July 24, 2023
Charlene Tondu’s love of nature and night photography is on full display in her exhibit, Dream, which has been installed at the newly-renovated Wainwright Health Centre cafeteria. Photo by Barb Teeter.
Story by Jonathan Koch | Photo by Barb Teeter
WAINWRIGHT — For Charlene Tondu, a wall of her photography on display at Wainwright Health Centre is proof that dreams come true.
Tondu donated several of her wildlife and landscape photos to the centre — and is delighted that they’re now the centrepiece of a recent extensive cafeteria renovation here, 200 km east of Edmonton.
“You walk in and you instantly just feel good. It’s like going outside on a summer day,” says Noelle Rogers, Supervisor of Patient Food Services. “It really changed the energy up. We’re so grateful to Charlene for donating her work.”
Tondu’s story stretches back four decades with the Wainwright Health Centre, where she served as both a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and a registered nurse (RN).
An LPN for the first two decades of her career, Tondu graduated with her nursing degree in 2000, and worked as a registered nurse for the next 15 years. Upon retirement, she continued to pursue her passion in labour and delivery, starting a nursing mentorship program in the field. Her dream job ended, unfortunately, after only 18 months when an injury left her unable to continue working.
Afterwards, during a grueling two years of physio and rehabilitation, her new passion was born.
“I couldn’t go to the mountains riding horses because it was too hard on my back, and I needed something," Tondu says. “I liked doing photos and someone said, ‘You should submit photos to (former Edmonton broadcaster) Mike Sobel on Global (television)’.”
Tondu took the advice and began sending pictures to Sobel as well as other photo websites and competitions, while taking online courses and in-person workshops to hone her craft.
Along the way, Tondu garnered many messages of encouragement from friends and former colleagues. One of these, former co-worker Gayle Goebel, suggested Tondu display her images in the hospital’s newly-renovated cafeteria.
“I contacted Charlene, as I’ve known her for many years, and often see her pictures that she posts on social media, so I know she takes some beautiful pictures,” says Goebel. “I just thought some of her photos would look amazing to display, if she were interested in loaning them to us.” Humbled and honoured, Tondu mounted some of her favourites on aluminum and donated them to the hospital.
She chose Dream as the theme for her display — a sentiment that’s remained close to her heart during her long recovery.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re injured or anything, you can always dream about something,” she adds.
Rogers says Tondu’s artwork has generated many inspiring conversations among staff, who appreciate the inviting atmosphere the images create for patients and their families to enjoy.
The renovation has also served as a catalyst for other staff to display their artwork.
“Having pieces of yourself there, and for people to be able to connect with that and be part of that with you, is not something you always get in a career or in a company you work for,” says Rogers.
There are also plans to install a cork board for colleagues to give thanks and to celebrate one another.
Tondu, as she follows her new passion, says she’s happy her dream has been realized, albeit differently than originally intended.
“I felt that my legacy was actually to leave a delivery and mentorship program, which I was denied,” she says.
“So now, I still feel like after 40 years, that I’m leaving a little piece of me there that people can remember — and it’s with my photography.”
