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(PHOTO CREDIT – Kalen Jones) Clearwater leaders got together last summer to celebrate the resilience of their physicians. Front row (L-R):  Past Mayor John Harwood, Coun. Shelley Sim; Dr. Sandra Okezue; MP Frank Caputo; Yellowhead Community Services Vice Chair Shirley Frost; Coun. Barry Banford; Coun Lucy Taylor; Medical student Anmol Mattu; and Dr. Kayode Bamigboje; Back row (L-R):  CAO John Thomas; Obi Okezue; regional district director Carol Schaffer; Mayor Merlin Blackwell and Coun. Bill Haring. Between April and September 2022, Clearwater hospital was forced to close its emergency department almost 60 times due to emergency department RN staffing vacancies. But instead of finger pointing, people from multiple agencies talked together about how they could make a difference. And then they went to work. Interior Health, the District of Clearwater, individual health administrators, Clearwater mayor and council, community residents, hospital nursing and non-nursing staff, physicians, the Rural and Remote Division of Family Practice and the B.C. Nurses Union worked to find solutions to a complex problem. The end result – no closures since early September. Mayor Merlin Blackwell is proud of the united effort that went in to supporting Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital and its emergency department. “All of us are acting as recruiters and promoters of the community,” he said. The mayor spoke about the Clearwater situation to his peers at the Union of B.C. Municipalities, saying he believes the key was getting to know the people in the health-care system so conversations in a spirit of trust could take place.

The holiday season includes many cherished moments like festive light displays, classic carols on the radio, and visits with friends and family. But the holidays can also be mentally draining depending on your circumstance. Read on to learn 10 ways you can take care of yourself and your mental health this holiday season.  While the following tips can help, if you're experiencing prolonged mental health challenges, such as sleep or appetite issues, low mood, or problematic substance use, contact your primary care provider or local counsellor in your community, or call 310-MHSU to reach your local Mental Health and Substance Use centre within Interior Health.  If you are experiencing feelings of hopelessness and thoughts of self-harm, call the 24/7 Interior Crisis Line at 1-888-353-CARE (2273). This confidential and free service is available day and night, even on the holidays.  

The festive season is kicking into high gear. You're probably pulling out the ugly Christmas sweaters and preparing for holiday parties.  Whether the celebrations take you to a house party, the local bar, the office or a bonfire, take a minute to make sure you're prepared to party safely with these holiday season tips from our Harm Reduction “elves."

Name: Kathy Smith (she/her/hers) Job Title: Administrative Services Years of Service: 15 Worksite: East Shore Community Health Centre Community: East Shore/Crawford Bay and Surrounding Communities Ancestral Territory: Kootenay/Ktunaxa Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: The best gift you can give someone is your time. Kathy Smith was born in Edmonton. She lived in the towns of Calmar, Warburg and Whitecourt, Alta., before moving to Riondel, B.C. in 1999. Kathy considers herself “loyal to a fault at times” and likes to help people. She believes this career chose her. “When asked if I wanted to work as a receptionist in a small clinic in Riondel for Dr. Savory, little did I know that it was so much more than just answering a phone and making appointments. I have been able to help people who have a hard time trying to navigate our ever-changing system. It has been a very huge learning curve for me, which I love.”