Headwaters MCRT Nurses Recognized as Healthcare Rockstars

Two dedicated nurses from Headwaters Health Care Centre are being recognized for their compassion, expertise, and commitment to mental health care in the community.

Michelle Marr and Angela Armbrister have been named as recipients of the Healthcare Rockstar Award presented by Bayshore Broadcasting.

The Healthcare Rockstar Award aims to highlight health care professionals who have made a significant impact on the lives of patients and families. Award recipients are nominated by members of the community – often patients, families, or peers – who have experienced their work firsthand and wish to recognize the difference they make.

Both Michelle and Angela are members of the Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT), a collaborative program between Headwaters and Dufferin OPP. The team responds alongside police to crisis situations in the community, working to de-escalate incidents and support individuals in distress, with the goal of keeping people out of the emergency department whenever possible. Calls may involve mental health crises, addictions and substance use, suicide risk, sudden deaths, accidents, or family disputes.

Michelle, who is celebrating 20 years as a registered nurse at Headwaters, described the recognition as deeply meaningful.

“I was very humbled to receive the [Healthcare] Rockstar Award. It is nice to see we are getting the MCRT role out there, and more people in the community are recognizing it as a valued resource,” she said. “We meet people on the worst days of their lives, so knowing you make a difference and being recognized for it is truly heartwarming.”

Michelle attended Conestoga College to become a registered nurse, and roughly four years ago made the decision to change her career path within nursing. After spending 10 years in pediatrics, she made the decision to transition into mental health nursing.

“Seeing the need in our community for the mental health and addictions support over the years was rapidly increasing, leading me to change my career path,” Michelle explained. “Although a challenging role at times, it can be very rewarding.”

Angela joined Headwaters nearly four years ago, as part of a one-year pilot project to help launch the Mobile Crisis Response Team in partnership with Dufferin OPP.  She brings nearly four decades of mental health nursing experience to the MCRT role.

Angela graduated with a nursing diploma from Georgian College in 1988 and after graduation began her career at Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre, now known as Waypoint Centre for Mental Health Care. In 2010 she returned to school to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), formerly Ryerson University. After 35 years at Waypoint, she entered semi-retirement in 2022 and now works part-time with both Waypoint and Headwaters’ MCRT.

Like Michelle, Angela was surprised to learn she had been nominated for the award.

“I had no idea I’d been nominated,” she said. “As psych nurses, we aren’t ‘popular’ with patients so to be recognized in this way is incredible.”

Michelle and Angela were both nominated for the Healthcare Rockstar Award by Dufferin OPP PC James Giovannetti, who was instrumental in the development of the MCRT program.

This recognition of Michelle and Angela’s work is a testament to the vital role our Mobile Crisis Response Team plays in the community. We are proud to celebrate their work and grateful for the difference they continue to make when it matters most.