Conversations started in October 2023 with Métis Nation BC (MNBC), Native Education College (NEC) and Interior Health (IH) and, in July 2024, the first MNBC NEC cohort, based in Kamloops, began their Health Career Access Program (HCAP) training; six people graduated as part of this cohort on March 28, 2025.
After graduation, these students had the option to work for IH in the role of health care assistant as part of their return of service, or to transfer their return of service to another employer or within their Indigenous community. Five of the six students were hired to IH long-term care facilities in Kamloops, and one of the grads chose to transfer their return of service to AgeCare Sun Rivers (Kamloops).
The graduation ceremony was small but welcoming, with heartfelt speeches from the new grads, their friends and family, MNBC, NEC, Taylor Munro, manager, clinical education (IH) and Bonnie Elliott, clinical recruitment specialist (IH). The graduation ceremony included a presentation of gifts and a delicious spread of food to commemorate the occasion.
The Health Career Access Program (HCAP) was announced in September 2020 by the province of British Columbia. It is a paid work and training initiative for compassionate, caring individuals seeking a career in health care. The program offers paid training to complete the Health Care Assistant Certificate.
