Community collaboration establishes ‘grow your own’ scholarships

Two central Alberta community groups are putting their money where their mouth is to ‘grow their own’ healthcare professionals by supporting their education pursuits.

Two years ago, the Tofield, Ryley, and Beaver County West Community Attraction & Retention Committee (CARC) and the Tofield and Area Health Foundation teamed up to give away two $1,000 scholarships annually for area residents or staff wanting to either enroll in a healthcare career or enhance their healthcare education.

“We’re always looking for ways to collaborate because we’re just a small (attraction and retention) committee,” says Cyndy Heslin, chairperson of CARC, which serves the areas of Ryley, Tofield, and Beaver County west.

“Our aim is that by offering the scholarships that recipients might consider coming back to this area when they graduate and practise whatever realm that they are in,” she says.

Every dollar helps when it comes to supporting rural education as since the scholarships were launched applications received have doubled.

The scholarships are available to doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, dentists, optometrists, and any healthcare profession that can serve the area.  

Each organization chooses one recipient for the scholarship. Next year’s application deadline is May 31.

The scholarship application includes a QR Code which links to RHPAP’s Explore A-Z Rural Healthcare Careers webpage outlining the various career possibilities in healthcare and shares insight into the positions which could be based in rural. CARC has received financial and other support from RHPAP for its past initiatives.

Holden-based Cheyenne Suchy receieved the 2026 scholarship from CARC and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie. She plans to become a nurse practitioner with a long-term goal of returning home to open her own clinic.

The foundation chose Aleisha Wagar of Tofield for the scholarship. Wagar is studying to become an advanced care paramedic at Portage College. She already lives and works part-time in Beaver County.

“(Recipients) are so pleased and thankful,” says Treva Schultz, a trustee with the foundation, who also volunteered at an RHPAP Let’s Go Rural! skills event in Ryley.

“Anybody that has any kids in (post-secondary) school knows how expensive it is.”

Schultz, once a long-time nurse in Tofield and Daysland, says spreading the word about the foundation’s work is just as important as the scholarship itself. The foundation fundraises to enhance the services and equipment at the Tofield Health Centre and helps recognize the vital efforts of local healthcare staff.

“We have to do anything possible to help maintain our hospital, it’s an important part of our community. You lose your schools, you lose your hospital, boy, your town isn’t very attractive.”

Over its 20-plus year history, the foundation has raised money for various projects including several types of recliners, window coverings for various units and public heath, special equipment such as a crash cart medication organizer, a pan-optic ophthalmoscope, a power assist wheelchair, an on-call suite for physicians, as well as appreciation gifts for healthcare staff.

“We work really good together,” says Schulz of the teamwork between CARC and the foundation.

Heslin, who previously worked in healthcare records, volunteered for the foundation for several years previously and also understands the value of rural healthcare. She helped set up CARC as a way to expand upon the foundation’s role and focus on healthcare staff attraction and retention.

“I see the need for healthcare,” she says.

“About 10 to 12 years ago, we were down to one physician in Tofield and it was a really dire situation. I saw how that affected our communities and I didn’t want to see that happen again.

“Together, the two committees make a much stronger voice than just one.”

‍