Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital.

Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 until 7 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Patients can access emergency care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time.

All other inpatient services will continue at South Okanagan General Hospital.

Name: Dr. Elena Karissa Schroeder (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Hospitalist
Length of Service: 5 years
Worksite: East Kootenay Regional Hospital
Community: Cranbrook
Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa
Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “Physicians go into medicine to help others. Physicians go into leadership with the same intentions—to help others.”

Your child’s first word is a delightful milestone and one that’s often recorded and long remembered.

But did you know before—and long after—baby’s first word there are a lot of other speech and language milestones your baby will reach? In the first year of life, babies have so much to tell you and are such good communicators, even if they’re not talking yet.

Not all children develop at the same pace, however. If your instincts are telling you something is amiss, listen to them and reach out to a speech-language pathologist at Interior Health (IH).

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.

Thousands of volunteers of all ages work alongside our staff across the Interior Health (IH) region. Volunteers complement the care provided by our professionals, and are welcomed, respected and valued members of the IH care team.

The incredible work, kindness and dedication of our volunteers make a huge difference in delivering outstanding care and positive experiences to the people we serve.

Breastfeeding and human milk are not only important for the health and well-being of babies, but for parents, families and communities.

While most parents can breastfeed newborns, many families face barriers and lack supports. These barriers may shorten how long a parent breastfeeds and contribute to lower breastfeeding rates.

Have the talks, reduce the risks

When we talk to teens about the importance of wearing a seatbelt, it's not because we are expecting a car crash. We do it because we want them to be as safe as possible.

Teens who understand how seatbelts can reduce the risk of injuries or death are not more likely to speed or drive dangerously. But they are more likely to take steps to be safe in a vehicle.

Just like we talk to teens about driving, it’s important to talk to teens about drugs and other substances, and how to reduce the risks.