This is part three in our three-part series that explores food literacy in schools in the Interior Health region. The Souper Meals lunch program not only inspires students to try new foods and connect with each other over a meal but benefits our local food systems as well. Across School District 83 and the Shuswap region, something simple is making a big difference at lunchtime: a warm bowl of soup. Souper Meals is a school lunch program where soup, made with local produce and meats, is served along with fruit, veggies and buns to students once a week free of charge. The program not only inspires students to try new foods and connect with peers over a shared meal, but it also invests in the local food system.

With decades of experience rooted in compassion and commitment to children’s health, Dr. Jeff Wong is carving a strong path for pediatric care at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) as the new head of the Pediatric Department. In this new role, Dr. Wong is focused on rebuilding trust and creating a sustainable, collaborative system. “I see my role as a facilitator and coach,” he says. “We are building a system where all team members are actively engaged, involved and feel their voices are heard. People may come and go, but the system, if well-designed, lasts.” His passion for pediatrics began early in his medical career. “I’ve always hoped to be a pediatrician since I first graduated,” he says. In the early part of his career and after completing medical school at the University of Hong Kong, he rotated through several specialties as part of his internship. “My first rotation was pediatrics, and it was amazing. I realized I could help young patients—even those who couldn’t fully express themselves. I felt I was gifted in that way, so I decided to pursue pediatrics as my career.” Taking a bold step, Dr. Wong applied exclusively to pediatric departments and secured a position in the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. There, he built an impressive career, specializing in pediatric respirology and critical-care medicine, establishing a lung-function laboratory, and mentoring staff. A long-held plan to move to Canada would eventually redirect his path. Dr Wong began his training over a decade ago in Canada as a clinical fellow at Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, including time in the Intensive care unit (ICU). “I really liked the culture and the people in Canada. My family and I always had a plan to come here,” he explains. In 2021, he accepted a pediatric position at Penticton Regional Hospital, where he spent three years before joining the pediatric respirology team at Dalhousie University in Halifax. But the Okanagan’s unique balance of quiet and community life continued to call to him. “My family really loves this region,” he says. Eventually, they returned to the British Columbia, where Dr. Wong initially provided locum respirology service at BC Children’s Hospital. It was during this time he was also picking up locum shifts at KGH and he became familiar with the local health care community. It helped shape his decision to become a full-time pediatrician at KGH. Personal challenge With his extensive experience, dedication and vision for a collaborative system, Dr. Wong is poised to lead Kelowna’s pediatric team toward a new chapter, one of reliability, excellence and renewed community trust. His motivation for taking on the challenging leadership role at Kelowna General Hospital is deeply personal. “I consider myself a member of the Okanagan region. My children live here, and I believe the kids here deserve excellent pediatric care. When I read about parents’ frustration during past service disruptions, it was heartbreaking. I wanted to step up and help create a system that allows our children—and their families—to receive consistent, high-quality care.” To the community, Dr. Wong offers a heartfelt message: “I’m sorry for the previous service disruption. We are building a strong team, together with many experienced community pediatricians, committed to providing the best pediatric care possible. I understand that trust is easy to lose and hard to rebuild—but we are determined to regain it.” Supporting each other is key, he explains. “Discussion between doctors and nursing staff often produces the best management plan for critically ill or complex patients.” Dr. Wong took his new role in September of 2025.

With the holiday season here, many of us will be gathering to celebrate with family and friends. Celebrations often include food and sometimes alcohol. While enjoying wine, beer and spirits can be a pleasurable part of holiday celebrations, drinking too much can have harmful consequences, both short and long-term.

Name: Niomi Wright (she/her/hers)Job Title: Care AideLength of Service: 18 yearsWorksite: Mountain View LodgeCommunity: LillooetAncestral Territory: St’at’imc Niomi Wright is a care aide at Mountain View Lodge located in Lillooet, B.C. on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the St’at’imc Nation where she was born, raised and still lives. After graduating high school, Niomi wasn’t sure what she wanted to do as a career. Initially, she thought she might pursue nursing. She decided to become a care aide first to get a feel for nursing to decide if it was the right long-term career choice. Little did she know that she would ultimately discover that her true calling was to be a care aide in long-term care at Interior Health (IH).

The holidays are a time for celebration, connection and making memories—not collisions. While many of us know the risks of drinking and driving, cannabis can also impair your ability to drive safely. One in four cannabis users admit to driving within four hours of consuming, even though THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, can affect you for six hours or longer.

