Recognizing 2025 Rhapsody Physician Award recipient: Dr. Cecile Lavoie
Community: Bonnyville
Compassionate to patients, an exceptional mentor, amazing cook and treat maker.
These are just a few of the attributes describing Bonnyville’s Dr. Cecile Lavoie.
Her colleagues and the community recently nominated the long-time physician for a 2025 RhPAP Rhapsody Physician Award.
As a locum nearly four decades ago, Dr. Lavoie arrived in the northeastern Alberta community and quickly felt embraced. She convinced her husband to move to Bonnyville and began to carry out many forms of rural medicine including clinical practice, obstetrics, emergency medicine, anesthesia, and medical examiner.
“Dr. Lavoie has even been known to sneak in a home visit when needed,” writes Erin Williams, in her nomination.
Williams says Dr. Lavoie was instrumental in introducing a Neonatal Resuscitation to the hospital and preventing the hospital’s closure by creating a visiting specialist program for urogynecology, orthopedics, and general surgery.
Dr. Lavoie retired from her hospital responsibilities last fall, but she continues to practise at the local Well Women’s clinic.
Meagan Eckel, who will graduate from medicine in 2026, appreciated Dr. Lavoie’s caring mentorship during her clerkship in Bonnyville.
“She could see the deer-in-the-headlights look in my eyes and she took me under her wing and taught me kindly and patiently,” says Eckel.
“She is a trailblazer for all women in medicine, and I am inspired by her achievements.”
Dr. Lavoie is also well known for her community work.
The French-speaking physician helped established a Francophone school in Bonnyville and stepped up to fundraise.
“You would find her volunteering to make her famous sucre à la crème and teaching the kids to make this tradition, as well as her meat pies,” adds community member, Chantal Vallee.
Christine Vasseur quickly became Dr. Lavoie’s patient during COVID when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
“I didn’t even have a family doctor at the time and when I told her that, she didn’t hesitate for even a second. She just said, ‘I’m going to be your doctor. I will see you through this.’
“And she did. She is, without a doubt, my hero.”