Bursaries
Bursary Application
Introduction
• Bursaries are available for:
- healthcare professionals working at an AHS sanctioned healthcare facility in Vulcan County.
- individual members of Vulcan County Emergency Services associated with one of the Stations located in Arrowwood, Milo, Lomond, Vulcan, Champion, or Carmangay.
- volunteer advocates of the Vulcan Regional Victims Services Society.
• You may only apply these funds towards the registration fee of a specific course or conference.
• The purpose of the course or conference must improve your skills – skills that will ultimately provide a direct benefit to the residents of Vulcan County and to non-resident individuals who happen to find themselves in distress i.e., medical emergency, motor vehicle accident, emotional trauma, mental health emergency, sudden death, etc.
• Funds will be released to the individual upon proof of attendance and upon the individual’s submission of a short testimonial to the Foundation stating how this conference will benefit the residents of Vulcan County.
• Maximum value of each bursary is $500.00.
• All bursaries will be awarded on a “first come – first served” basis.
• Individuals may only apply for one bursary in the Foundation’s fiscal year which begins April 1 of each year and ends March 31 of the following year.
Vulcan Regional Victims Services Society: Serving the needs of victims of crime, trauma, and tragedy in the Vulcan Region.
Volunteer advocates are not counselors or therapists. They are highly trained community volunteers, that provide confidential crisis intervention and timely follow up services to victims and their families who have been affected by crime or tragedy.
The goal of victims services is to respond to the need of victims by providing support, information, and referrals, and crisis intervention.
You can help support these community volunteers with the costs of training programs, by making a donation through the VCHW Foundation Bursary Program.
Vulcan County Emergency Services works to lead our region to emergency preparedness.
We strive to deliver the best possible fire protection and safety services to avoid loss of life and property through prevention, education and response. Vulcan County provides Regional Fire, Investigation, Inspection and Medical services from 6 Stations located in Arrowwood, Milo, Lomond, Vulcan, Champion, and Carmangay.
Vulcan County Emergency Services endeavors to exceed the Alberta Code of Practice for Firefighters (2008) ensuring that all Firefighters train to the NFPA 1001 Level II Professional Firefighter standard. Once completed, all Vulcan County Firefighters will perform annual competency skill checks demonstrating retention of knowledge and ability. To further enhance training, Vulcan County has recently completed construction on a Fire Training Facility. This facility will enable high angle rescue training, confined space training as well as provide a number of training scenarios to enable firefighters to be at a more proficient skill level.
You can help support these community volunteers with the costs of training programs, by making a donation through the VCHW Foundation Bursary Program.
Bursaries for Health Care Professionals
- The Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation is pleased to provide professional health care professionals, working in Vulcan County, with an opportunity to apply for a bursary to help offset the costs of taking supplementary courses to upgrade their education and/or to attend conferences in specialized areas of health care.
Eligibility
- You are currently employed in a health care facility located in Vulcan County.
- You have medical designation indicating that you are a recognized health care professional and legally authorized to practice in Alberta.
- You are recommended by your immediate supervisor.
How to Apply
- Click on this link to download the VCHWF Bursary Application Form.
- Complete the application. Make sure your supervisor has completed Supervisor Recommendation area and that they have signed your application.
- Submit your completed application form to Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation in person, by regular mail, or by e-mail.
- In Person: Our office is located at 610 Elizabeth St (Vulcan Community Health Centre)
- Regular Mail: P.O. Box 28, Vulcan, AB, T0L 2B0;
- E-mail: vchw.foundation@gmail.com)
The VCHW Foundation’s bursary toward my Advanced Foot Care Certificate will assist me with providing specialized, essential services currently limited in our rural community.
Through the course, I gained the knowledge and skills to address complex foot health issues, particularly those affecting older adults, diabetics, and those with mobility limitations. This bursary funding has not only supported my growth as a Registered Nurse but also significantly contributed to the long-term health benefits for our community members.
I am deeply grateful for your support and the difference it will make in our community.
Carolyne Cruickshank, RN
I am Jina Campbell, a care aide at Vulcan Extendicare. I have lived in Vulcan, Alberta, since 2018. I am dedicated to caring for my husband, who, as a senior citizen, can no longer engage in work activities. This responsibility is not just a duty but a labour of love that I undertake with utmost dedication.
