BONNYVILLE – Members of the Bonnyville Health Centre Community Board (BHCCB) have been out hosting events such as paint nights in the acute care ward, children's story time at the library, and handing out gratitude journals at schools during Mental Health Week, all to help connect them with the community they advocate for.
BHCCB Chairperson Audrey Campbell says they are a volunteer run board associated with Covenant Health that aims to engage and connect with patients, residents, and hospital staff, to hear their comments about their health care and the Bonnyville hospital. The BHCCB then acts as an advocate to relay the comments and concerns to decision makers.
The BHCCB also has annual meeting with Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr to discuss the concerns and comments they’ve gathered from the community.
Campbell explains that a representative from Covenant Health sits in on the BHCCB’s monthly meetings.
“When people have concerns about the hospital, we can advocate on their behalf. We don’t hold any authority, but we advise the Covenant Health Board on what’s going on in our community and in our hospital. We are also here to communicate to the people what Covenant Health is about,” says Campbell.
According to the Covenant Health website, it is a “Catholic healthcare provider within Alberta’s integrated health system,” and is rooted in a history of healthcare in Alberta.
“Our founding Sisters helped form the building blocks of health care in Alberta over 155 years ago. For generations, they looked after sick and forgotten people in their communities. They were women of vision who opened several hospitals in the province. Six of those hospitals are part of the Covenant family today. Covenant Health was formed in 2008."
Campbell spoke about approaching the municipalities, connecting with Indigenous populations, and speaking with organizations like the Chamber of Commerce to help get the word out about what they do.
“We don’t think the community really understands what we’re all about. [Once] they get to know who we are, we can help get their voices heard. We serve as a voice of Covenant Health within the community, but we also provide input into strategic planning and community engagement with Covenant Health,” says Campbell.
BHCCB Vice Chair Carrie Goldsmith recently volunteered to read at a children's story time at the Bonnyville Municipal Library.
“Carrie is a lovely Métis lady who sits on our board and advocates passionately for the Indigenous community. She read a story to the kids called Grandfather, Tell Me Again How We Are All Related, by an Author named Delena Rose. It talks all about nature and how we are related to the environment. During the reading, she also shared Métis stories and about her heritage. It was very well received by the children,” says Campbell.
Another recent event included volunteers hosting a painting event at the hospital with the acute care patients, not only enriching their hospital stay, but offering an opportunity for patients to connect with their BHCCB advocates.
The BHCCB has also handed out gratitude journals to École Dr. Bernard Brosseau Middle School’s Grade 5 students, and H.E. Bourgoin Middle School’s Grade 7 students, and Campbell says they were well received by the students.
“We handed out journals so the kids could write down their concerns and what they’re grateful for, in the privacy of their own thoughts. The kids really took to it,” says Campbell.
She says the BHCCB is looking for more board members who are compassionate people engaged in their communities. Ideal candidates would have their “finger on the pulse of current issues and challenges.”
