March 29, 2021
With a career that spans almost a half-century, Barb Shellian, director of Rural Health, Calgary Zone, has garnered the Lifetime Achievement award of the College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta. Photo supplied.
Story by Bruce Conway
What does it take to receive a lifetime achievement award in healthcare?
Well, certainly you have to put in the time and effort — but excellence and dedication to caring for others, sharing your knowledge and providing support and encouragement to those you work with are also key components of reaching that goal.
Congratulations to Barb Shellian, director of Rural Health, Calgary Zone, who has received the Lifetime Achievement award from the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CRNA).
Throughout a distinguished career of more than 45 years, she’s dedicated her life to healthcare, always with a focus on the patient and doing whatever is required to ensure patients and their families receive the best care and support possible. She says it’s nice to receive this recognition.
“I am very honoured to receive this award,” adds Shellian. “As with any achievement — the recognition is not mine alone — it’s the culmination of working with impressive patient-centred teams, being motivated by inspirational colleagues and opportunities to make a difference in many venues, at home and away. My career path has given me the opportunity to learn and grow — and to support safe, competent nursing care.”
Many Albertans, particularly those in in rural and remote communities, have benefitted from Barb’s expertise as her Alberta Health Services (AHS) role encompasses a wide range of services including emergency, acute care, urgent care, surgery, obstetrics, long-term care and supportive living in the communities of Nanton, Claresholm Cochrane and Canmore.
She’s been called on to participate in national and international committees, taken on roles on advisory boards and government task forces, various research and health initiatives and recently wound up her duties as president of the Canadian Nurses Association.
Carol Duncan, former site manager of Canmore General Hospital, says over her 38 years working with Shellian in one capacity or another, what really stands out is her compassion and genuine interest in people, both in their personal and professional lives.
“Her goal has always been to provide excellent care,” says Duncan. “Barb has been a proponent of patient and family-centred care from early on. She’s been a supporter of nurses and a nursing leader who’s been a mentor to many people — myself included. Not only that, she’s fun. Barb has a good sense of humour and gets to know people. That’s one of her greatest strengths.”
Respect for Barb and her warm, engaging leadership style is a common theme among colleagues.
“She’s an inspiration to her patients, her friends, her colleagues, those she leads and her profession as a whole,” says Amanda Gosselin, director, Rural Health, Calgary Zone.
“I feel so fortunate to have worked so closely and alongside such an accomplished and hardworking teammate. The greatest of her strengths is her authenticity, something that has afforded her endless capacity to connect with others. Her quick wit, welcoming smile, and ability to get to the heart of any issue is what makes her not only a force to be reckoned with, but a truly amazing human being.”
“Barb is truly an inspirational leader in the nursing profession and has been a role model to myself and many other nurses over the years,” says Tracy Mitchell, Site Manager, Claresholm General Hospital. “Her encouragement, support, advocacy, and profound ability to inspire and foster the development of others has grown many leaders in the nursing profession, which will eternally influence, inspire, and develop our future generation of nurses. I honestly cannot think of anyone more deserving!”
While the Lifetime Achievement Award and the acknowledgement of friends and colleagues may sound like a retirement send-off, Barb insists it is not. She says there’s still much work to be done.
“I believe I’m contributing in a valuable way and retirement hasn’t crossed my mind. I see open doors in my future. If I didn’t, it might be time to go home and grow petunias. But I’m not there yet.”
