Prairie Mountain Health is welcoming two new midwives and seven nurse practitioners to Brandon and surrounding communities starting September 21, 2026. The additions bring the midwifery team to full capacity with seven providers, and the nurse practitioner graduates will begin supervised care while completing licensing requirements.
The midwifery program, based in Brandon, supports families throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. One of the new midwives, Kelena Van, is multilingual and hopes to make care more accessible for immigrants and newcomers. Van was born in Vietnam and immigrated to Canada in 2015, and she aims to use her language skills to improve accessibility to care. Brandon has welcomed over 10,000 newcomers in the past decade.
The seven nurse practitioners, all graduates of the University of Manitoba, will serve communities including Brandon, Melita, Glenboro, Wawanesa, Birdtail Sioux, Keeseekoowenin, and Rivers. During September and October, they will complete mentorship requirements while providing patient care under supervision. Nurse practitioners can assess patients, diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, order tests, and act as a regular primary care provider.
This expansion addresses healthcare gaps in the region. Manitoba has the lowest number of family physicians per capita in Canada, and 11 to 15 percent of residents lack a primary care provider. In March 2025, Prairie Mountain Health temporarily paused midwifery birth services from April to September due to a staffing shortage. The current additions restore the program to full strength.
Residents without a primary care provider can register with Family Doctor Finder by calling 1-866-690-8260 or visiting the provincial website.
