Summary of UTHC's Board of Directors Meeting - November 2025

CHAIRWOMAN SHIRLEY WHITE-DUPUIS

VICE-CHAIRMAN JOHNNY JR. MAY

SECRETARY PATRICK TASSÉ

ADMINISTRATOR LAWRENCE LAMB

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LARRY WATT

PASHA BERTHE

EMALY JONAS

LAWRENCE LAMB

PATRICK TASSÉ

SHIRLEY WHITE-DUPUIS

PASHA BERTHE

EVA KAUKI

SOPHIE E. KEELAN

JOHNNY JR. MAY

SHIRLEY WHITE-DUPUIS

LIZZIE JOHANNES

LAWRENCE LAMB

EYUKA PINGUATUK

LARRY WATT

SHIRLEY WHITE-DUPUIS

PASHA BERTHE

DOLORÈS DENIS

EMMA GRENIER

SOPHIE E. KEELAN

LAWRENCE LAMB

EYUKA PINGUATUK

SHIRLEY WHITE-DUPUIS

ANNIE MARY AKPAHATAK (ETOOK) AUPALUK

SOPHIE E. KEELAN KANGIQSUALUJJUAQ

EYUKA PINGUATUK KANGIQSUJUAQ

SARAH AIRO KANGIRSUK

SHIRLEY WHITE-DUPUIS KUUJJUAQ

PASHA BERTHE TASIUJAQ

QUAQTAQ : To be determined

DOLORÈS DENIS

EMMA GRENIER

EMALY JONAS

PATRICK TASSÉ

JOHNNY JR. MAY

EVA KAUKI

LAWRENCE LAMB

Tulattavik is responsible for the quality, safety, and organization of nursing care. Our duties include:

• Monitoring and ensuring the quality of nursing care provided within the institution.
• Developing and enforcing nursing care standards, in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
• Planning, coordinating, and evaluating nursing care based on the clinical needs of users.
• Managing the human, material, and financial resources related to nursing care.
• Maintaining records of nurses authorized to perform specific clinical activities.
• Restricting or suspending the performance of certain clinical activities in cases of incompetence or misconduct and informing the Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec (OIIQ) of any measures taken.

The primary mission of the Hospital and CLSCS is to protect the public by ensuring that nursing care is safe, effective, and aligned with professional standards. In this regard, the DSI must act promptly when a situation jeopardizes patient safety.

If a nurse demonstrates behaviour or clinical practice considered unsafe, Tulattavik is accountable for taking the necessary measures to prevent any risk to the population. This may include the immediate suspension of the nurse involved, the initiation of an internal investigation, and communication with the OIIQ to ensure appropriate disciplinary follow-up.

This responsibility is part of a proactive clinical governance approach, where Tulattavik acts as the guardian of care quality and the protector of users’ rights. Tulattavik must also ensure that nursing teams have the appropriate conditions to practice optimally, in accordance with ethical and professional standards.

Currently, we have one primary care Specialized Nurse Practitioner in place at QQQ. The Ministry of Health has granted us a budget allowing the hiring of up to three primary care Specialized Nurse Practitioner for the entire Ungava Bay territory. In addition, a separate budget has been allocated specifically for recruiting one mental health Specialized Nurse Practitioner.

These budgets are already available and could allow, starting immediately, the hiring of two additional primary care Specialized Nurse Practitioner, as well as one mental health Nurse Practitioner. However, the main constraint to implementing these hires remains the limited availability of housing in the region.

We are currently in the process of evaluating the next specialized nursing positions to be filled in the territory. The priority identified for the coming months is the recruitment of a mental health Specialized Nurse Practitioner, in accordance with the population’s needs and available budgetary resources.

Hiring a mental health nurse practitioner

Mental Health Challenges in Nunavik are well known and contribute to the heavy workload of all work teams, including nurses, physicians, social workers, police officers, and others.

Why hire a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner for the UTHC care team? There are two specific reasons:

1. Improve accessibility, safety, and continuity of care for individuals with mental health disorders.
2. The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner can practice in any setting and across the entire care trajectory, providing specialized care to individuals of all ages with mental health conditions.

The role of these nurses is significantly different from that of a registered nurse with a bachelor’s degree in mental health. Their scope of practice is much broader.

The Mental Health Nurse Practitioner will be able to:

• Exercise autonomous practice (manage appointments, determine follow-up intensity, etc.)
• Apply preventive detention orders independently.
• Prescribe medications and medical treatments.
• Follow up with hospitalized patients for mental health reasons.
• Authorize medical leave for psychiatric inpatients.
• Travel to various villages to meet with patients receiving mental health follow-up.

Kuujjuaq Hospital Department

Statistics for the department

Between April 1, 2025, and October 18th, we had 678 admissions to the department.

The main reason for admission was medical cases, such as respiratory issues, various types of infections, etc.

In addition, we transferred 199 patients to the South by medevac. The main reasons for these medevacs were gastrointestinal problems, trauma cases, and neurological issues.

