Leah Mandeville – Personal Support Worker Certificate – Class of 2021
When Leah Mandeville returned to school at Aurora College, she brought with her a deep sense of compassion, lived experience, and a desire to make a difference. Originally from Fort Resolution and now living in Yellowknife, Leah is Métis and a proud mother of three.
Her decision to enroll in the Personal Support Worker (PSW) program in 2020 came after a life-changing experience caring for her mother through terminal cancer.
“It was a very humbling experience,” she recalls.
“I felt honoured to help her on her journey, and I realized I wanted a career where I could truly help others.”
Through the online PSW program, Leah learned the skills she needed with strong support from instructors who brought real-world nursing experience into the classroom. “Anytime we had questions, they were there,” Leah says. The transition from virtual learning to hands-on labs and practicum placements was seamless—and meaningful.
“It didn’t feel like work. I felt like I was spending time with people I truly cared for.”
During her final clinical placement at Stanton Hospital’s Extended Care Unit, Leah built a bond with an elder who reminded her of the importance of laughter, understanding, and connection.
“We became close,” Leah recalls. “She told me people often thought she was too serious—but I got her.”
After graduation, Leah worked full-time in extended care before choosing to pursue a Personal Trainer diploma. Her long-term goal? To combine her healthcare background with physical wellness and return to the Northwest Territories to support her community in new ways.
Leah believes Personal Support Workers are essential in the North. “We are the fabric that helps hold the healthcare system together,” she says.
“We know the land, we know the people—and that connection means everything.”
