Doctor ‘stunned’ by humanitarian award

A family physician in Westman has received a Doctors Manitoba award, recognizing her clinical expertise and humanitarian work with a non-profit helping adults with disabilities.

Dr. Holly Hamilton, who practises rural medicine in Notre Dame de Lourdes, is the 2026 recipient of the Dr. Jack Armstrong Humanitarian Award, Doctors Manitoba announced Thursday.

Hamilton said she felt “overwhelmed” and “stunned” when she found out she was the award recipient.

For about 15 years, Hamilton has been a supporter of Aspen Winds/Vents de Tremble — an organization that operates a day program and a home for adults living with physical and intellectual disabilities.

“I am just one little, small slice of an amazing group of people,” she said, adding that the honour belongs to everyone in the organization.

She described a moment she had with a woman who’s visually impaired at Aspen Winds when she first moved to the community. The woman, who was latch hooking at the time, reminded her to appreciate the sunrise after Hamilton had mentioned she was having a bad day.

While the woman had said the sun felt warm on her skin, Hamilton hadn’t noticed the sunrise that day.

“That moment taught me more than most of my med school. The ability to sit back (and) realize what amazing things we have,” she said.

From that moment, Hamilton knew Aspen Winds was a place she wanted to get involved with.

“It really is a place where everybody belongs,” she said.

She served as a board member for many years and now organizes major fundraising events geared toward building a new fully accessible home, preparing cooked meals and spending time with participants through pottery making and other creative activities.

The organization has raised thousands of dollars, which means more than four residents living in the supportive housing at Aspen Winds will hopefully get to move into their new home in the spring, she said.

Her commitment to help others is shared by her husband, their four children and her extended family, who are often by her side at events.

“I have the belief that the world is actually a beautiful place filled with beautiful people, and sometimes we just need to show it,” she said.

Hamilton is an advocate for rural medical education and recruitment and leads the Family Medicine Practice Ready Assessment Program, which helps to strengthen Manitoba’s physician workforce.

The humanitarian award is given to a doctor for their outstanding contributions to improving people’s well-being or their commitment to community service.

Armstrong, the namesake of this award, was a Winnipeg pediatrician known for his commitment to improving health care for First Nations people and his dedication to his patients and volunteerism.

Hamilton is among seven physicians receiving the Doctors Manitoba 2026 awards, which are the highest honour bestowed on physicians in the province.

The award recipients are nominated by their peers and selected following a thorough evaluation by a physician-led awards committee.

Dr. Nichelle Desilets, president of Doctors Manitoba, said most physicians are heavily involved in their community and Hamilton exemplifies the difference that doctors can make when they get involved with something they’re passionate about.

“She’s well respected across the province, and she is locally adored for the work that she does, both in her professional life and in her spare time,” Desilets said.

“She is known for her humility, her warmth and the dedication that she has for her community.”

Desilets said announcing the award recipients is the highlight of the year because physicians across the province can take a step back and acknowledge some of the important and innovative work that doctors are accomplishing.

Nominations opened from October to December. The awards committee received between 50 and 60 nominations this year — a historic record, Doctors Manitoba said.

The other award winners include doctors from a variety of specialties who practise medicine in Winnipeg, Doctors Manitoba said.

Dr. Devon Evans won the Physician of the Year award for his work as a national leader in endometriosis, pelvic pain and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS).

Evans is the founder of Manitoba’s Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Clinic and MIGS fellowship program, which supports colleagues and trainees to expand the province’s capacity to provide gynecologic care.

Dr. Cliff Yaffe won the Distinguished Service Award as a surgical educator whose four decades of mentorship have shaped hundreds of residents and thousands of medical students.

The Resident of the Year award was presented to Dr. Tegan Turner, an emergency medicine resident who has demonstrated strong communication skills and compassionate care and performs exceptionally well under pressure.

Dr. Mandy Buss, Dr. Natalie Casaclang and Dr. Shayne Taback were each awarded with the Medal of Excellence.

Buss is a national leader in Indigenous health and medical education. She has advanced culturally safe care and improved pathways for Indigenous learners through curriculum reform, advocacy and mentorship.

Casaclang is a public health specialist who played a role in launching Manitoba’s major immunization initiative to protect more newborns against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Taback is the founding director of Manitoba’s Clinician Investigator Program, which has trained 39 clinician scientists so far. His work has shaped the next generation of medical innovators.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com