Nothing about us without us
Join us and let’s work together to reduce harm and promote health and well-being for people who use substances.
- We welcome people living in the Interior Health region who have experience with drugs and/or alcohol in the present and/or the past
- We welcome all lifestyles, backgrounds, gender identities, cultures, and ethnicities
- We welcome people who identify as First Nations, Métis and Inuit
- We welcome people with personal experience or as loved ones
The more diversity we have among us, the more we can learn from each other.
You will be invited to take part in different projects to share your voice as the expert of your experience.
To take part, you will join a Zoom meeting for up to two hours with a small group of Peer Advisory Group members. We will ask you questions and together we will discuss topics such as improving harm reduction, stigma in healthcare settings, or substance use services and treatment.
Membership is flexible - take part when it makes sense for you. We will email you information about different projects as they come up over time. You can choose to take part in the ones that are meaningful to you and your experience and say no to the rest.
- An honorarium will be provided when you participate in an engagement session
- Complete the online application for the Interior Health Peer Advisory Group
This group is just like the Interior Health Peer Advisory Group, but is for youth aged 12-24 to be involved in projects and topics that impact youth.
- An honorarium will be provided when you participate in an engagement session
- Complete the online application for the Interior Health Youth Peer Advisory Group
We have a variety of honorarium-paid Peer Volunteer roles. These roles require a commitment. Most roles have a set schedule, but provide some flexibility and choice.
We offer both in person and virtual Peer Volunteer opportunities. Our in-person opportunities are in communities throughout the interior region such as Kelowna, Vernon, Penticton, Kamloops. Our virtual opportunities are regional roles where you connect through an internet connected device on Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
- We will email you about Peer Volunteer opportunities as they become available
- Honorariums will be provided for Peer Volunteer hours
There are two types of roles:
- Service Delivery Role: These roles help to deliver a specific substance use service or program. For example, welcoming people at an Overdose Prevention Site/OPS, connecting with people as part of a community outreach team, or co-facilitating a recovery group.
- Planning or Health Care System Improvement Role: These roles are usually part of a committee or project team that includes professionals and Peers to advise on strategies, policies, services and initiatives to improve health care. They are usually done by taking part in virtual meetings so are open to Peers living anywhere in the region who have an internet connected device.
Complete the online application for the Peer Volunteer opportunities.
Sahra joined IH just two months after graduating from Okanagan College, and has served in many roles with IH that led her to where she is today.
/stories/we-are-ih-recruitment-advisor-finds-purpose-growing-careers
Interior Health has non-judgmental drug checking services throughout the Interior region. Samples as small as a grain of rice can be tested.
/stories/stop-guessing-drug-checking-saves-lives
Lillooet Hospital holds a special place in Jessica McLellan's heart. A 3rd-generation resident of Lillooet, she has served as LDHF's chair since 2018.
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Righting wrongs gives Sharon a sense of purpose at work. There is no typical day in labour relations which makes the job exciting and a great fit for her.
/stories/we-are-ih-labour-relations-specialist-strengthens-relationships
Many of us embrace our 50s and 60s as an opportunity for adventure. Even if you’re feeling healthy now, it’s a good idea to plan your future health decisions.
/stories/six-ways-plan-age-related-health-decisions
Like many expectant moms, Emily Canzian attended prenatal classes and did a lot of preparing for her son Luca’s birth.
/stories/new-moms-journey-through-first-days-breastfeeding
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