MSMLT Crocus Award 2006   -   Anita Norrie


Anita Norrie received her initial training at Red River Community College and St. Boniface Hospital with successful graduation as a Medical Laboratory Technologist in 1967. She started her career at Cadham Provincial Laboratory and remained there for 24 years. During that time, she moved from bench technologist in the Serology and Microbiology area to Senior Technologist in Viral Serology to Chief technologist in Quality Assurance / Quality Control with jurisdiction including rural laboratories of Manitoba. Anita moved to Canadian Blood Services in 1991 as a Quality Systems Associate and then held the same position for the Manitoba Blood and Marrow Transplant Program in 1997. During this time she also worked for Ortho Clinical Diagnostics developing validation guides and performing software validation. In 2000, she accepted the challenge of Managing Partner of the Provencher Medical Diagnostics Laboratories where she remained for three years until the lab closed its doors. She is currently enjoying retirement from the profession but continues to enjoy helping out her profession, for example she was a volunteer for the Registration desk at the recent CSMLS / MSMLT Joint Congress 2006.


Anita jumped into professional activities by activating and becoming the President of the Winnipeg Academy in 1979. This led to further involvement in the Manitoba Branch (now MSMLT) as Vice President in 1980, President in 1981 and Past President in 1982. A year later, in 1983, she started work on her very first National Congress as Co-Chair. She repeated this again in 1993-95 but this time as Chair of another successful CSMLS Congress held in Manitoba. She also participated in provincial congresses – first as Scientific Chair in 1990 and then again as Treasurer for the MCMLS 2000. She also represented our profession on the Advisory Committee of the Manitoba Medical Technologist Training Program for two terms. She served as the Editor of the Canadian Society of Transfusion Medicine Bulletin during 1995-96. Anita’s professional activities are remarkable in that she was able to give so much of her time while being a single parent to three children, taking post-diploma courses and working full time. It is an example of one of her most outstanding characteristics, that of time management. Not only can she manage her time well, but does so with remarkable ease and efficiency. She has always taken her roles in the profession seriously but has also been seen to let loose once in a while. Back in the days of the Brandon Post Grad Course, she showed up in a grey sweat suit, sunglasses and white cane as one of the three blind mice!


The MSMLT is honoured today to recognize the extraordinary contributions Anita Norrie has given to our professional society during her career by selecting her as this year’s recipient for the MSMLT Crocus Award. Congratulations!


Crocus Award Winner 2005 - Luis Martinez
 
MSMLT is privileged to recognize the extraordinary and lasting contributions of this year’s Crocus Award winner – Luis Martinez.

Luis emigrated from Chile to Manitoba in 1976. Within a few years, he had graduated from Red River Community College and became a registered Medical Laboratory College, working at Health Sciences Centre. By 1989, he was involved in the professional society as the vice president of the Winnipeg Academy. During his tenure in 1990, Luis found time to also Co-Chair the Manitoba Congress of Medical Laboratory Science. After going through the Academy presidential chain, he then accepted the challenge of the presidential chain of the MSMLT beginning in 1992 and completing his term of office in 1994. H later was elected as the provincial Public Relations Director for the years 1995-96. In 1995 until this past year, Luis acted as the MSMLT Government Liaison. He has now just begun his new appointment to the Diagnostic Services Advisory Council. Luis has been actively involved with the Society for sixteen consecutive years.

During all these years of service, there are several contributions worthy of special mention. Luis represented the MSMLT at the Provincial Laboratory Commission on Health Reform in 1994-95. This commission was charged to produce a blueprint for the practice of Laboratory Medicine in Manitoba. It was during this time that Luis effectively demonstrated his ability to stand up for our profession and to rally our members to fight for our rights. A second significant contribution relates to the long history of MSMLT and our attempts to gain licensing with little progress. In his position as Government Liaison, Luis was able to connect with key allies  across all Party lines, both provincially and federally. His constant efforts were a major contributor to the passing of an Act that will lead to the establishment of  a College of Medical Laboratory Technology in Manitoba.

Luis is our very own “Eveready Bunny” – He just keeps going and going! His professional integrity is beyond reproach. His efforts for our profession are tireless and know no boundaries when faced with a challenge. He is always willing to lend a hand, listen to a point of view and work with his colleagues to get the job done. He continues to be a mentor to the Board in matters political.

The MSMLT is honoured to recognize the extraordinary contributions Luis Martinez has made to our professional society by selecting him as this year’s recipient for the MSMLT Crocus Award. Congratulations!