Lac La Biche RARS

03/24/2026

Dr. Sanjay Shetty (Dr. Sanjay) has been with us in Lac La Biche for a while now, but many community members have not yet had an opportunity to meet him. Dr. Sanjay came to us when we had few doctors, and we are grateful that he chose us when we really needed him and thank him for carrying a heavy load when we were so short on doctors. He also was a welcoming presence and colleague when our newer doctors began arriving.

Originally from southern India, Dr. Sanjay did his post-graduate training in Internal Medicine and subsequently trained in Family Medicine. Most of his family members are doctors, including his father, and he was drawn to also study medicine, a noble profession.

Dr. Sanjay has had an interesting life, having worked as a consultant in Internal Medicine for over two decades in several countries like India, St. Lucia, the Bahamas, and the British overseas territory of Bermuda. While living in these island paradises, he learned to enjoy Reggae music, sailing and fishing, so Lac La Biche is a good fit although we are missing the year-round tropical weather.

After immigrating to Canada, Dr. Sanjay worked as a Clinical Assistant in Internal Medicine at Foothills Hospital, in Calgary. Not a fan of busy city life, Dr. Sanjay left Calgary to find a more peaceful lifestyle in Lac La Biche where rush hour is only three extra minutes stolen from the day. He was attracted by the beautiful landscape and the friendly people in Lac La Biche. We are glad that the Welcoming by Nature theme of our county spoke to him, and we hope he finds time to enjoy nature here in Lac La Biche.

Currently, Dr. Sanjay is designated as a Family Physician, and we are fortunate to have someone with experience in internal medicine. He splits his time between the Associated Medical Clinic, Emergency, and Acute Care in the William J. Cadzow Health Centre.

What are some interesting tidbits about Dr. Sanjay?

He has one daughter who is a software engineer, and she is working for a multinational company based in Boston. Dr. Sanjay has a traveller’s spirit, having spent time in St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman island, St Vincent, Martinique, BVI, Montego Bay in Jamaica, Puerto Rico, USA, Great Britain and Sri Lanka. It appears he is drawn to places with an abundance of water. He loves cooking, and he loves animals. Dr. Sanjay eats, lives, and breathes Cricket, and given an opportunity, loves to play Cricket.

When asked what a best day looks like to him, the response was, "We don't have a great day, we make it a great day.”

Dr. Sanjay, may your days in Lac La Biche be not only great but also rewarding, and may our abundant natural areas nestled by water be the balm that refreshes you.

03/18/2026

March 18 Dietitians’ Day in Canada
A big shout out to Shekina Mpiana.

Who are other local dietitians who deserve recognition?

03/15/2026

Who are our doctors and what are their specialties?

1. Dr. Dehlen -Emergency
2. Dr. Sanjay Shetty -Family Medicine (Dr. Sanjay )
3. Dr. Apelehin -Family Medicine and anesthesiologist
4. Dr. O. Kolawole -Family Medicine and Obstetrics
5. Dr. B. Kolawole -Family Medicine (female, Dr. B.)
6. Dr. Owonibi -Family Medicine and Obstetrics (Dr. Daniel)
7. Dr. M. Inojie -Family Medicine
8. Dr. O. Inojie -Family Medicine (female)
9. Dr. Adeniran -Family Medicine (Dr. Addy)
10. Dr. Serge Mpiana Family Medicine (speaks French)

Arriving mid-year:
11. Another female physician

Please ask friends to follow this group rather than sharing this post. This information is changing. The names, dates, any corrections, and the additional future training our physicians complete will be updated here along with new names, who is leaving, start dates, who is taking patients etc.

03/15/2026

Lac La Biche RARS is pleased to introduce Dr. Serge Mpiana who will begin seeing patients on Monday, March 16 at the Associated Medical Clinic in Lac La Biche.

Think of Dr. Mpiana as the Friendly Giant. His large stature implies football or basketball star, yet his gentle nature reveals a soft mannerism that small children will appreciate.

He may have formed his gentleness with children from being the second-born in a family of seven, and it also explains how he came to be so family-oriented. Growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dr. Mpiana learned French and Swahili. Later, as an adult practicing medicine in South Africa, he learned to speak Zulu, English, Tshiluba, and Lingala. Yes, you read correctly – 6 languages!

Dr. Mpiana kindly supplied the following introduction for us to share.

Prior to relocating to Canada with his family in October 2025, Dr. Mpiana practiced medicine in both the Congo and South Africa. His decision to establish his practice in Lac La Biche was influenced by the area's rural lifestyle, natural environment, and strong community ethos.

His wife, Shekina, a dietician whose registration is currently in progress, has noted that the robust community spirit in Lac La Biche resonates with their experiences in their home country. At present, her primary focus is on facilitating the family's integration into the new environment and completing the dietetics registration process.

