in building strong connections with the patients and making sure they feel welcome and comfortable.

The award ceremony recognizes nurses and interprofessional teams whose work is making a meaningful difference in health care across the province, said the association’s executive director, Joyce Kristjansson.

“The purpose is to recognize nurses that are doing an outstanding job,” she said.

“It’s a chance for nurses to identify people that have made a difference in their lives.”

The cancer centre was selected for the award for many reasons, including its strong efforts to minimize staff burnout through a peer encouragement and positivity program and for providing exceptional care to patients, she said.

The association, which has approximately 3,000 members, received 35 nominations in total and awarded 25 recipients, Kristjansson said.

There was a wide variety of award recipients this year with backgrounds in post-secondary education, research, acute care, long-term care, oncology, Indigenous health and digital health innovation.

Other award recipients included Tiffany Barker, a nurse educator in Swan River, who won the Education Award.

“She consistently goes above and beyond, stepping forward to take on work that needs to be done and ensuring it is completed thoughtfully and to the highest standard,” Kristjansson said.

“She not only strengthens practice, but she inspires those around her to reach for excellence.”

The University College of the North Nursing Faculty also won the Outstanding Nursing Unit, Program or Interprofessional Team Award. The instructors teach a baccalaureate nursing program in Thompson and The Pas and licensed practical nurses in Swan River and Flin Flon, Kristjansson said.

The nursing faculty was awarded because of its flexibility and solution-focused mindset, she said.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com