SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - Jolene Unrau moved to Round Lake when her boyfriend Karl Messinbird received work in the area.
Unrau was raised in Morden, Man. She moved to Winnipeg when she was 18 to complete her education and soon made Winnipeg her home.
In 2010, Unrau graduated from Red River College Nursing's accelerated diploma RN program. She received employment at the Childrens’ Hospital in Winnipeg, and worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for 10 years.
In 2012, she continued her education while remaining at her job, obtaining her critical care nursing certificate.
From 2020-2022, her job took her to northern Manitoba, working for the federal government as a community health nurse.
Working at isolated, remote nursing stations as the nurse in charge was a very rewarding and interesting job she said.
Unrau furthered her career by taking a position at the St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg in the emergency department in 2022 and 2023.
Also, during this time, she was the pediatric nursing instructor for the Red River College nursing program.
Unrau then moved to Round Lake, north of Whitewood, in July with her boyfriend Karl Messinbird and dog Franklin when Messinbird took on employment in the area.
She looked for a job right away and took on the position of the resident care co-ordinator for the Deer View Lodge in Wawota in August.
Although she enjoyed the position, when the manager position for the Arcola Heath Centre and Carlyle's Moose Mountain Lodge came up, she went for it.
Unrau began her new position as the manager on Nov. 6, but focused on the lodge when an outbreak of the flu occurred there. Although it was only a code yellow, she felt staying away from hospital would be a good precaution to take.
Keeping in constant contact with the hospital to ensure everything is going well, Unrau said the staff at the hospital is very professional and friendly.
She hopes to continue to empower the staff and help them be their own leaders.
Unrau is enjoying making Saskatchewan her new home and finds the valley by Round Lake beautiful.
