March 2017 Update

By March 1, 2017June 24th, 2017Mailings, Monthly Update

1. Noteworthy items

  • The Manitoba Moose Hockey Club have put together a special package for psychologists for the Friday March 10th game at MTS Centre, with a ticket, hot dog, and drink for $25. See here for purchasing information.
  • The Ethics Resource Service (ERS) is a proactive education and consultation service which is available to MPS members for use at their discretion. The ERS is intended to help members respond appropriately to current and anticipated ethical dilemmas in their professional practice. The sole mandate of the ERS is to promote a high standard of ethical decision-making and professional practice among members. Please access more information about the ERS at this link: http://members.mps.ca/ers

2. MPS Updates from February 2017

  • The MPS 50th Anniversary Gala, held on February 24, 2017 at Mercedes Benz Winnipeg, was a great success. MPS presented awards to two of our esteemed colleagues, Dr. Robert McIlwraith (Distinguished Life Member) and Dr. Bill Davis (President’s Award). More information about each award recipient is available below. 

Award winners honoured at the Gala, Dr. Robert McIlwraith (Distinguished Life Member) and Dr. Bill Davis (President’s Award).  

  • Dr. Davis was born in Morden, Manitoba and has been married to Judith since 1965, has two married daughters and five grandchildren. He attended the University of Manitoba for his undergraduate training. He received his Ph. D. from and completed his internship at the University of Missouri in 1970. Dr. Davis’s employment history is impressive. He taught at the University of British Columbia (1970-1977); developed and implemented The City of Winnipeg Employee Assistance Program and held position of Staff Psychologist (1977-1983); he was Manager of the Employee Occupational Safety and Health Division with the City of Winnipeg (1983-1991); and he developed psychological programs for the Winnipeg Police Service and held the position of Manager of the Behavioral Health Services / Police Psychologist (1991-2004). Following his retirement in 2004, he maintained a small private practice. Dr. Davis has represented the field of psychology well by serving as a non-physician member on the council of The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba (1985-1994), worked with the Canadian Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and served on several committees of the Psychological Association of Manitoba. He was also the team leader for the Winnipeg Police Service Critical Incident Stress Management Team that went to New York to conduct trauma debriefing sessions with members of the City of New York Police Department who were first responders to the World Trade Center’s after Sept. 11th, 2001. He continues to be a learned colleague and respected advocate for increasing access to specialized psychological services for Winnipeg Police Service, the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service, and the RCMP. 
  • Dr. McIlwraith grew up in Marathon, Ontario and is married to Dr. Wendy Josephson.  Together they have one son and daughter-in-law with their first grandchild on the way.  Dr. McIlwraith attended the University of Winnipeg for his undergraduate training and Acadia University for his Master’s Degree. He completed his internship at the Kitchener-Waterloo General Hospital in 1980 and received his Ph. D. from the University of Manitoba in 1981. Dr. McIlwraith spent his career providing service and leadership within the academic and public health domains.  He became an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Manitoba and Clinical Psychologist with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority in 1981.  In 1987 he was promoted to Associate Professor and became Director of Education and Training for the Internship in Psychology program in 1989.  After much persistence and hard work, Dr. McIlwraith established the Rural and Northern Psychology Program in 1996.  His dedication and hard work was rewarded in 1999 with a promotion to full Professor.  In 2005, Dr. McIlwraith became Acting Head and then Head of the Department of Clinical Health Psychology from 2006 until his retirement in 2015.  During his career he has served tirelessly as member and chair of various committees at the university and national level.  In particular, he was one of the founding members and past chair of the CPA Section of Psychologists in Hospitals.  He has also published and presented extensively in the areas of psychology training and accreditation, rural psychology, advocacy and the effects of television media.  Dr. McIlwraith has previously been acknowledged for his dedication to the profession of psychology.  In 2004, Dr. McIlwraith was awarded the Clifford J. Robson Award for distinguished contribution to psychology in Manitoba by the Manitoba Psychological Society and in 2014 he was awarded Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association.

3. Upcoming Events

  • The MPS Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on March 20, 2017 at Inn at the Forks. We are honoured to have Dr. Niigaan Sinclair as our speaker at this event. Dr. Sinclair is Associate Professor/Acting Department Head, Native Studies, University of Manitoba, award winning author and editor, and regular commentator on indigenous issues for CTV, CBC, and APTN.
    Click here for additional information and registration
  • The MPS Annual Spring Workshop, The Pain Paradox: Mindfulness/Compassion-Based Approaches for Complex Trauma, with Dr. John Briere will be held on April 21, 2017.
    Click here for additional information and registration

4. Articles of Interest