With the December holidays quickly approaching, University Hospital of Northern B.C. was dealing with challenging staffing issues. This normally busy hospital was feeling increasingly stretched as the number of patients with COVID-19 continued to grow. In some departments, nurses were taking more shifts that they would have liked in order to keep up with demand. Many of them were in need of some time off to recharge and be with their families over the holidays.

“I know the feeling of not being included in a conversation”, says Allen Lee, a Medical Laboratory Technologist making big strides in furthering diversity and inclusivity efforts at Kelowna General Hospital’s (KGH) Laboratory. Allen immigrated to Canada when he was only 14 years old, encountering firsthand the many challenges of assimilating into a foreign culture.

Kamloops is a city known for year-round adventure, culture, a supportive community and a healthy lifestyle. It's also home to a brand new and state-of-the-art Patient Care Tower at Royal Inland Hospital set to open its doors in summer 2022.