My name is Michelle Downton, I am an experienced Registered Nurse with two decades of dedication to healthcare, education and advocacy. I graduated from the collaborative nursing degree program through SIAST and the University of Saskatchewan in 2004, and now teach student learners in the collaborative nursing degree program through SaskPolytech and the University of Regina, since 2019. I have cultivated a robust background in both front-line and leadership roles throughout my career. After years of bedside nursing, caring for the most vulnerable patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care unit, I became the NICU educator orientating new staff and was functioning in a Transport RN role with Saskatchewan Air Ambulance.
My next challenge came with taking on the role as manager of one of the busiest departments in the Regina General Hospital, the Labour and Birth department. I led this department, including their multi-million-dollar budget and hundreds of nurses for almost six years. During my tenure, I became familiar with navigating multiple collective bargaining unit’s contracts and navigating the interplay of healthcare, ethics and the legal framework we are work within. I focused deeply on the clients; the families who utilized our services, and the staff that were key to providing the highest quality care to these families of Southern Saskatchewan. I understand that the knowledge I acquired during my time in management and multiple leadership training programs gave me unique insights and make me exceptionally skilled to serve as your president.
I have been a faculty member in the Saskatchewan Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing (SCBScN), since 2019 teaching assessments, pediatrics and leadership in nursing. I have been a member of the SPFA bargaining committee since 2023. Through serving on this valuable committee, I have heard many members concerns and have advocated for meaningful changes to improve work life balance, streamline workflows and negotiating a compelling compensation package. A robust bargaining agreement allows us to retain and recruit ‘the best of the best’ for our students, and work towards defining our faculty as the leading educators in Saskatchewan.
In 2023, I further expanded my skillset by graduating from York University with a master’s degree in healthcare law- from Osgoode Hall Law School. I feel that electing me to serve on the Executive Council as President will provide you an ally to support you in your life both inside and outside the walls of Saskatchewan Polytechnic. I will be the advocate that you need and even the one you didn’t know that you had needed, listening to your concerns and taking them seriously. I have spent my professional career being an advocate for so many populations and I am excited to serve as your next president, advocating for our faculty.
