Rural Health Professions Action Plan

06/02/2026

RHPAP is excited to announce an inspiring and diverse lineup of speakers for the upcoming RHPAP Conference this fall in Peace River, Alberta.

This year’s featured keynote speakers and presenters include nationally recognized leaders in resilience, leadership, rural medicine, strategic planning, and integrated care.

Among the featured speakers is Jennifer Barroll, leadership strategist, speaker, and author of the upcoming book Make Work Better: Leading with the Human Edge. Her keynote session, The Generational Advantage: Leveraging Generational Strengths to Build Stronger Teams, will explore how organizations can build stronger workplace cultures and improve collaboration across generations.

Attendees will also hear from Jeremy Evans, widely known as “The Grizzly Dude,” whose remarkable story of surviving a near-fatal grizzly bear attack and receiving lifesaving care from rural healthcare heroes has inspired audiences across North America. His keynote, Picking Up the Pieces, focuses on resilience, mental fortitude, and perseverance through adversity.

The conference will feature many more speakers, including healthcare and education leaders Dr. Aaron Johnston and Dr. Richard Martin, who will present on the Importance of Rural Exposure, and veteran strategist and government relations expert Hal Danchilla will bring decades of experience in leadership, communications, and strategic problem solving.

Read the full announcement and be sure to take advantage of early bird pricing ending June 9!

https://loom.ly/SJpQWbM

Download PDF Peace River, AB — The Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RHPAP) is excited to announce an inspiring and diverse lineup...

05/31/2026

Amazing people work with RHPAP throughout Alberta. In this feature, Anya Langkow, a community consultant with the Community Development and Engagement (CD&E) Team, chats with RHPAP freelance writer Lorena Franchuk.

🔗Read the story on the blog: https://loom.ly/3ytDu5M

05/30/2026

Meet Dr. Wes Steed! He's the 2026 RHPAP Rhapsody Physician Award recipient. For the past 33 years, he's practised in Taber.

He's a surgeon, family physician, community volunteer and funder, and SUPER HERO!

Congratulations Dr. Steed!

Town of Taber Municipal District of Taber Alberta College of Family Physicians Society of Rural Physicians of Canada (SRPC) Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry - University of Alberta Alberta Health Services The Taber Clinic

05/29/2026

This Alberta Rural Health Week, we’re celebrating the people behind rural healthcare; their commitment, their impact, and the role they play in shaping the future of care in Alberta.

Thank you to the healthcare professionals who bring care closer every day.

Town of Olds

05/29/2026

🎉 Alberta Rural Health Week may be ending, but the impact continues every day.

Rural healthcare professionals bring care closer to home for communities across Alberta - strengthening connections, improving access, and helping build a healthier future.

Let’s continue to support and celebrate rural healthcare all year long.

05/28/2026

Today we’re in Olds supporting their healthcare provider appreciation BBQ !

Communities across Alberta are coming together to celebrate the people bringing care closer to home.

From local clinics to community events, rural healthcare teams are making a lasting impact, supporting their neighbours today and helping build strong, sustainable care for the future.

Is your community celebrating? Tag us and share your story!



Olds Healthcare Fundraising Committee Olds and Area Health Professionals Attraction and Retention Committee Town of Olds

05/28/2026

Mothers know best.

Rural generalist physician Dr. Ryan Schaub can attest to that after his own mom strongly suggested he pursue a university degree.

Her wisdom bore fruit for Dr. Schaub, and the community of Athabasca, where he now practises, actively encouraging others to consider a career in rural medicine.

In high school, the young man worked construction with his father, building a condominium for local physicians in his home community of Lac La Biche.

When the physicians asked about his future, he responded, “I don’t know. I’m going to university. At least, that’s what my mother says,” recalls Dr. Schaub.

They asked if he had considered medicine and offered to shadow him in their clinic and local emergency room (ER) to get a firsthand look at the profession.

“I saw some small procedures and thought ‘this is really cool’ and ‘I should try to do this.’ Thankfully with some effort and luck, I was able to get in. It’s been a great journey.”

Nearly seven years ago, Dr. Schaub began practicing in Athabasca. His goal was to practice in a rural area, preferably close to his family (about an hour away).

Paying his own experiences forward, he endeavours to influence learners — from high school students to those already carving out their medical paths — by inviting them for mentoring opportunities.

“I try to get them interested and involved early,” says Dr. Schaub, who has previously volunteered for RHPAP Let’s Go Rural! High School events which spun off into Athabasca’s own annual version for local students.

🔗Read the full story on the blog: https://loom.ly/rlZP_p4

Town of Athabasca

05/27/2026

🌟 Who brings care closer in your community? 🌟

This Alberta Rural Health Week, take a moment to recognize a rural healthcare professional who has made a difference in your life.

Share a message, post a photo, or use one of our downloadable cards to say thank you.

Small gestures go a long way in showing appreciation for those who care for our communities every day.

Download the cards and other resources at RHPAP.ca/ARHW

05/26/2026

Great opportunity for rural healthcare professionals wanting to better understand the unique realities facing Canadian farmers and ranchers.

Mental health support in agriculture starts with understanding agriculture.

AgCulture is a free monthly mental health literacy workshop designed specifically for health professionals who want to better understand the unique realities facing Canadian farmers and ranchers.

📅 Sessions run monthly with the next happening on May 29
💻 Online via Zoom

AgCulture builds awareness of agricultural stressors, strengthens therapeutic relationships with rural clients, and equips participants with culturally competent, practical skills to better support farming communities.

Ideal for social workers, psychologists, nurses, physicians, and anyone working at the intersection of mental health and rural life.

Facilitated by Bonnie Taylor, MSW, RSW, a psychotherapist and member of the rural agricultural community who brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to this work.

Free to attend. Register for the next session: https://hubs.ly/Q04gHsNs0

Sponsored by Farm Credit Canada

05/26/2026