Nursing internship – Inuk student

For the very first time, Tulattavik welcomed an Inuk nursing extern to its teams Karina Gordon Blais. This important step began on June 16th with the arrival of an Inuk student, currently in training and having completed her second year of nursing studies, which allows her to hold this extern position for the summer.

We are particularly proud that this first experience involves a student from Nunavik. This represents much more than a simple internship: it is a concrete step towards supporting and developing Inuit healthcare talent. By creating such opportunities, Tulattavik reaffirms its commitment to integrating more Inuit nurses into its teams, in order to better meet the needs of northern communities with personnel from the local population.

In Quebec, a nursing extern is a nursing student employed in a healthcare facility to work as an extern, meaning in a role intermediate between a student and a fully licensed nurse.

The extern works under the supervision of a licensed nurse.

She applies her clinical skills but cannot perform all acts reserved for licensed nurses.

She may perform taking vital signs, providing certain hygiene care, assisting with mobility, monitoring patients’ general condition, etc.

She may not: conduct autonomous clinical assessments, administer medications without direct supervision, or perform tasks requiring professional nursing judgment.

This allows students to:

• Gain practical experience in a clinical setting.
• Become familiar with the operation of a healthcare facility.
• Facilitate their transition to the role of a licensed nurse.

Following this internship, we have already received requests to host additional students in the summer of 2026. This is excellent news for our health centre.

Additionally, next January, we will, for the third consecutive year, welcome five students from Cégep Garneau in Quebec City for a three-week internship with us. Cégep Garneau has asked if it would be possible to offer two internships per year: one in January and a second in October. Personally, I believe we should prioritize these requests. If we were able to host 10 students from Cégep Garneau in addition to the Université Laval students during the summer season, this would give us the opportunity to potentially hire them afterwards.

Often, we can hire these nurses or receive CVs from their colleagues who have heard positive feedback about our health centre.

Elderly people awaiting relocation hospitalized in the department

The department is currently hosting 7 elderly individuals who should normally reside at the Elder’s House. However, due to its full capacity, these seniors are temporarily hospitalized in our unit, creating significant challenges.

The lack of space at the Elder’s House, combined with the growing number of individuals awaiting transfer, poses a serious risk: running out of beds for our regular patients. If only two or three more seniors require placement, the unit could quickly face a critical shortage.

Moreover, prolonged hospitalization is not an appropriate living environment for elderly individuals, who need conditions that support comfort, autonomy, and well-being.

For these reasons, prioritizing the development of the new Elder’s House project is essential. This project will provide a suitable environment for our seniors while alleviating pressure on the hospital unit. However, the fact that the project will not be completed for several years makes the current situation even more urgent as several beds remain occupied by seniors awaiting placement.

Tuberculosis situation in Nunavik

Since 2022, Nunavik has faced a significant resurgence of tuberculosis, reaching a historic peak 2024, with numbers still rising in 2025. TB rates are up to 1,000 times higher than elsewhere in Quebec, representing a major public health crisis.

To respond, the NV of Kangiqsualujjuaq and the NRBHSS opened a dedicated TB screening and treatment space in 2022 by leasing the former restaurant building to create “Sailivik”. This new point of service offers a safe, non-clinical environment adapted to Inuit culture that improves service access and supports community healing from past epidemics. Sailivik facilitates screening and follow-up within the community.

• Two Ungava Bay communities are heavily affected, and 1 community is on the watchlist.

• Public Health needs more data on the situation in other communities.

• Past screenings focused on latent infection (sleeping TB).

We are asking community members to be tested.

• Please DO NOT wait to see a doctor to be screen. Protect your loved ones and your family. It is important because TB is contagious.

• When you are contacted for TB evaluations, please come to the CLSC for consultation and testing. It is important for you and all the community members, especially the most vulnerable ones, babies, elders and persons with chronic illnesses.

Pharmacy

Tulattavik is simplifying village pharmacies to improve care and safety.

• We are changing the pharmacy process in village because to avoid delay between medication preparation in the south and distribution to the patients in the village.

• Tulatavik is developing a solution with the company Domedic to have real-time validation of medication prepared by Pharmacie Voyer and to optimize taking medication.

Tulattavik is now able to offer more dental services to better serve and treat patients.

• We have recruited a new permanent dentist in January for Kuujjuaq, Tasiujaq and Aupaluk

• We also have recruited new dental assistants

• We are still doing recruitment for the other communities.

We invite you to contact Central Booking to take an appointment with dentist or family doctors.

Simple and adaptive, the Appointment Center allows patients to use the communication method of their choice, phone or email, at a time that is convenient for them, to book an appointment.

You can reach Central Booking Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Phone: 1-833-955-0141

You can leave a message at any time.

