Ceremonies and celebrations welcome new students to rehab sciences

Mikhel Garcia was always interested in a health career but changed his focus from nursing to respiratory therapy (RT) last year after experiencing a collapsed lung, a result of having tuberculosis. 

“I was able to see what respiratory therapists do, because I had one help me out during that time. It got me more curious about this niche. I didn’t even know that respiratory therapists were a thing. As I was reading up on it, I realized that it’s a growing profession,” the 19-year-old said. 

Christopher Luu, 20, also didn’t know much about RT until last year, when he visited a booth at a recruitment event on campus. He took an interest in the profession because it reminded him of things he learned years ago, while working as a lifeguard. 

“When you’re a lifeguard and someone’s drowning, you want to get their breathing normal. It’s the same principle, because you want to help people who are in desperate need,” he said. 

Garcia and Luu are two of 40 students who entered their first year of the bachelor of respiratory therapy program at the College of Rehabilitation Sciences on Sept. 2. 

The students were welcomed alongside 60 new occupational therapy (OT) students and 60 new physical therapy (PT) students at a lunch hosted by the college and its student association. Speakers at the event included Dr. Jacquie Ripat, dean of the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, and Elder Charlotte Nolin from Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing.  

College of Rehabilitation Sciences Student Association class presidents Avian Silpao (RT), Ranelle Phaneuf (OT) and Isabella DiGirolamo (PT) also spoke, noting the important of bringing the students from each program together early.  

“Collaborating with one another is what builds a strong health-care system and an even stronger future,” Silpao said. 

OT students welcomed in joyous celebration  

First-year students in the OT master’s program started on Aug. 31. At the end of their second day, they were welcomed to the profession in a joyous celebration at the Frederic Gaspard Theatre, where the students were greeted by their new community of faculty, staff and second-year students, joining hands and circling the entire theatre. 

OT department head Dr. Cara Brown hosted the ceremony, which also included greetings from George Muswaggon, Knowledge Keeper with Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing, and Margaret Hart, Ininiw scholar, who recently co-developed a new OT curriculum that weaves in Indigenous ways of knowing and being.   

“Supporting individuals and communities in living well according to their values, their cultures and their aspirations is the heart of what occupational therapy is,” Hart said. 

First-year student Katy Wright said she found the ceremony to be genuine and welcoming. 

“They talked about community and they really emphasized it, not only with us but with Winnipeg and the First Nations communities. It feels very authentic. You can say it, and that is one thing, but you can feel the energy and you can feel the spirit here, and it’s very lovely,” she said. 

Wright, originally from Winnipeg, recently worked as a kinesiologist in Nanaimo, B.C., but felt a calling to OT.  

“As an OT, you really get to advocate for your clients and make a difference individually in their lives, and I’m definitely looking forward to that.” 

Sarah Rasmuson, who recently moved from rural Alberta for the program, said she immediately felt welcomed by the students and faculty. 

“It’s really interesting already how diverse people’s backgrounds are … to see how diverse OT can be and how we can work in so many different areas and still make such an impact,” she said. 

Watch a video of the welcome ceremony for first-year OT students. 

Indigenous ceremony makes 'big impact' for PT students 

First-year PT students started their master’s program on Aug. 4. Their first day included a welcome ceremony led by Indigenous leaders at Ongomiizwin – Indigenous Institute of Health and Healing in the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences. 

The students were joined by the program’s second-year students, faculty and staff for a water and pipe ceremony and greetings from Muswaggon and Nolin. This was the second year that the department held an Indigenous welcome ceremony, and the first time at the Brodie atrium, surrounded by a mural by Anishinaabe artist Blake Angeconeb. 

“We were tucked away last year. It’s nice that it’s in a much more open space, for sure, and it’s given the grandeur that it deserves,” said second-year student Quinn Milton.  

First-year student Marlee Gonty, from rural Manitoba, said the ceremony made a big impact on her entrance to the program.  

“As a growing professional, and knowing how important connections and relationships are, I want to continue moving forward with that ceremony in the back of my mind, carrying me through my profession,” she said. 

Daniele Dyck, a first-year student from Brandon, said she felt honoured to take in the ceremony. 

“I’ve never been part of a pipe ceremony or a water ceremony … it was really awesome to get to see what the Indigenous culture has to offer,” she said. “I am very excited to actually get into the profession and learn all the clinical skills that come with it.”