Kim Genereux honoured
NORTH BAY—Anishinabek Health Care Navigator at Noojmowin Teg, Kim Genereux, didn’t hear her name being called as she was being summoned to the front of the room at the annual Anishinabek Nation Health Conference held October 18 this year in North Bay. Ms. Genereaux normally eschews the limelight and was chatting with people at her table while prizes were being called out.
“They really caught me off guard,” she told The Expositor. “I wasn’t expecting anything like this.”
“This” was being presented with the Tony H. Jacko Memorial Heroes in Health Award for going “above and beyond for all of her clients, treating each one of them and their families as though they are her own family.”
“I am very happy to be here with you today to celebrate another successful Health Conference and to be a presenter to a couple of individuals who have exceeded their regular duties in their community in order to keep our citizens safe,” said Anishinabek Nation Health Director Jamie Restoule in presenting the award. “Let’s celebrate and honour those members in our territory who have stepped up and extended themselves to help others while keeping us safe during this difficult time.”
In citing the reason for honouring Ms. Genereux with the award, it was noted in the seven communities she serves, “Kim regularly visits both Island hospitals as well as Health Sciences North in Sudbury to meet with clients and their families to assist with hospital discharges and setting up community services. Kim is in regular contact with community health staff, partner agencies and community homecare agencies to coordinate care and services to maximize the success of each client staying in their homes for as long as possible. Kim empowers her clients to make their own decisions regarding their health and plans for care and will sit with them for as long as it takes to fully explain and for her clients to comprehend their situation. She is available to clients and their families in the last hours of palliative care.”
It was further noted that Ms. Genereux can often be found on the road in the early morning hours “well before her work time and is last to finally go home. Never going home until she is sure that everyone’s needs have been acknowledged and take care of.”
Ms. Genereux and the Nodmodzawin community nurse also worked on ensuring food security to those seven First Nations’ Elder populations. Ms. Genereaux “took the lead and was able to partner with community staff to order and deliver freezers to areas where food could be held and delivered as needed.” She also researched and worked with many companies to discover the types of high-quality foods that could be ordered.
“This was a huge undertaking and she did this as well and continued with her full-time job,” noted her sponsors. “It was just that important to her.” Ms. Genereux was also cited as “a strong advocate for the First Nation population…always working on transportation methods so that clients can get to appointments and pick up food. As a compassionate individual whose “caring, wealth of knowledge, a caring friend and passion about her work on Manitoulin Island—our Island communities would be lost without her assistance and direction.”
Characteristically, Ms. Genereux attempted to deflect the accolades. “I am just one member of a team,” she said. “I couldn’t do anything without the people I work with.” But she admitted to being honoured and humbled by the recognition.
Also recognized with the award was Director of Services Kimberly Lalonde of Nipissing First Nation, whose 20-year stint with Nipissing First Nation Health Services was cited as “a testament to her unwavering dedication, compassionate service and tireless commitment to promoting health and wellness for Nipissing citizens.”
