Psychiatric Nurse Training

Excerpts from Notes and Clippings. 

"In April, 1956, I applied for the psychiatric nursing training course at the Saskatchewan Hospital and began my training in September."

"Student Psychiatric Nurses I, II, III, receive salaries of $169.00, $198.00 and $218.00 per month respectively." 

My Mother and Father Hughenna and Ovide Bertrand 

"I was with a group of several other timid young people being orientated that first day. We were fitted for uniforms; given a set of keys; shown through several departments and wards. I questioned then as to what I was getting myself into."

"Learning to give my first intramuscular injection (IM) was during those first months of employment. We were taught in the classroom to give injections using oranges. The treatments prescribed by the doctors during my training were Electra-Convulsive Therapy (ECT); Insulin Shock Therapy; Anti-Psychotic Drug Therapy and Seclusion. Recreational and Occupational Therapy was organised by the nursing staff."

"Three of seven children of Bertrand family graduated from the Psychiatric Nursing Program, Evelyn, Arthur and myself. Arthur's wife, Marlene, also graduated.  We renewed memories at the 80th Anniversary of the Saskatchewan Hospital, North Battleford in 1993".

Evelyn, Marlene, Arthur and I 

 The 100th Anniversary was held in July, 2013.

Former Ward Supervisor, Dorothy Mills and I 

''The history of the hospital dates back to 1912 when it was built on one of the most beautiful stretches of the North Saskatchewan River. At the time it was intended to accommodate eight hundred patients and was one of the most-up-to-date mental hospitals of the day."

The North Battleford Psychiatric Hospital had been closed and a new Psychiatric Forensic Hospital has replaced it. It was built this past year on the same grounds over looking the Saskatchewan River. The grand opening is in March 2019.

Old SHNB

New SHNB 

July 1st Canada Day

The Day of people.

Visit Studio eh Design.com

Until next time remember to "Discover it and Live It".

Book Reading at The Osoyoos Library

I recently did a book reading of my autobiography "Notes and Clippings" at the Osoyoos Library. 

The Librarian did the introduction 

I had an hour to do the reading and presentation.

I appreciated this opportunity to tell my story. 

The Book Launch Continued.

On the Book Launch trip to Saskatchewan I donated a copy to the Libraries in North Battleford, Regina and Beth Jacob Synagogue.

North Battleford Library 

While in Regina I had a very nice visit with a Psychiatric Nursing colleague. 

Quote: from "Notes and Clippings- It all started in Saskatchewan" 

"Another Psychiatric Nurse, whom I worked with during that time, was Vera LaFayette. She was a member of Sonshine Christian Ministries. She works with Healing Through Prayer. While Vera and I worked together in the Activity Therapy Department she asked me to attend a session. I remember how uneasy I felt at the time as I was close-minded about sharing my prayers openly with anyone let alone within a therapeutic setting. The session and the words she spoke left me with a lasting impression."

Lorraine with Vera

Book Launch in Cut Knife SK

On the way from Osoyoos BC to Cut Knife in May my husband, Randal, and I were asked to stop in Marsden, SK to visit Connie (Buglas) Lane. She had a lot of memories of the Gallivan School Days to share. Thank you Connie for your stories.  

Connie (Buglas) Lane and Lorraine

 In Cut Knife Saskatchewan I held a book launch at the Senior Centre. It was exhilarating to see a Gallivan School class-mate from grade 6 to 10, Lorna Buglas.

Quote from "Notes And Clippings   "During these school years I was always comparing myself to others, constantly putting myself  down. I expressed this in my journal: 'Lorna is twice as smart as I am. She can read things once and remember what she reads, while I would have to read things several times before it sticks in my memory'.

Lorna (Buglas) Gaudet and Lorraine

While there I donated a copy to the Cut Knife Library. 

This write-up in the Cut Knife Courier was appreciated. Thank you for sharing it with your readers. 

Copies of  "Note and Clippings- It started in Saskatchewan" will be available 

at the Clayton Mclean Heritage Museum 

Phones

Telephones have come a long way!!  My parents had one of these telephone.

Quot from Chapter One- 'Gallivan Years"  

A wooden cased crank-style telephone hung on the wall. Our number was one long ring and two short ones. It was easy to 'rubber-neck' (listen) in on our neighbour's calls. The trick was to lift the receiver very carefully and place a finger in a special position in the receiver cradle. That way the people could not hear any noise and breathing from the listener. 