Email: rdv.uthc.appt@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

Facebook: facebook.com/rdv.uthc.appt

If the Appointment Center’s line is busy or if the user contacts the Appointment Center outside of business hours, you can leave a message. A person will return the call or answer the email during the Central office's business hours, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Tulattavik is taking great consideration for patients and their escorts who accompany them to medical appointments. In Innilavik, our patient transit located in Kuujjuaq, Tulattavik hosted 1862 users during the first 6 months 2025, compared to 1780 for the same period last year. This means that 82 more people we welcomed compared to last year, for the same time.

It is essential to ensure the sustainability of our infrastructures to keep them in good condition for several years. Our points of service, the CLSCs, hospital, Elder's home, transit, housing and the vehicules are used optimally to ensure that we offer the best possible services to the population.

We must be strategic in our forecasts and investments, because money is scarce and expenses are increasing in relation with the increase in the cost of living.

Here are the projects under development for Kuujjuaq:

• The hospital's dentistry renovation project is awaiting funding approval from the Ministry of Health and Social Services. This project could be completed in 2026 or 2027 depending on the date of receipt of the MSSS's approval.

• An important step has been taken for the implementation of a CT Scan at the Kuujjuaq hospital. The ministry has just approved funding for the completion of preliminary studies and plans and specifications.

Here are the projects under development for Kangiqsualujjuaq:

The plans are now completed to replace the access ramp and the main entrance door of the CLSC. We are waiting for funding from the MSSS to launch the call for tenders.

There are still no candidates for community workers to work with our kids in Regional Rehabilitation Services and Group Homes.

Tulattavik is in need of community workers to work with Inuit kids.

What does community workers do?

• Community workers make sure that kids are culturally safe.
• Community workers teach the kids how to hunt, to fish, to make fishing nets.
• Community workers make sure that the kids have enough country food in their unit.
• Community workers ensure kids keep ties with their culture while away from home. Traditional storytelling, acquisition and preparation of country food, traditional games, traditional sewing and beading, throat singing, soap stone carving for example. To do so, Community workers invite guest speakers and Elders to offer guidance.
• Community workers accompany the kid at medical or court appointments an offer translation when needed.

We have full-time and part-time Community workers jobs available. Please, if you are interested or if you know someone who is interested to work with us, please contact HR. Help the community and Inuit Kids by working at Tulattavik.

If you are fluent in Inuktitut and English, if you have a positive attitude, a sense of responsibility and organization, if you know the traditions, beliefs and Inuit customs, Tulattavik needs you to help our Inuit kids.

Position to be filled in Montreal, Kuujjuaq, Puvirnituq, Inukjuak and Kuujjuaraapik.

Working hours are flexible. In Montreal, we have 1 full-time position and 1 part-time position to fill.

For the communities in the north, these are part-time positions of 7 hours per week. The hours are flexible. For example, they could be separated into 2 hours one day, 3 hours another day... depending on the activity. You can also work 28 hours a weekend and be off the rest of the month depending on the activity.

Salary vary from $27.71 per hour to a maximum of $39.88 an hour.

Tulattavik needs local staff and is actively looking for it. Tulattavik needs Inuit employees. If you want to work with Tulattavik to help our kids, I invite you to contact UTHC Human Resources to offer your services. HR can be reached by email at: RH.Ungava@ssss.gouv.qc.ca

You can also visit our website under the Jobs/Careers section to see what are the job opportunities offered to you.

Social services are designed to serve the entire population and are adapted to meet a wide range of social and psychological needs — from everyday challenges to more severe issues, including situations of vulnerability and crisis. This requires close collaboration with community partners to ensure that services are responsive, accessible, and culturally appropriate.

Achievements:

• Improvement on collaboration between psychosocial workers and other department employees.
• Increase of direct services to the population.
• Ongoing collaboration with MIT, IVP, Saqijuq and other community organizations.

Challenges:

• Increase in the trafficking of drugs and there is an urgent need for timely access to specialized addiction services
• Replacing frontline workers in the villages remains a major challenge due to the lack of available housing

Child, youth and family program

• The psychosocial services from CYF team are only offered in 3 communities: Kuujjuaq, Kangiqsujuaq and Kangiqsualujjuaq. In those villages, there’s HRO and Family Education Workers who offer services through Ilagiiluta and youth in difficulty programs.

• We are developing two new positions of psychologists for Kangiqsujuaq and Kangiqsualujjuaq (On hold due to lack of housing).

• Child youth and family programs (CYF) is a multidisciplinary team who offers several services in promotion, prevention and intervention to the communities of the Ungava coast. The team is supported by one manager and two clinical activity specialists.

• The team collaborates with Kativik Ilisarniliriniq (KI), family houses and other community organizations on a regular basis.

Physical Rehabilitation program

Occupational therapy, physiotherapy and audiology are provided by Physical Rehabilitation. We are continuously expanding and are oriented towards improving the care offered to the client. As the teams are mostly based in Kuujjuaq and fly in the communities, the involvement and recruitment of local workers is even more important to ensure a culturally adapted and available service offer for Nunavimmiut.