Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital.
Emergency services will be unavailable from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 21, 2025. Patients can access emergency care at Penticton Regional Hospital in Penticton during this time.
All other inpatient services will continue at South Okanagan General Hospital.
Name: Xavier Gomes (he/him/his)
Job Title: Manager, Support Services, East Kootenay
Length of Service: 4 years
Worksite: East Kootenay Regional Hospital
Community: Cranbrook
Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa
100 Mile House and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at 100 Mile District General Hospital.
Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Patients can access care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital during this time.
All other inpatient services will continue at 100 Mile District General Hospital.
Behind a heavy metal door with an orange biohazard sign at Penticton Regional Hospital is laboratory services. Here—and at labs like this across Interior Health (IH)—dedicated professionals test and process patients’ blood, urine and tissue samples 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
People in Nelson and across the West Kootenay region are invited to have a sneak peek at the new Nelson Fairview Gardens on Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, from 1 to 2 p.m.
Hosted by Interior Health, the open house offers community members a first look at Nelson Fairview Gardens, the new long-term care building, before it officially opens to residents later in September. As well, Kootenay Kids Society will offer tours though the new childcare space, Fairview Early Learning Centre.
For nearly three decades, a small playroom in Cariboo Memorial Hospital’s (CMH) emergency department has been a sanctuary for children and families in crisis. Known as Avril’s Room, it was created in memory of eight-year-old Avril Chevigny, who passed away on May 25, 1996, after a courageous battle with lymphoma/leukemia.
Students at KLO Middle School in Kelowna are learning about growing food and the importance of caring for the land thanks to the addition of a modular farm on school grounds.
Name: Echo Porlier (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Rural Nurse Educator
Length of Service: 20 years
Worksite: Nicola Valley Hospital
Community: Thompson Cariboo region
Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc/Shuswap Interior Salish
Construction is beginning on a new and expanded long-term care facility in Cranbrook.
When complete, the new Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home will more than double the number of long-term beds at the home to help meet the growing needs of seniors in the region.
Trail Health Centre Laboratory services continue as Interior Health engages with community leaders to review service options in consultation with the Ministry of Health. A decision outlining the long-term model for laboratory services in Trail is expected in early 2026.
Outpatient laboratory services, including specimen collection, are currently available at:
