January Highlights

Winter Term Courses In January, we kicked off four online courses:

• Communication for Health Professions
• Pronunciation for Health Professions
• CELBAN Module – Speaking
• Communication for Internationally Educated Nurses

We wish all students success in their occupation-specific language courses for healthcare, supporting their personal and professional growth.

Wednesday Health Guest Speaker Webinar Series

On January 22nd, Sheila Betker, Leadership Development Consultant with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and an instructor at the University of Manitoba, led a webinar titled Leadership Across Cultures: Understanding Canadian Practices in Healthcare in Manitoba. Key takeaways included:

• Insights into cultural characteristics influencing leadership and organizational behaviour in Canada.
• Tools and techniques to foster collaboration in culturally diverse workplaces.
• A deeper appreciation of the LEADS framework to enhance leadership impact in healthcare.

The session featured expert-led discussions, real-world examples, and interactive engagement opportunities.

Upcoming Events in February

Focus Group Session 

On February 28th, CNI is hosting a focus group inviting students enrolled in health-specific language courses to share their perspectives on how we can best address their needs. Compensation is provided for participants. If you wish to have your voice heard, please contact akassymova@rrc.ca to sign up.

Live Online Webinar 

We are shifting our webinar schedule in February to a live online session on Friday, February 21st, from 10 am to 12 pm. The topic will be Collaborating with Specialized Supports. Early registration is now open, and those unable to attend live can sign up for an asynchronous option to access the recording. Registration is open to any CNI student, current or past. Register here.

Standardized Patients Workshops 

Our Standardized Patients workshops, which received excellent feedback last semester, will continue in February. These practical workshops allow students to practice with live actors who have experience in being standardized patients. Early registration is now open for the following dates:

• Wednesday, Feb 26, 5:00 – 9:00 pm
• Thursday, Feb 27, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm
• Monday, March 3, 5:00 – 9:00 pm
• Tuesday, March 4, 9:30 am – 1:30 pm
• Wednesday, March 5, 5:00 – 9:00 pm

Why attend? These workshops are invaluable for internationally educated health professionals to gain hands-on experience and build confidence in a controlled, supportive environment. If interested, please email akassymova@rrc.ca.

March Course Launch

In March, we are launching core courses for the Communication for Internationally Educated Health Professions program for students with CLB 7/8. If you are interested in signing up, please contact Heidi DeFehr at hdefehr@rrc.ca.

We look forward to a productive and engaging month ahead!