A new program is helping patients like Tim Goode, who spent eight long months at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) after having a brain tumour removed in February. Following the surgery, Tim made it home for only a day before returning to KGH by ambulance and being diagnosed with meningitis. This resulted in a few mini strokes, which caused weakness in his left side and required extensive rehab. “I was right back in the hospital again for several weeks,” he notes. The tumour at that point had also grown back, requiring yet another surgery. He stayed at KGH until Nov. 15 when he was able to return to his acreage under the new Hospital at Home program. “It’s an awesome program that we didn’t know anything about,” says Tim, who is now stable and on the road to recovery in the comfort of his own home. “I’m doing pretty good. I’m mobile. I’ve got the use of my left hand back. Still a little bit weak on the left side, but good,” he says.

Name: Naomi Jensen (she/her/hers)Job Title: Executive Director, Quality & Patient SafetyLength of Service: 29 yearsWorksite: RegionalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: SecwépemcFavourite Quote / Advice to Live By: What’s most important to me—in work and in life—is leading with kindness, integrity and purpose. I am always reminded that even small actions can create meaningful impact, and that how we show up for others truly matters. Naomi Jensen, Executive Director, Quality & Patient Safety, lives in Kamloops on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Secwépemc Nation. Born and raised in 100 Mile House, Naomi began her career in health care during high school when she volunteered at the 100 Mile District Hospital. As a volunteer, Naomi was paired with a nurse whose compassion, skill and presence left a lasting impression. “The way she truly connected with her patients—listening deeply, making them laugh and supporting them through some of their most difficult moments—showed me what exceptional care looks like,” shares Naomi. It was in those early experiences that Naomi knew she wanted to be a nurse. For her, nursing has always been an honour and a privilege. She believes that people should be at the centre of their care, and that every interaction is an opportunity to make someone feel seen, respected and supported. Over the years, Naomi’s been inspired not only by the patients and families served, but also by the incredible teams she’s had the privilege to work alongside.

For liver transplant recipient Tony Maidment, going department by department at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) to drop off holiday goodies for the staff who helped him is cathartic. “To be able to see every one of these people in the face, eye to eye, and say ‘thank you’ means a whole world of difference,” says Tony, who volunteers to hand out treats every year. “Psychologically, I’m still dealing with the remorse and the guilt of receiving somebody else’s organ. Seeing the staff every single year helps a lot.” The delivery of holiday goodies by transplant recipients to Interior Health (IH) staff is what Operation Popcorn is all about.  It happens every December and is a way for transplant recipients to give back to the health-care staff that is often involved in the tragic side of organ donation. With Operation Popcorn, the staff can meet people who were given new life. Operating room staff await their Operation Popcorn treats.“It’s neat to see the recipients come and interact with the staff. Just the look on their faces when they can see that all the work they do means something,” says organ donation specialist Leah Chesney with BC Transplant. “The staff mostly work with organ donors, so to have that other perspective is amazing.” Tony and Abby Farnsworth, who received a heart transplant at four years old, delivered boxes of popcorn and chocolate treats to the emergency room, operation room, renal unit and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). “It’s very interesting to see the impact that we have, even working in the ICU,” says Royal Inland Hospital ICU manager Jared Macgowan. “We work with some of the most critically ill patients in the region. That can have an emotional and mental toll on a lot of our staff. “Working with BC Transplant, we see the very challenging, tragic outcomes, so it’s nice to see that there’s a silver lining and that there are lives saved that come from organ donation.” Staff in the emergency room at RIH were happy to receive treatments from Operation Popcorn.Abby is always happy to meet the staff, even if she doesn’t remember much from her heart transplant journey. “It’s always a happy time because everyone is so excited for the treats,” she notes. “But it’s more about giving back to the doctors and nurses and hospital staff and giving thanks and showing our appreciation for all their hard work.” Now 24, Abby is coming up on the twentieth anniversary of her transplant, while Tony is eight years past his. Tony says he feels physically good and uses Operation Popcorn to continue to heal mentally. “My [psychological] healing process is ongoing. I received my transplant and now I’m a healthy person. Physically I’m perfect, everything’s good. My blood levels, doctors are very happy with. Mentally, I do things like this to help with healing.” Tony and Abby encourage people to sign up as organ donors. The Organ Donor Registry is through BC Transplant.

One of the most vulnerable times in someone’s substance use journey can be when they leave a hospital. After an overdose or medical crisis, it can be easy for them to fall through the cracks without help and supports. Substance Use Connections, launched at Interior Health (IH) in 2019 in response to the toxic drug crisis, is a vital bridge between hospitals and community health services and supports. “The evidence is really clear: when you make a good connection with a person who has been in a hospital, their chances of success are much higher,” shares Deb Salverda, team lead for Substance Use Connections.