Meet Leslie
Leslie Carson, RD MBA, is Manager of Nutrition and Food Services at Whitehorse General Hospital (WGH). Leslie brings 28 years of foodservice experience to the Nourish program. With a passion for local food and ‘farm to table’ initiatives, Leslie was recognized as an innovator and champion by the Ontario Greenbelt Fund and Foodservice and Hospitality magazine in 2011 for her efforts in incorporating local food into hospital menus. Since arriving in Whitehorse, Leslie has created partnerships with local producers and WGH’s First Nations Health program to offer local indigenous food to Yukon patients.
Yukon Hospital Corporation
The Yukon Hospital Corporation is a family of three acute care hospitals focused on delivering safe and excellent hospital care. Our community of more than 500 health care providers and support staff are committed to the best possible patient experience every time. Whitehorse General Hospital is Yukon’s primary acute care centre, while our facilities in Dawson City and Watson Lake allow many Yukon residents to receive care closer to home. Patients can expect three well-balanced and nutritious meals per day with snacks while staying at our hospitals – all on a budget of roughly $12.79 per patient, per day. In Whitehorse, our menu is changed daily to serve a variety of fresh foods, including special diets and traditional food for our First Nations patients.
Nourish Vision
My Nourish project of creating homemade bone broth for our patients on fluid diets supports the mandate of Nourish, while respecting the food traditions of our first nations’ people.
I have had a fortunate 30 year career where I seem to gravitate to organizations that share the same values as me. I do not foresee having any “systems push-back” with my project as I will engage the key stakeholders and work within the physical, financial and human resources of my department. Working on a project that directly benefits the patient/resident, while making foodservice employees and the Yukon Hospital Corporation feel proud about their contribution, is a “win-win” situation.
Serving traditional moose stew at the Yukon Hospital.
Nourish Updates