The four family members recently experienced their inaugural Canadian winter, adapting to driving in snowy conditions and engaging in various winter activities. During a three-month period when Dr. Mpiana was away for an assessment, the local community provided invaluable support to Shekina and the children.

Upon initial arrival from South Africa, the family expressed profound gratitude for the warm reception. Members of the Lac La Biche welcome committee, the county, the college, and numerous community members provided assistance with transportation, accommodation, winter attire, and other essential provisions. This robust support network significantly facilitated their transition to small-town life, and sincere appreciation is extended to the entire community for this exceptional support.

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Our community extends a warm welcome to Dr. Mpiana and his family.

Dr. Mpiana, we trust that you will discover peace, support, and a fulfilling home here following your demanding workdays. You are now an integral part of our network.

Note: Neither RARS nor Doctor M. will see comments that are added to shared posts. Rather than sharing this post, encourage friends to follow https://www.facebook.com/llbrars where they can stay in the loop and know their responses are seen.

03/11/2026

March 11 marks Canadian-Women-Physicians Day, designated to honour women’s achievements in medicine. Today we celebrate and are grateful for the women physicians in our community:
Dr. Dehlen, Dr. B. Kolawole, Dr. O. Inojie, and doctors Anderson and Laubscheur who join them as practicing locums.
They nobly follow in the footsteps of Dr. Jennie Trout who became the first woman licensed to practice medicine in Canada on March 11, 1875.

If you happen to see these special ladies today, please wish them a Happy Canadian-Women-Physician Day, and if that is too much of a mouthful, how about “Happy Women-Doctors Day”!

03/08/2026

In honour of International Women’s Day, we celebrate, appreciate and are grateful for the many women in our community who are a vital part of the healthcare system in our area.

You work long hours, often under difficult situations, with patients and their familes who are not at their best. They are in pain, terrified, confused, hungry, vulnerable, not in their right minds . . . , yet you meet these challenges with grace & professionalism. You deserve our thanks.

We know not everyone says “thank you”. Some people are downright nasty. Sometimes you are not given respect or regard . . . because you are a woman . . . or young . . . or old . . . have less experience . . . or are from somewhere else . . . or are from here . . . .

But believe us when we say that, by far, the largest number of us are grateful and appreciate you.

We need you. You are vital. And if, at times, it seems you are taken for granted, please remember that you are held in the highest regard by the majority of us.

Happy International Women’s Day

03/05/2026

Dr. Owonibi started practicing at the Associated Medical Clinic about ten months ago, so some of you in Facebook Land have already met him. He smiles often, and his twinkling eyes tell us there is both humour and a bit of mischief in his nature. His quiet gentleness is balanced with an energetic spirit that seizes those moments that make life more interesting: yes, he’ll have an ice cream cone during work hours, go to the Santa Claus Parade, and drive on the frozen lake even though it is the craziest thing he has ever heard.

We think you are going to enjoy getting to know this new family. RARS is pleased to introduce Dr. Owonibi. Thank you for choosing Lac La Biche and us, Dr. Owonibi!

Hello!

I’m Dr. Temidayo Daniel Owonibi — a Family Physician who believes medicine works best when compassion, curiosity, and a little bit of laughter come together.

My journey began in Nigeria at Obafemi Awolowo University where I received my primary medical degree. I did post graduate training in Colleges of Medicine South Africa and Stellenbosch University in South Africa, where I completed a master’s degree. Along the way, I discovered a deep passion for Family Medicine, with a soft spot for obstetrics. I strongly believe in giving a pleasant experience for every doctor-patient relationship, even in difficult circumstances.

We lived in South Africa for over eight years before making the big move to Canada in December of 2024. These days, my greatest adventure is calling Lac La Biche home with my amazing wife, Victoria, a sociology graduate from Nigeria who has started a diploma in Early Learning and Child Care at Portage College, and with our two wonderful children, Paula and Daniel. We’re learning that small-town life means big hearts, friendly faces, and the occasional wave from someone you just met five minutes ago! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with open arms and hearts full of love which made this journey incredibly special.

When I’m not in the clinic, you’ll probably find me watching soccer like a devoted fan, playing the piano (sometimes impressively, sometimes enthusiastically!), reading, traveling, or chasing new ideas that spark curiosity. I’m also excited to embrace the great outdoors — and suspect the fish may soon learn to recognize me because in my free time, I enjoy walking by the lake.

As summer turned to winter, my family discovered a new way to embrace the great outdoors. Shortly after our arrival, we were introduced to Tobogganing, pure winter fun! For the first time in our existence we were launching down a snowy hill at full speed, with wind rushing past our faces, snow spraying everywhere, and for a few thrilling seconds, our hearts raced with pure delight.

There are more experiences yet to come on this new Canadian adventure. I’ll continue to embrace the outdoors, discovering things like riding a snowmobile at the Festival of Speed and look forward to meeting new people and building relationships at the clinic and hospital.