This education will help me acquire a certification to strengthen my knowledge in healthcare. In addition to the opportunity to learn a new field, I can also commit to providing exceptional care to those in my work community. This opportunity will enable me to increase my earnings and support my family more effectively.
Thank you. I appreciate the chance to apply and am grateful to have been selected for this bursary.
Sincerely, Jina Campbell
My name is Nina Pauline Astorga, and I work at Vulcan Extendicare as a Care Aide. My journey to this point has been challenging. My husband and I are just starting our new journey in Canada, and with limited resources, access to education has been a constant struggle for both of us. My goal is to become a certified Healthcare Aide. Studying while working will be challenging, but I am unwavering in my determination and keep my eye on the prize.
This bursary is not just financial aid; it’s the missing piece of my puzzle, the fuel that will propel me toward my dream of building a brighter future for myself, my family, and the people I care for in Vulcan County.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to apply for this bursary. Being approved would greatly assist me in achieving my educational and career goals.
Sincerely,
Nina Pauline Astorga
My name is Rachelle Dietrich, and I have lived in Vulcan County for 18 years.
After 10 very satisfying years as an educational assistant, I began looking for other humanitarian careers that offered more room for growth and potential for economic prosperity.
My decision to transition into the healthcare field was driven by a desire to further contribute to the well-being of my community and to explore new opportunities for personal and professional development.
I entered the healthcare field in August 2022 and began a casual position as a “Care Aid” at Extendicare in Vulcan.
I enrolled in the Workplace HCA program with Norquest College and began my course in June 2024.
I am excited about the prospect of continuing my role as a healthcare aide to the seniors of Vulcan County. I am committed to providing the best care possible and am eager to apply the knowledge and skills I will gain from the Workplace HCA program.
I am deeply grateful for your support of the bursary program, which has made this training and career transition possible for me.
Sincerely
Rachelle Dietrich.
I am so grateful that the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation gave me a $500 bursary to help with the expenses of travelling to Vulcan to provide counselling services through FCSS. This money impacts the citizens of Vulcan and Vulcan County because it provides them with another mental health resource in the area that is so desperately needed. This money also helps alleviate some of the stress associated with being a practicum student and as a result, allows me to be mentally prepared to provide the care that my clients deserve through individual and group counselling.
Many thanks,
Talissa
Working and interacting with individuals from Vulcan County has been an absolute pleasure so far in my personal and professional life! Coming from a small village in southwestern Ontario, working in a rural community such as Vulcan makes me feel at home. While completing my counselling practicum at Vulcan and Region FCSS it has been my mission to advocate, assist, and make accessible mental health services in Vulcan County. My philosophy is that I feel mental health is essential for optimal well-being, and my passion is to help individuals lead healthy and happy lives, and also create strong and happy communities. I want to sincerely thank the Vulcan County Health & Wellness foundation, Vulcan and Region FCSS, Barons-Eureka-Warner FCSS, and the University of Lethbridge for everything they stand for and the great things they do in our communities.
Dear Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation,
We sincerely thank the Donors through the VCHW Foundation for your generous contribution to our Rural Leadership Retreat on October 6, 2023. We were excited and grateful to be a part of it.
We spent a lovely day at the zoo in Calgary, where we started the day by being separated into teams and proceeded to do a fun version of “Amazing Race.” We were randomly placed in teams, allowing us to get to know some co-workers we may have met virtually in meetings but not necessarily in person. It was very nice to spend some informal time together.
After the morning zoo tour, we enjoyed a presentation by Ryan Collyer from the Wayfound Mental Health Group. Ryan previously worked at AHS as a Paramedic. His presentation focused on the Operational Pressures involved with all healthcare positions, particularly leadership roles. As we know, these jobs have been particularly challenging over the last few years and continue to be so.
He spoke about the value of self-care and wellness. Ryan shared a phased approach to wellness with us and suggested several resources and opportunities available for this aspect of our health.
We both felt the day was valuable for networking and a chance to reflect on strategies to manage job stress.
Again, thanks to all of you for making this day possible.
With sincere thanks.
Thank you for supporting the Bursary program, which has allowed me to further my education and career in the field I love.
Extendicare appreciates the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation for funding a bursary for one of our team members to complete the provincial equivalency assessment required for her Health Care Aide certification in Alberta. This bursary equips our compassionate healthcare team members with the education and tools they need to deliver high-quality care to help seniors in the Vulcan community live better daily.
