We Are IH: East Shore admin assistant enjoys ‘garden therapy’

December 15, 2022

Name: Kathy Smith (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Administrative Services
Years of Service: 15
Worksite: East Shore Community Health Centre
Community: East Shore/Crawford Bay and Surrounding Communities
Ancestral Territory: Kootenay/Ktunaxa
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: The best gift you can give someone is your time.

Kathy Smith was born in Edmonton. She lived in the towns of Calmar, Warburg and Whitecourt, Alta., before moving to Riondel, B.C. in 1999. Kathy considers herself “loyal to a fault at times” and likes to help people.

She believes this career chose her. “When asked if I wanted to work as a receptionist in a small clinic in Riondel for Dr. Savory, little did I know that it was so much more than just answering a phone and making appointments. I have been able to help people who have a hard time trying to navigate our ever-changing system. It has been a very huge learning curve for me, which I love.”

In this Story…

Learn more about her journey with IH

Explore Administrative Careers at IH

Learn more about her journey with IH

White-haired woman wearing glasses and a coat, leaning on railing of a ferry boat. — Kathy on the ferry to Nelson.

Not many people know that at one time, Kathy worked in the kitchen at a small hospital in Whitecourt, where she took her dietary aide course. She was also a showroom manager for a plumbing wholesale, which required a lot of people skills. On top of this, Kathy has delivered many speeches over the years, something she trained for through Toastmasters.

One of her favourite hobbies is gardening, or “garden therapy” as she likes to call it. She enjoys sewing, photography and spending as much time as she can with her five grandchildren.

Garden with large green leaves, trees, lawn, bird bath and feeder. — Kathy feels that gardening is therapy.

But when it comes to her career, Kathy is clear about her motivation and its rewards.

I will always be grateful for everything I have learned in this role and the great people I have been able to work with. In this organization, there are truly exceptional people who have a common goal, which is to help our patients.

-- Kathy Smith

Explore Administrative Careers at IH

Have you thought about an Administrative Career with IH?

Explore career opportunities

top employer

3 Minute Read

Community & Culture

We Are IH: Physiotherapist lives by principles he teaches

Glenn Charbonneau has always had a passion for human movement, but it wasn’t until an encounter that he felt compelled to get into physiotherapy.

/stories/we-are-ih-physiotherapist-lives-principles-he-teaches

5 Minute Read

Health & Wellness

Caregiving can be challenging — but “absolutely beautiful”

Elizabeth has been caring for her son Anakin his whole life, who was born at 22 weeks. She's a proud caregiver & wants to share her story with other caregivers.

/stories/caregiving-can-be-challenging-absolutely-beautiful

3 Minute Read

Health & Wellness

Cleaning a shed, attic, cabin or barn? Protect against hantavirus

Hantavirus is a rare but serious disease caused by inhaling hantaviruses in old rodent droppings or urine. Learn how to protect yourself while cleaning.

/stories/cleaning-shed-attic-cabin-or-barn-protect-against-hantavirus

4 Minute Read

Community & Culture, Health & Wellness

Where to get care: Getting extra help at home

There may come a time in life where there will be a need for extra help with living at home. A wide range of services are available to you through IH.

/stories/where-get-care-getting-extra-help-home

6 Minute Read

Health & Wellness

What’s in your kit? Packing emergency kits or grab-and-go bags

Your emergency kit should always include critical supplies like water, food, and a wind-up radio, but you can also add items that are unique to your situation.

/stories/whats-your-kit-packing-emergency-kits-or-grab-and-go-bags