In 2009, a group of nurses from the Philippines came to work in Manitoba. Among them was Theresa (Ihya) Galauran who settled in Virden and worked at the Virden Health Centre. Six years later, she started her own nursing agency, Elite Intellicare Staffing with her husband Leandro Ilagan, whom she had married that year.
Theresa was a tireless nurse, entrepreneur, wife and mother who had big plans for the future. She helped relocate nine family members, including four siblings, to Canada. Upon their arrival, she helped them establish their lives by finding work and places to live. Her siblings became nurses and worked with her at Elite Intellicare, a nursing agency that connects clients and families with healthcare professionals and certified healthcare workers.
Tragically, in 2018, while heading to work to cover for a co-worker, Theresa was involved in a fatal motor vehicle accident near Neepawa.
Each year, Elite Intellicare Staffing gives back to the communities where Theresa worked as a nurse or where her company provides nurses. This year Virden and Neepawa were chosen to receive $10,000 each. Recently, Leandro was in Virden and made the presentation to members of the Virden Health Auxiliary, assuring that this generous gift will stay in our community and benefit the people of our area. In conversation with Leandro, he told auxiliary members, “Ihya had fond memories of her time in Virden. She started her career here, so we wanted to give back in her memory.”
Submitted by Laura Wright, Virden Health Auxiliary
