Announcing the Beyond the Buzz 2.0 youth poster contest winners
4 minutes
Eight teens have been selected as winners for the 2025 Beyond the Buzz 2.0: Youth Voices on Substance Use poster contest.
Putting Patients First (PPF) 2026
When: Tuesday March 3, 2026 | All day
Who: All are welcome to attend, free of charge.
Where: Virtual. (The in-person in Vancouver is at capacity)
Putting Patients First (PPF) is an annual conference hosted by the BC SUPPORT Unit, part of Michael Smith Health Research BC.
Grand Forks doctor’s addiction medicine program making an impact
6 minutes
Dr. Mark Szynkaruk—known simply as Dr. Mark to his patients—is a family doctor based in the small town of Grand Forks. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s medical school, he came to the Kootenay Boundary region over a decade ago as part of the first cohort of UBC’s newly-launched rural family medicine residency. He was drawn to the variety of work that medicine in a small, rural town offers and knew early on he wanted to work in addiction medicine.
Why you should buy food only from approved vendors
3 minutes
Interior Health (IH) is reminding residents to protect themselves and their families by purchasing food only from approved food businesses.
In 2025, IH received 60 complaints about unapproved food vendors—a number that continues to rise.
More people are turning to home-based food businesses to earn extra income or test out a new business idea with minimal personal investment.
“Life is just getting more expensive,” notes IH Environmental Health Officer (EHO) Marion Masson. “Some people are selling food as a secondary source of income.”
Vernon Baby Talk - Communication
Baby Talk is a series of free, drop-in, parenting classes for those with infants 0-12 months. These groups are open to mothers, fathers, partners, guardians and grandparents. This is an opportunity to receive information, share experiences, ask questions and build connections.
This session is called Communication. Focusing on language and gestures. An interactive class where we will discuss the benefits of using gestures with infants and demonstrate easy techniques for successfully communicating with our babies.
Vernon Baby Talk - Infant Development
Baby Talk is a series of free, drop-in, parenting classes for those with infants 0-12 months. These groups are open to mothers, fathers, partners, guardians and grandparents. This is an opportunity to receive information, share experiences, ask questions and build connections.
This session is called Infant Development. An interactive presentation on what to look for and how to help your baby develop in their own unique way. Understand more about your babies social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development.
Vernon Baby Talk - Growing Up Cavity Free
Baby Talk is a series of free, drop-in, parenting classes for those with infants 0-12 months. These groups are open to mothers, fathers, partners, guardians and grandparents. This is an opportunity to receive information, share experiences, ask questions and build connections.
This session is called Growing Up Cavity Free. Learn about early childhood cavities and how to prevent them. Understand what dental behaviors may put your child at risk and recognize the early signs of decay.
We are IH: Policy specialist finds joy in her role
4 minutes
Name: Tineke Dineen (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Policy Specialist
Length of Service: 2 years
Why U.S. medical lab professionals are looking to work in Canada
4 minutes
Throughout her health-care career, Interior Health (IH) Laboratory Services Program Director Joanne Isber has worked in both Canada and the U.S.
Joanne started her career as a medical lab technologist (MLT) in Ontario, then moved to Georgia where she spent 15 years working as a clinical lab scientist. In 2008, she returned to Canada and joined IH Laboratory Services as a manager and professional practice lead.