Healthcare is not just about treating illness but also about building connections, sharing smiles, and helping create a better world, one patient and one conversation at a time.

03/03/2026

Now that our clinic is bustling with doctors, how do you find one?

You can go to
https://search.cpsa.ca/ and type in "Lac La Biche". The search will pull up 2 pages of names. Keep in mind that some of the physicians listed there are no longer taking new patients, and some of them are locums who do not accept patients for on-going care.

You can also go to the "'Featured" section of this group where a post is pinned for reference. "Who are our doctors and what are their specialties?"

https://www.facebook.com/llbrars/posts/pfbid02sSvDdPuoGXGV9sv4ay6Cux2ERrReSJUrUUC823k12QxfkUTj4FFFd2MJSYB1rjrhl

A practice discipline is a branch of medicine in which a physician has specific training or experience, such as Family Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics, Psychiatry, etc. A physician is not a “specialist” unless indicated on their practice profile.

03/03/2026

Who are our doctors and what are their specialties?

1. Dr. Dehlen -Emergency
2. Dr. Sanjay Shetty -Family Medicine (Dr. Sanjay )
3. Dr. Apelehin -Family Medicine and anesthesiologist
4. Dr. O. Kolawole -Family Medicine and Obstetrics
5. Dr. B. Kolawole -Family Medicine (female, Dr. B.)
6. Dr. Owonibi -Family Medicine and Obstetrics (Dr. Daniel)
7. Dr. M. Inojie -Family Medicine
8. Dr. O. Inojie -Family Medicine (female)
9. Dr. Adeniran -Family Medicine (Dr. Addy)

Starting later this month:
10. Dr. Serge Mpiana Family Medicine (speaks French)

Arriving mid-year:
11. Another female physician

Please ask friends to follow this group rather than sharing this post. This information is changing. The names, dates, any corrections, and the additional future training our physicians complete will be updated here along with new names, who is leaving, start dates, who is taking patients etc.

02/23/2026

RARS is pleased to introduce our newest family physician: Dr. Okiemute Inojie.

When asked to tell us a little bit about herself, Dr. Inojie shared this beautifully-written biography that truly captures her essence.

"I grew up in Nigeria, raised with strong family values, deep faith, and a culture that emphasizes resilience, education, and community. From an early age, I was drawn to caring for others and knew I wanted a profession that would allow me to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

I went on to study medicine at Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria, where I developed not only my clinical foundation but also my passion for family-centered care. Today, I am a proud mother of two children who keep my life full, busy, and beautifully chaotic.

Being both a physician and a mum has shaped the way I practice medicine with empathy, patience, and a deep understanding of how much parents carry behind the scenes. I have a special place in my heart for newcomer families, mothers navigating change, and children who need a gentle voice and reassurance in the clinic.

My journey to Canada began in November 2023. The first shock was not cultural: it was temperature. It was -10 degrees, and I had never felt that kind of cold before. In those early days, I genuinely wanted to return to Nigeria. Everything felt new, quiet, and overwhelming. But with time, I adjusted. I learned how to layer clothing properly, about the strange Canadian habit of calling -10 “not that bad,” and about the quiet beauty of snowfall.

Behind the professional exterior, I am someone who laughs easily, feels deeply, and finds joy in simple things. I enjoy cooking and building small family traditions with my children. I sing in the car after clinic days, occasionally over-explain because I truly want people to understand their health, and still sometimes marvel at how snow can look magical and inconvenient at the same time.

My love story is one I still smile about. The first day I met my husband, he looked at me and said, “I want to marry you.” I assumed he was joking. He was not. What I first dismissed as bold humor turned out to be certainty. Our story, like many things in my life, began with surprise and unfolded beautifully."

Welcome to Lac La Biche, Dr. Inojie. We sincerely hope that your life story in Lac La Biche continues with more delightful surprises and unfolds beautifully to fill your life with meaningful and rewarding days. You have all the necessary ingredients: a kind and supportive husband, two very special children, dedicated colleagues, and a grateful community ready to embrace you and also lend support.

02/17/2026

Meet Sophie

Sophie Demefo is an international nurse working in Long-Term Care (Extended Care) at the William J. Cadzow Health Centre. She is originally from Cameroon but spent the last three years in Calgary before deciding to make Lac La Biche her home. We hope Sophie comes to enjoy and appreciate small-town life after living in a city.
A few interesting tidbits about Sophie: she has an 11-year-old daughter; Sophie speaks both French and English which probably comes in very handy working with the elderly at the hospital. And, in addition to her nursing degree, Sophie is working on a second degree and is registered as a student in the faculty of Education at the University of Alberta.
Welcome to Lac La Biche, Sophie, and thank you for the care you give our residents in Long-Term-Care.

01/26/2026

Want to get involved in this great initiative?
Our AGM is tonight!