This picture was taken in the farm house kitchen during the 1950's. It shows the wood burning stove with  a "sad" iron sitting on the top. There was a "warming oven" on top of the stove and a "hot water reservoir" at far end. 

My mother sitting with her back to the camera, Aunt Elsie and my sister Evelyn. On the wall was the telephone of the day. 

Ciria 1950 Evelyn, Aunt Elsie Bertrand and Hughenna Bertrand  

 Now I am a "techy" using a cell phone, a computer and learning to communicate over the internet with ZOOM. 

Fox and Goose Winter Game

It snowed in Osoyoos BC over night and the soft snow outside our trailer reminded my of the Fox and Goose games the students played during the 1940's Gallivan school days. I realized that I did not include that in my autobiography-"Notes and Clippings- it all started in Saskatchewan"

So this morning with, Randal's photography, I  recorded what I remember of the rules.

                  

Start with a freshly snowed area.

Step out pie shape circle

Have fun play for hours trying not to get tagged. 

Gallivan School Days

A few pictures that did not make it in

Notes and Clippings -It All Started in Saskatchewan 

Gallivan Public School   #3857 

 1951 After a blizzard  

Bob Laing, Wayne Fitzgerald, Earl Anderson,
David Bertrand,
Frank Ovens, Balfour Gallivan, Arthur Bertrand 

Summer 1950 

Boys:  Earl Anderson, Clifford Laing
Girls: Lorraine Bertrand, Lorna Buglas, Gail Laing, Elaine Scott

Standing: Arthur Bertrand, Calvin Laing, Frank Ovens, Clifford Laing, Lorraine Bertrand, Ruby Galivan
Sitting: Gail Laing, Lucille Dubrule, Bob Lang, Wayne Fitzgerald, Balfour Gallivan 

NK'Mip Snow Bird Friends

Each Fall the NK'Mip Snow Birds hold a Craft Sale. This year I took part to promote "Notes and Clippings - It all Started in Saskatchewan"

A few of my new friends stopped by 

Carol Livingston with Lorraine 

Sandra Perrin  with Lorraine 

Linda Mac Elleran   

Interested customers. 

Thank you to those who stopped by and take a look. 

Book Launch with Family

Randal and I drove to the Coast for a Family Book Launch. 

We were welcomed by Jeanne Ingram to stay with her while there. 

Nikki and Lexi finding out the deep dark secrets of their Grandma Lorraine   

While there my daughter, Lynne and granddaughter, Nikki,  and were in Vancouver  to visit Lexi for the weekend so they stopped by.

Lorraine and Mary 

Jeanne, Lorraine,  Pauline,  Mary,  Evelyn 

 On Sunday our first stop was at Cotton Lane Pavillon where my eldest sister, Mary, lives. 

Chad 

My third eldest sister Evelyn Pulver with her sons Chad and Darwin came from Mission 

Lorraine and Clare 

On Monday we went to Gabriola Island to see my second eldest sister Clare McCarthy 

Lorraine and Arthur 

Tuesday we visited my brother Arthur and a couple of cousins 

Jime Rutely and Celine Barry

Don and Laurie Duvall with Lorraine 

It all Started with Sorting

This was taken for a 2011 blog from http://livingtimelessly.blogspot.ca/2011/01/sorting-pictures-and-memories.html

Sorting pictures and memories took me a week to go through. The collection of picture albums, boxes of journals, diaries and committee records filled the room. What an over whelming and very emotional.

Throughout the next 6 years of writing and rewriting; editing and re-editing I have a finished product.

One More Sold

November 10, 2017
This is the first entry of this new blog for Notes and Clippings- It All Started in Saskatchewan. The book has been out for a few weeks now and is being sold at a good rate. I am so pleased with the interest and comments from those who are reading it.

This morning Randal and I met Elaine and Tom Bugg at Tim Hortons in Osoyoos. They were on their way to Arizona. Tom and I go back to our teen years when I was living on the family farm in Gallivan and my Psychiatric Nursing days in North Battleford.  While hiking through Europe my two nursing companions and I visited with Tom and his wife Elaine in France in 1961 when he was stationed in the Air Force.  A few years ago Randal and visited them in Yuma. It is good the keep in touch during so many years.     

There will be more postings as I get this up and running.