Bursary Recipient: Cynthia Ferguson
Cynthia is enrolled in The Working Mind training program.
The training course ‘The Working Mind’ is all about specialized training in several key areas surrounding mental health and mental well-being.
This training deeply focuses on bridging the gap between resources across the county. The key areas of focus are:
- Reducing communal stigmas around mental illness
- Promote mental health across Vulcan County
- Transform the way Vulcan County thinks and talks about mental health and mental illness
- Help our community members identify poor mental health in themselves and others
- Give participants the coping skills to manage stress and poor mental health
- Review mental health rights and responsibilities
My name is Alana Swift; I have moved from B.C. and now work at the Vulcan Extendicare.
I want to thank the donors to the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation that supports the
Bursary Program. With this support, I was able to write my provincial equivalency assessment.This will not only benefit me by certifying me to work here in Alberta. Every one of my residents who is
under my care will benefit from the education this bursary provides. I was born to be a caregiver! Caring
for others comes naturally to me.Thank you,
Alana Swift.
Sam has worked very hard to achieve her Primary Care Paramedic course. And this year’s bursary
enabled her to get her ACP advanced care planning and COPR exam, which will allow her to begin work
as a PCP and continue to bring quality medical care to the citizen of Vulcan County through the fire
department.Thank you to the donors of the VCHWF for supporting the Bursary Program.
Thank you to the family of the late Mike Fodor for donating to the First Responder Bursary Program.
The donation was presented to the Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation by Douglas Headrick (Director of Protective Services) and Jennifer McMaster.
The Bursary Program provides financial support to our community Volunteer First Responders, Victim Service Advocates, and our Vulcan Community, Healthcare workers.
You can support this program by donating to the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Bursary Programs today.
I started working in Vulcan on the Acute Care, Emergency and LTC side of the hospital over 10 years ago as a newly graduated nurse. I now work in both Public Health and in the Acute Care and Emergency Departments. The Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation has supported my learning more then once. I have received bursary funding to help cover the fees involved with maintaining my certification in TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course). Additionally, I received funding to complete the 20Hr Breastfeeding Course. As a rural nurse working in more than one department my learning needs are diverse and the required knowledge and skill base to practice with competence spans a variety of topics. I enjoy working in the same community where my family and I live and I consider it a privilege to be able to provide care for the people of Vulcan County. Many thanks to the countless people who donate to the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation and for the ability to apply for bursary funding.
TNCC (Trauma Nursing Core Course) is not mandatory, yet as a rural RN this has always been a great course for background knowledge. It has prepared me to work Vulcan ER for the past 36 years.
Since my arrival in 1986 between TNCC and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) certifications have prepared me to help all patients that the Vulcan Community Health Centre sees.
TNCC topics include initial assessment, airway & ventilation, shock, abdominal trauma, pelvic trauma, head trauma, thoracic & neck trauma, musculoskeletal trauma, spinal cord & vertebral trauma, surface & burn trauma, bariatric/pregnant/pediatric & geriatric trauma.
TNCC includes psychomotor skills testing and final exam. Prep time to attend this two-day course was 35 hours this time.
The TNCC certification is valid for four year, this is my seventh certification.
Thank you for your support with this bursary
Deb Younggren.
Having grown up in Vulcan County, I’ve loved the experience of growing within and transitioning through different roles in the healthcare system at the Vulcan Community Health Centre.
Over a year ago, I was hired at the Vulcan Community Health Centre as a healthcare aide. In the past few weeks, I have transitioned to working as an undergrad nurse. This new role has provided me with an entirely new set of roles and responsibilities. I am passionate for those in LTC that I have had the privilege to care for and build relationships with. I am also passionate about the experience I am receiving from rural nursing that I am getting through the VCHC acute care setting.
My dream is to become a Registered Nurse and continue to work in Vulcan for years to come.
Thank you for supporting the Bursary Program through Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation.
I began my journey almost 7 years ago in the bridging program through Athabasca University from LPN to Register Nurse, Bachelor of Nursing. I have finally come to an end where I am presently completing my final practicum for my Bachelors of Nursing. I have been fortunate to have been placed in my own community of Vulcan in the public health office, where I can learn and impact health promotion.
