RPAP hosting cultural awareness workshop in Bow Island

By Jamie Rieger
As the Bow Island and Foremost areas get ready to welcome a new doctor to the area, RPAP (Rural Physicians Action Plan) will be hosting a workshop to help the public in learning more about different cultures.
Bow Island mayor Gordon Reynolds who represents the town on the Bow Island and Area healthcare committee, said that lot of new physicians coming to rural communities in the province are from other cultures outside of Canada.
While Reynolds was not at liberty to name the physician coming to Bow Island, he did say the doctor hails from Iraq and has lived in Toronto for the past couple of years.
“He is very excited to be in Canada and excited to come to a small community,” said Reynolds.
RPAP offers a Cultural Awareness Program in communities where N International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are slated to begin practicing medicine.
“RPAP runs the program in rural communities that are looking for new doctors and a lot of the physicians are from other cultures,” said Reynolds. “This is a way to understand differences in cultures and teach us ways to reach out to them. “The workshop will give us some ideas on welcoming the new doctor and other newcomers to the community.”
The workshop will allow the public to better understand the challenges being faced by IMGs and their families. RPAP makes great efforts in matching IMGs to communities best suited to them.
The Cultural Awareness Workshop will take place in Bow Island on Oct. 1, with the exact location still to be determined. The event is expected to last several hours, so lunch will be provided. To RSVP, contact the Town office at 403-545-2522 or email to town@bowisland.ca.

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