A family in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, is being celebrated for an incredible 55 years of combined service to rural healthcare. Nova Scotia Health recently honoured Anne Trottier with a 30-year Service Award, while her daughter Emma Lohnes received a 5-year award, both for their work at the South Cumberland Community Care Centre.
Anne Trottier’s healthcare journey began as a high school student volunteering as a candy striper at the very same facility. She says an impressive registered nurse she met there inspired her to pursue a career in nursing. Today, she serves as Health Services Director and site lead for South Cumberland Community Care Centre and Bayview Memorial Health Centre.
Emma Lohnes, Anne’s daughter, followed in her mother’s footsteps and now works primarily in urgent treatment at the centre. The family’s healthcare roots run even deeper: Anne’s husband, Derek Trottier, retired in May 2026 after 20 years of dedicated service, bringing the family’s total contribution to local care to 55 years.
The South Cumberland Community Care Centre provides long-term care for 32 residents and runs an urgent treatment centre for non-life-threatening health concerns that need same-day or next-day care. It has been a cornerstone of the community for decades, celebrating 30 years of long-term care in January 2025.
Rural areas like Cumberland County often struggle to attract and keep healthcare workers. In 2024, the Nova Scotia government gave $69,900 to help local recruitment efforts through the “A Welcoming Community for Health Care Professionals in Cumberland County” program. Families like the Trottier-Lohnes clan show just how important generational commitment is to keeping rural healthcare alive.
