Adrien Bourgelas, who works in the Materials Management department at the Kirkland Lake site of Blanche River Health is the 2022 An Weiler Spirit Award recipient, announced Joan Brazeau, Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, Blanche River Health (BRH). 

Bourgelas was nominated by his colleague Barb Neville, who appreciates that Adrien is always happy to offer his help when it is needed, despite increased workloads of his own.  Known for putting others first, he is quick to put work aside to support his colleagues, and does so with a respectful and gentle manner.  He faces any challenge that comes his way and his “we are in this together” attitude means he is always happy to lend a helping hand. 

“An Weiler’s memory continues to inspire employees to put others’ needs before their own, as evidenced by the seven amazing nominations that were submitted this year,” said Brazeau.  “I congratulate Adrien on being this year’s recipient, as well as the other six nominees, whose impact is evident in the submissions written by their colleagues.”

The peer-nominated award recognizes BRH employees who inspire colleagues to think of others before themselves, to be friendly, caring and genuine, and to be the best employee they can be.  These are the qualities that employees and patients valued most in An Weiler, who served as BRH’s Chief Nursing Officer from 1995 until 2015.  Sadly, we lost An Weiler in 2015.

In addition to Adrien’s submission, the following six nominations were received for 2022: 

Debbie Desjardins is a Registered Nurse in the Operating Room (OR) at the Kirkland Lake site who was nominated by OR staff.  

Cindy Honeyborne is the Quality Improvement, Risk Management & Patient Safety Leader at the Kirkland Lake site, nominated by Chantal Spiller. 

Cheryl Lawton is a Registered Nurse at the Englehart site, nominated by Mandi Savarie.  

Debbie McCrank is Registered Nurse at the Kirkland Lake site, nominated by Janie DeLenardo. 

Mandi Savarie is a Diagnostic Imaging Technologist at the Englehart site, nominated by Sherry L’Heureux.  

Selena Wilson is a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at the Kirkland Lake site, nominated by Tracy French.   

Photo caption: 

Blanche River Health employees from the Englehart and Kirkland Lake sites nominated for the 2022 An Weiler Spirit Award.

 Standing (L to R) Cindy Honeyborne, Quality Improvement, Risk Management and Patient Safety Leader, Debbie Desjardins, Registered Nurse, Selena Wilson, Registered Nurse. 

Seated (L to R) Mandi Savarie, Diagnostic Imaging Technologist, Adrien Bourgelas, Storesperson, Materials Management, Debbie McCrank, Registered Nurse. 

Missing: Cheryl Lawton, Registered Nurse.

 Blanche River Health is a 74-bed hospital corporation with two sites serving the North Eastern Ontario communities of Englehart (26 beds) and Kirkland Lake (48 beds) as well as residents in surrounding areas.