Local resident Terry Hartwick receives Storytelling for Change Award

Local resident Terry Hartwick is receiving the Storytelling for Change Award from the Institute of Change Leadership at Ryerson University.

Hartwick is a member of the Haliburton-CKL Long-Term Care Coalition which is working toward improving Ontario and Canada’s long-term care system.

The Storytelling for Change Award is given for the most effective and powerful public narrative and communications work. In particular, the award acknowledges Hartwick’s bravery and inspirational story-telling regarding long-term care.

In May, during a workshop geared toward action around Canada’s Long-Term Care crisis, she told her story about the tragedy of the evacuation at Highland Wood Long Term-Care in February of 2018.

She described her feelings as she waited with her mom and many other elderly people bundled in their winter attire and blankets. “They were waiting for the next van or bus coming to take them to some new residence they had never been in, and where they may not know anyone… some far from their families,” said Hartwick.

Hartwick was amazed that she had won the award, according to a press release, and is grateful to the Institute for honouring her story in this way. “The Institute of Change Leadership storytelling and the people I met through it, were the catalyst to motivate me to advocate for changes in long-term care,” she said.

Hartwick’s achievement will be celebrated at the Institute’s virtual 4th anniversary event on Nov. 12.

All local residents who would like to take action to improve long-term care, are encouraged to contact Bonnie Roe at 705-286-2414 or .

If you are interested in learning more, join the Coalition’s Facebook group by searching Haliburton-CKL Long-Term Care Coalition.