In Pause for Wellness, people in the Interior Health community share their personal stories, journeys, and insights about health and well-being.

With the help of some amazing mental health professionals and a lot of reading, I’ve been learning about who I am and understanding my "authentic self".

Lately, I’ve been thinking more about why I don't always live and behave like that person. And I've started to understand that permission has been getting in my way.

Ktunaxa Nation cultural educator Jared Basil presents a drum to Interior Health’s Shannon Statham, at a Ktunaxa Nation drum ceremony at the newly opened Cranbrook urgent and primary care centre. A welcome to the building in Ktunaxa language is on the front door, the exterior sign, and other places in the facility.

For as long as he can remember, Jared Basil has loved to dance.

Every May long weekend, dressed in full regalia, he dances to the drums of the Lower Kootenay Band at its annual Yaqan Nukiy Pow Wow.

Our social media platforms are a great way to engage with our Interior Health community and share information. Check out these recent posts, and consider sharing them with your friends and family on your own social channels. 

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Last week, Interior Health began offering the paediatric COVID-19 vaccines to children age five to 11 in communities across the region. The response from families and communities has been positive and thousands of children in this age group have already booked appointments across B.C. 

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.

Name: Tracey Thoss 

Job Title: Administrative Services 

Years of Service: 3 Years

Worksite: Kamloops Mental Health and Substance Use

Community: Kamloops

Ancestral Territory: Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (TteS) territory

After working for 40 years in health care, and volunteering for a number of health-related organizations, Maria Klement knows both sides of health-care delivery.

“I remember what it’s like to be a health-care worker and trying to care for everyone – it can be hard to see the forest for the trees,” says Maria. “Meanwhile, patients and volunteers bring different ideas. They have a unique voice that complements the decision-making process.”

Charlotte is proud of her mixed heritage – her ancestors are Cree and Shuswap, as well as Japanese and Irish. As someone who is homeless herself, she is a fiery advocate for people without homes living in Kamloops. She is also passionate about her Indigenous culture and participates in traditional ceremonies with singing and dancing.

As fiercely independent as Charlotte is, she also has chronic health conditions including depression, social anxiety and HIV, and her journey has not been easy. 

Environment Canada has forecasted a strong winter storm in B.C. from Friday through to Sunday.

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Behind the scenes at a busy Kamloops hospital, support people, clinicians and doctors continue to work on improving care for patients by participating in simulation training for major medical procedures. 

This November, staff at Royal Inland Hospital spent a day in simulation training for systems improvement and training in the care of stroke patients. Participants included Emergency Department, Medical Imaging, switchboard, shift co-ordinators, physician leads and stroke patient care co-ordinators. 

Devon is a peer worker who provides overdose prevention and harm reduction supports to those living in shelters and supportive housing. As someone who had his own life saved at an overdose prevention site, he understands the value of these services and it’s important to him that others understand the facts.