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Ms. Donna Ritch, RN., EPC
Faculty Member
Whitby, ON
Ms. Ritch received her Nursing Diploma from Scarborough Regional School
of Nursing in 1971. She immediately accepted a position as
Staff Nurse & Assistant Head Nurse at the Centenary Hospital
where she remained until 1987.
Between the years of 1983 to 1987, while still employed at Centenary
Hospital, Donna was a Lecturer and a Trainer for Weight Watchers
International. This paved the way for her to receive her
Leader’s Training Certificate from Weight Watchers International
in 1988.
In 1987 she accepted a position with the Canada Life Insurance Company,
where she held the position of Special Projects Coordinator.
During that same year, Donna received a Wellness and Lifestyle
Management Honours Post Graduate Certificate from Centennial
College in Toronto, ON.
From 1987 to 1998, Ms. Ritch partnered with the Canadian Cancer Society,
where she was the Community Program Consultant, Health Promotion
Consultant, as well as a Workplace Education Nurse.
In 1998, Donna earned three credits of a Women’s Studies Diploma program
from Trent University in Peterborough ON.
Donna has also done consulting with the Victorian Order of Nurses, Durham
Region Branch from 1998 to 2003, where she was the Manager of
the Friendly Visitor Program.
Some of Donna’s other educational accomplishments are the attainment of
an Interchurch Health Ministries Diploma in Partnership with
Emmanuel College of Victoria University, U of T and a VON
Management 300 Certificate Course from the Victorian Order of
Nurses.
She is currently only two courses away from achieving her Bachelor Health
Sciences (Nursing) Degree from Charles Sturt University in
Australia.
In 2003, Donna started her own consulting business she called ironically
enough what we all will experience – “Change of Season.”
The strength and success of Change of Season rests with Donna’s
experience of being a registered nurse for more than thirty
years.
Much of her experience is in service to older adults, particularly those
living in their own homes who feel isolated and lonely. Donna's
nursing background in hospitals and in the home helped her
recognize the need for more home services for older adults. At
the same time she is ever mindful that the children of older
adults experience increasing stress in trying to meet the
conflicting needs of their parents and their children.
Change of Season was created to provide those non-medical and health
promotion services that improve well being and help elders
remain well in their own home.
Donna’s postgraduate background in health promotion has enabled her
to help people by providing the tools, resources and support
necessary to improve quality of life at every stage and season.
Through the use of Therapeutic Touch, Donna is able to assist clients
experiencing pain and needing assistance with improved quality
of sleep.
She is also invested in assisting the valued work of the Parish Nurse's
health and healing ministry. Her belief in the health of the
mind, body and spirit has lead Donna to become a member of
Westminster United Church's Health Cabinet.
The combination of Donna’s education, experience and most importantly her
passion for “OUR AGING SOCIETY” is the force that
propels Change of Season.
Ask Donna a question
e-mail Donna
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