Author Archives: Carie Calf Robe

• Siksika Health Services’ Home Care Team Brings Healing and Hope to Community Members

  March 6, 2026 2:50 pm Comments Off on Siksika Health Services’ Home Care Team Brings Healing and Hope to Community Members

  Siksika Health Services’ Home Care team quietly work behind the scenes every day, providing essential healthcare that allows community members to stay in their own homes during some of life’s most challenging moments. What many community members might not realize is just how much this vital service has grown and evolved over the years, now offering a comprehensive range of support that goes far beyond basic medical care.

  The team includes experienced nurses who have witnessed remarkable growth in the program. For example, Toni Running Rabbit graduated in 2005 and worked in Calgary for a year to gain experience, before returning home to Siksika. After spending a year at the Elders Lodge, she joined the Home Care team at the end of 2006 and has been dedicated to the service ever since.

  “The changes have been significant,” Toni explains. “We’ve seen changes in staffing, expanded our scope of practice, and now offer many more services. We’ve increased programs like palliative care, foot care, case management, grief support, diabetes support, and immunizations.”

  Another member of the team, Kristen Smith, began her nursing journey with Siksika Health Services in December 2007 as a Maternal Child Health Nurse during the second phase of that program’s pilot project. After being part of the successful implementation of the maternal-child program, Kristen transitioned to Home Care in April 2009. “As a young nursing student, I had vowed to assist my people with their health, and it has become an invaluable experience and reward, hearing their stories, their successes and entrusted me with them,” she reflects.

  

  A newer team member, Darbi-Jo Malone, with 1.5 years in Home Care but 3 years with Siksika Health Services, previously gained clinic experience with Big Country PCN before joining the Siksika Elders’ Lodge team.

  Each day begins with “morning report,” where the team gathers to discuss the previous day’s assignments and any new or ongoing concerns with clients. This meeting serves as more than just an information exchange; it’s where nurses advocate for clients who need an extra voice while navigating the healthcare system. The team collaborates on specific care plans and determines assignments for the day, always keeping safety in mind for each home visit.

  What follows is never predictable. “Day to day is different from wound care, foot care, injections, critical thinking, case management, palliative care, and debriefing,” explains Kristen Smith. Team members provide services ranging from wound care and medication administration to bathing assistance, home making, and meals on wheels. The work also includes vital sign checks, case management, and consultations on navigating the broader healthcare system.

  When clients are first admitted to home care, staff show them a pamphlet of available services. “Most times the client is surprised by the services we offer,” notes Toni Running Rabbit. Many people don’t realize that Siksika Home Care now provides comprehensive support including palliative care, grief support, diabetes management, and immunizations – services that have expanded significantly over the years.

  What makes the team especially effective is their collaborative approach and continuous learning mindset. “What I enjoy most about working in and with the Home Care team is the collaboration; we work and problem solve together,” explains Kristen. Some team members have developed specialties within their scope of practice, and these skills are shared as in-house teaching and training.

  

  The highlights of the work center on the relationships built with clients. “Highlights include visiting with the clients, getting to know each of them, and hearing their stories. There’s always something to learn and teach in nursing,” says Toni. For Indigenous nurses serving their own community, there’s special meaning in being able to provide culturally sensitive care while building trust.

  However, the work comes with emotional challenges. The hardest part is losing clients who have become like family over years of care. Losing a client and not being able to grieve properly is difficult, and an agreed upon challenge by much of the team. “Home care doesn’t offer much in terms of talking to a counselor, though we do debrief as a group,” notes Toni.

  Other challenges include vehicle maintenance, occasional supply shortages, and staffing turnover. Weather can also make travel difficult, and the work can sometimes feel isolating for team members.

  Despite these challenges, the team finds deep satisfaction in their work. “I appreciate the opportunity to expand my scope of practice,” Toni Running Rabbit continues. “The resources that surround our Home Care department compared to other communities – we are very fortunate.”

  The service supports people of all ages who need healthcare assistance in their homes, whether due to injury, chronic conditions, or other health challenges. By bringing comprehensive care directly to homes and building personal relationships with families, the Siksika Home Care team is working to rebuild trust while ensuring community members can receive quality healthcare in familiar, comfortable surroundings.

  Their commitment shows in their daily dedication to serving community members during vulnerable times, providing not just medical care but dignity, respect, and hope when families need it most. As the program continues to grow and evolve, these dedicated healthcare workers remain the heart of a service that truly makes a difference in people’s lives.

  

  

• 6th Annual Every Child Matters Calgary Hitmen Game

  February 18, 2026 1:51 pm Comments Off on 6th Annual Every Child Matters Calgary Hitmen Game

  

  The 2026 Every Child Matters hockey game will take place at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta at 2:00pm on February 22, 2026 between the Calgary Hitmen and the Red Deer Rebels. This is the sixth annual Every Child Matters game presented by the Calgary Hitmen Hockey Club and Siksika Health Services. Participants of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend the event; tickets can be purchased on the Calgary Hitmen website.

  The Every Child Matters game is part of a much larger movement of the same name, and is a recognition and commitment to action to ensure that all children know their importance, and to honour those who attended Residential Schools in Canada, their families, and communities.