Interior Health has begun to support the return of long-term care residents this weekend to the Vineyards Residence, located in Kelowna, and to Lakeview Lodge, located in West Kelowna, now that threat of wildfire associated with the Grouse Complex wildfire have been reduced.

Interior Health is working with our partners in the delivery of long-term care services to keep families of residents informed as repatriation planning progresses. Repatriation will occur gradually and carefully to ensure appropriate staffing and resources are in place when residents return to their homes.

Name: Stephanie Guss (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Rehabilitation Assistant
Years of Service:  11
Worksite:  Kelowna General Hospital
Community:  Kelowna
Ancestral Territory: Syilx
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: I try to live with the mindset to always be nice to others because you don't know what kind of battles they are dealing with.

Gord Portman walks down the gravel path in Penticton’s Marina Way Beach Park towards the waterfront. It’s a hot, muggy day, and people dot the adjacent beach despite the wildfire smoke that has rolled in.

“When I was homeless for 17 years, this was one of my favourite spots,” says Gord, pointing to a large, flat rock at the water’s edge. “I slept on this rock for three years. I used to come here to mourn loved ones I had lost to drugs, and to hide from my community and family.”

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH) due to limited physician availability.

From 2-5 a.m. on Aug. 22, emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital.

Communities across the Interior Health region are experiencing heavy impacts from wildfire smoke.

People with chronic conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes, as well as pregnant women, infants, and young children, are most affected by wildfire smoke.

The best way to protect your health from wildfire smoke is to reduce your exposure to smoke and seek cleaner air.

During smoky conditions:

As a result of a wildfire threat and evacuation alert in area, Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), Fraser Health and Interior Health (IH) have worked closely together to temporarily relocate residents of the Vineyards Residence assisted living and long-term care home in Kelowna to George Pearson Centre and Villa Cathay in Vancouver.