Celebrating Nurses Week: Cherisha’s Journey from Clinical Instructor to Inspiring Leader
May 13, 2025 | By Park Place Seniors Living |
In honour of Nurses Week, we’re shining a spotlight on one of the many dedicated and compassionate leaders who make our communities stronger every day. Cherisha, Site Leader and Director of Care at Copper Sky Seniors Community in Spruce Grove, exemplifies the heart, resilience, and leadership that define the nursing profession in Canada.
Nurses Week coincides with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. It’s a time to recognise the vital contributions nurses make to health care, from hospital units and community clinics to long-term and supportive living communities like Copper Sky. This week serves as a reminder of how much nurses do and why their stories deserve to be told.
From Unexpected Beginnings to Unshakable Purpose
Cherisha never expected to become a nurse. Like many in her home country of the Philippines, her career path was shaped by family and culture. Her older sister left nursing school, and her parents suggested she take her place. At the time, Cherisha didn’t see herself as particularly studious, but a background in community service through Girl Scouts and outreach programs had already planted the seed of care in her heart.
To her surprise, she was accepted into a highly competitive nursing program. She saw it not only as an opportunity to help others but also as a chance to travel the world. Nursing became her ticket. What began as a practical decision quickly grew into a calling.
Before moving to Canada, Cherisha spent four years as a clinical instructor at a university. In 2008, she relocated and took a position caring for veterans in a long-term care home. It was a new experience – caring for older adults wasn’t something she had encountered back home, where family typically looks after elders. But it felt natural.
Leading With Heart at Copper Sky
In 2019, Cherisha joined Copper Sky as Director of Care, just after Park Place Seniors Living acquired the site. Though she originally applied for an educator role, leadership felt like the right fit, despite having no formal management experience. “When you’ve been in the role of the employee, you see what kind of leader you want to be,” she says.
Her days are full and often unpredictable, involving everything from meetings with contractors and staff to corporate budgeting and crisis resolution. But it’s exactly that variety and the chance to make a difference every day that keeps her motivated.
One of her first major contributions came just months after she started. At the time, many of the residents were using wheelchairs and required more complex care – something Cherisha recognised was better suited to long-term care. Within three months, she had successfully transitioned 23 residents to more appropriate placements, improving outcomes for both residents and staff.
Her nursing background gives her a unique perspective in her leadership role. She advocates fiercely for resident independence and dignity. “Sometimes it’s undiagnosed pain that’s making them lose their independence,” she says. “We help them feel at home again, and that’s so important for their quality of life.”
Empowering the Next Generation
Cherisha has a message for young people considering nursing: “Get the exposure first. Volunteer, see if you have the heart to care for people.” She encouraged her daughter to volunteer as a screener during the pandemic because caring for others takes more than just the ability to memorise anatomy. “It’s not about the money,” she says. “You need a good heart for this work. That comes first.”
Having taught nursing students for four years, she remembers how some would faint at the sight of blood. “Better to find out sooner than later,” she laughs. But behind the humour is a deep respect for what it takes to become a nurse, and a commitment to mentoring others on that path.
A Leader Who Walks the Talk
As one of the only externally hired leaders when Park Place took over Copper Sky, Cherisha chose to take on on-call shifts so she could understand the full scope of the site’s needs and get to know the team. That decision earned her respect and helped her grow into the leader she is today, one who leads by example and never asks anyone to do something she wouldn’t do herself.
She empowers her team by stepping in. When a manager feels they can’t do something, she responds, “Let me show you how.” Over time, that mindset has helped shift the culture – empowering other managers to feel confident taking on new challenges, inspired by Cherisha’s example. With just six managers and over 200 employees, they run an operation that thrives on collaboration, trust, and shared purpose.
Outside of work, Cherisha stays grounded through salsa dancing, crafting, and gardening, most recently with a hydroponic machine for lettuce and herbs. Though she’s effectively on-call 24/7, she’s learned to set healthy boundaries and make time for joy.
A Humble Heart in a Small But Mighty Community
Though she has a long-term goal of joining an international outreach program in retirement, Cherisha says she loves where she is now and feels she’s exactly where she’s meant to be. The small-town setting, the tight-knit team, and the impact she sees every day have created something deeply meaningful.
“We don’t brag a lot,” she says. “But when people come here, they see that it just works. We’re a small team with big hearts and working hands.”
This Nurses Week, we celebrate Cherisha, and every nurse like her, who brings care, courage, and compassion to their communities. Thank you for all you do, Cherisha!
