Natural Disaster Champions: Chilcotin adapted during wildfires

2 minutes

Mother Nature is glorious but fickle – we never know what she is going to hand us.

Folks in the Chilcotin are known to be resourceful and resilient, but our mettle was significantly tested during the massive firestorm of 2017, when three major complexes - the Plateau, Hanceville and West Chilcotin - burned 8,193 square kilometres. During the 2021 fire season, this area was under threat again as two significant wildfires at Big Stick Lake and Hotnarko Creek kept people living along the Highway 20 corridor on high alert.

Vernon Jubilee Hospital celebrates 125th anniversary of care

4 minutes

Interior Health is celebrating a significant milestone in the provision of medical care in the North Okanagan, as this year marks the 125th anniversary of Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH).

In 1897, the original “Cottage Hospital” opened in a house on 28th Avenue and health-care teams have provided treatment and care for people throughout the region ever since.

New evening and weekend clinics added to boost COVID-19 protection for kids 5-11 years old

2 minutes

Interior Health is adding new evening and weekend vaccine clinics to provide easy access for parents to get their kids vaccinated against COVID-19.

“Vaccines for children are safe and effective and I encourage all families to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19,” said Dr. Carol Fenton, medical health officer with Interior Health. “Our vaccine rates for children are lower than we’d like to see in some areas. Getting vaccinated now will help protect your children throughout summer activities.”

Kamloops project manager makes impact after life-threatening illness

5 minutes

Peter Renn, project manager with Interior Health Capital Planning & Projects, in front of the new Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.


When Peter Renn woke up from the second coma he had slipped into in two weeks, he was at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops, disoriented, scared and, according to his physician, near death.

A Kamloops resident, Peter had cirrhosis of the liver, brought on by a rare, inherited disease. Without a transplant, he was told he would likely die.