I have a passion for health promotion and rural nursing. I have been fortunate to have been offered casual employment in Vulcan in the COVID Vaccine Clinics.
I truly believe in lifelong learning. I always strive to increase my knowledge and skills to directly benefit my nursing practice, which will benefit those receiving my care in the community.
Thank you for supporting the Bursary Program through the Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation.
In my time working as a full-time nurse at the Vulcan Community Health Centre, I have care for people coming to the emergency department that have fallen from high ladders, been in vehicle collisions, flipped their ATV’s, and other similar accidents. I have learned between my training in nursing school, practical experience and from my peers, how to better handle these complex patients, but I am excited to take this course to learn a systematic way of caring for these individuals. In addition, I primarily work nights where there is less staffing on-site and less help available, meaning I need to improve my independence, and I believe this course will help me achieve this goal.
Those in Vulcan County that experience a traumatic incident often pass through the doors of our Vulcan Community Health Centre emergency department, and the knowledge gained in this course will help me care for those people.
We thank our donors for supporting the bursary program which allows us to give support back to the community.
Thanks to your support of the Bursary Program, we are able to support one of Vulcan County’s Volunteer Victims Service Advocates with this training program. This training ensures that our Volunteer VSU Advocates are ready and able to assist our citizens during some of the worst times in life.
Our volunteer VSU Advocate will participate in a five-week training program called the” First Responder to Sexual Assault and Abuse training.”
This training will provide immense education and skill development and impact situations that require support from our Advocates.
Thank you for your support of the Bursary Program.
VCHWF Trustees Donna Anderson, Glen Hutton, In front: Samantha Suitor, and Vice-Chair Andre Lacoursiere
I have always had a passion for helping people and giving back to the community. By the age of 16, I had been on four mission trips to help people not only from my community but other places in the world as well. At a young age, I knew that EMS was the field I wanted to go into. Joining the fire department was one of the best decisions because it fuelled my passion for first response and confirmed that this was the career I wanted.
Going into the Primary Care Paramedic program will begin my career but also help my community. I will be able to apply my skills to my career and the fire department to first response calls.
In a time where ambulances can have long response times, the more medically trained personnel in our departments, the more benefit for our community.
Thank you for your support of the Bursary Program through Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation.
Leila’s Story
I wanted to send a note to Thank You all very much for the funding I received through the Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation Bursary Program. The PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) is the course that I recently took.
It was so wonderful that the Foundation exists and that you offer your financial and emotional support to Health Care Workers in the Community.
I have no doubt that this course has enhanced my knowledge, and my ability to care for pediatric patients at the Vulcan Community Care Centre.
I am proud to live in Vulcan County, and to continue to work at the VCHC, as I have for the past 14 Years!
Thank you again,
With sincere gratitude,
Leila Yaskiw RN., BN.
Karen’s Story
Thank you for awarding me a bursary through Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation. I have been working at the Vulcan Community Health Centre since January of 2018, as the Registration/Finance Clerk. I have been with Alberta Health Services since 2012. In addition to having qualifications as a Medical Office Assistant and Unit Clerk, I have recently completed a course in Pathophysiology with CHA learning as a start to pursuing a certificate in Health Information Management, and have been accepted to the program as of July 2019. My intention is to become certified in Medical Coding and learn from the current Health Information Management professionals at the Vulcan Community Health Centre. I believe being trained in several aspects makes me a more effective employee in a rural Hospital. I very much appreciate being awarded this bursary and will strive to use the knowledge in a way that supports the community. Sincerely, Karen Carley
Karen C.Karen’s Story
The Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC) delivers the knowledge, critical thinking and hands-on training needed to keep trauma patients safe and improve patient outcomes. Through a combination of textbook reading, online modules, classroom lectures, discussions and hands-on simulation, nurses are provided with a foundation of knowledge and skills to assess and assist in trauma situations. My current position at the Vulcan Community Health Centre includes working in the Emergency Department, often in the context of only 1 onsite RN during night shifts. TNCC is essential in ensuring that I can provide evidence-based nursing care confidently and efficiently.
I personally want to thank you, for making donations through the Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation, so that this opportunity exists for the healthcare professionals at your Vulcan Community Health Centre.We thank Karen for sharing this story, and we thank you for your continued support. The Power of Community, we are better together.
Karen