For nearly three decades, Sonya has made a lasting impact at Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH). As a Registered Clinic Nurse supporting the Paediatric Rapid Assessment Clinic, Gestational Diabetes Clinic, and Paediatric Diabetes Clinic, she brings a deep understanding of clinical knowledge, compassion, and cultural understanding to every patient she meets. On Indigenous Nurses Day, her story is a powerful reminder of the unique strengths Indigenous nurses contribute to healthcare – rooted in empathy, community and resilience.
Sonya’s journey began in 1996 as an agency nurse in the Emergency Department (ED). A year later, she was hired permanently, a moment she still remembers vividly. “I was interviewed by the ED manager at the time, and I was so nervous,” she recalls. “She admitted my interview wasn’t perfect, but said she’d heard incredible things about me from doctors, nurses, clerks and patients who wrote letters praising the care they received, even while waiting for a bed. That meant so much to me.”
Graduating as a Registered Nurse in 1996 at just 21 years old, Sonya has devoted nearly 30 years to caring for others, a calling she felt from childhood. “As a little girl, I always had a doctor’s or dentist’s kit and wanted to take care of anyone and everyone – whether they were sick or just sad,” says Sonya. “My Creator gave me the gift of compassion, empathy and patience and I knew I wanted to use those gifts to help people feel safe and supported”
Sonya’s strong ties to her home community of Six Nations, Ohsweken, shaped her values early on. Though she didn’t grow up on the reserve, weekends, holidays, and summers spent with her grandparents, aunties and uncles helped form her understanding of care and community. “We had limited health care services, so I saw how the community worked together. The phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ wasn’t just a saying it was a way of life,” she explains.
Those early experiences, combined with the encouragement of a high school guidance counsellor, helped guide Sonya toward her nursing career. “I didn’t have the confidence to apply to an RN program. I didn’t think I would get in despite being an honours student,” she recalls. “But she believed in me.”
Sonya believes Indigenous nurses bring essential qualities to healthcare. “Indigenous people are inherently empathetic and strongly believe in giving assistance and kindness wherever needed. That’s why nursing felt like a perfect fit to me.”
Over the years, Sonya has embraced leadership roles, including being selected as charge nurse and team leader, a proud moment that recognized her dedication and expertise. “It made me proud to know my hard work was seen and valued,” she says.
Those who work alongside Sonya, speak highly of her unwavering dedication and warmth – qualities her manager, Janet sees reflected in everything she does. “Sonya is an exceptional nurse who deserves to be celebrated,” Janet shares. “She is compassionate and dedicated and always exemplifies the highest level of commitment, clinical practice and leadership in her roles at JBH. Sonya is always willing to go above and beyond to ensure her patients and colleagues are well cared for. She is a wonderful example of what a nurse should be.
To young Indigenous individuals considering a career in nursing, Sonya offers this advice: “Be proud of who you are. Share your culture and the gifts the Creator gave you.”
Though the demands of healthcare can be intense, Sonya credits her resilience to the support of those around her. “Admittedly, I probably give too much of myself to the industry, but I can because I am surrounded by people who support and look after me too.”
In the end, it’s the human connection that keeps her going. “A smile, a hug, a thank-you from a child or a parent, that’s what makes it all worth it.”