The Intentions Of The Heather Winterstein Foundation
- Provides financial support to Indigenous Healing & Prevention programs
- Advocates for Indigenous Health Equity in Canada.
- Offers scholarships to support increase of Indigenous Nurses, Doctors and Pathologists.
Heather Winterstein’s family does not want her death to be in vain.
The young Indigenous woman collapsed and died in the emergency department at the Niagara Health System’s St. Catharines site in December 2021, after initially being sent home with an undiagnosed infection and painkillers. She was not examined.
After her death, an apology was issued and an inquest was called, but her family says change must happen in order for the health care system to do better.
That’s why they have established the Heather Winterstein Foundation with the Niagara Community Foundation, in the hope that health care providers can be trained and equipped to provide equity in Indigenous healthcare.
“All she needed was penicillin,” said Jill Lunn, Heather’s aunt. Instead, she was dismissed for having “social issues.
“If you are poor, if you are Indigenous, if you’re a woman — it’s not healthcare for us.”
Especially tragic is the fact that Heather was raised in a family of health care professionals, said Lunn. Heather’s mother, Francine Shimizu is a nurse. Her maternal grandfather, Dr. Arthur Shimizu, was a beloved and respected nephrology specialist and professor of clinical medicine at McMaster University who was instrumental in the establishment of a dialysis program in Niagara and who advocated for medical equality for Indigenous people. Lunn’s career is in Indigenous healthcare advocacy.
“We know that this should not happen to our colleagues, our loved ones, our communities,” Lunn said. “This is enough. She has to be the last one who dies this way.
“We are raising awareness. We intend to promote healthcare equity education and scholarships for Indigenous youth to enter the medical field.”
Heather’s fund was established with the help of a family friend and with the proceeds of a benefit concert held in St. Catharines in July 2024, by US rapper Jelly Roll.
“He heard Heather’s story and what struck him is that this was not historical. This happened in this day and age, and he couldn’t believe it,” Lunn said.
Heather was a gentle soul, who was trusting, caring and kind, said Francine Shimizu, Heather’s mother. She loved animals and children, and dreamed of carrying on the family tradition of a career in health care, planning to become a nurse like her mother.
“I told those around me to trust the healthcare system. I told my children ‘if you are sick, see a doctor. They will help you,” Francine said. “Yet my daughter suffered and she died unnecessarily.”
“She deserved to live. I hope Heather’s legacy will be the beginning of change.”