In the early years of life, particularly from birth to five years old, a child’s social and emotional development is just as vital as their physical growth. Early childhood experts say the years before kindergarten are a critical time that shapes how a child expresses feelings, manages stress, builds relationships and learns about themselves and others. “You know the famous saying ‘The early years last forever,’” says Interior Health’s (IH) Population Health program specialist Rhonda Tomaszewski. “That’s why we jumped on board to participate in the Feelings First program when the province approached us.” IH helps implement and deliver the program and its resources in this region.

Name: Sarah Pilar Dares (she/her/hers)Job Title: Clinical Operations ManagerLength of Service: 20 yearsWorksite:  Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Tk'emlups in Secwépemc Nation.Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: "People will forget what you said and what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel." —Maya Anjelou  For more than two decades, Kamloops has been home for Sarah Dares, who lives, works and provides care on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc Nation.   Since arriving to Kamloops in 2001, she has dedicated most of her nursing career to serving families within the area, and building relationships rooted in trust, humility and deep respect.  Her work has taken her across the region as a regional educator, supporting communities throughout Secwépemc, syilx/Okanagan, Nlaka’pamux, Ktunaxa, St’át’imc and Tsilhqot’in territories, an experience she describes as an honour and a privilege.  Born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, her family’s Tlingit roots and lived experiences have shaped her understanding of reconciliation in a profound way. She carries this with her every day.  “Several members of my family are Tlingit and have been directly affected by the intergenerational impacts of residential schools, racism and systemic inequities. Because of this, reconciliation is deeply personal and connected to the lived experiences of my family and community.”  Sarah adds reconciliation means listening deeply, honouring Indigenous knowledge, validating lived experiences, and fostering health-care environments where Indigenous families feel respected, safe and welcomed. “Reconciliation, to me, means creating space for truth, humility and meaningful change,” explains Sarah.    “It's an ongoing commitment to learning and meaningful relationship-building and doing everything in our power not to repeat history.” 

Experts say creating a community that supports people living with dementia creates safer spaces, ensuring people of all ages and abilities meet their needs close to home. The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates more than 1.7 million people in Canada are expected to be living with dementia by 2050. It’s about triple the roughly 600,000 Canadians currently living with the illness. Vernon, in particular, is a rapidly aging community with a median age of 49.2 years and a significant portion of its population (28 per cent) being over the age of 65. The City, in partnership with Interior Health and other community agencies, worked on creating the City’s Age and Dementia Community Plan to lay the groundwork for helping to create a more dementia-friendly community. “By helping to demonstrate that communities can make meaningful, tangible improvements for older adults and people living with dementia, we can create environments that benefit everyone,” says Janelle Rimell, a community health facilitator with IH.

For many patients, having access to news and entertainment can make a hospital stay feel less stressful and isolating. Interior Health (IH)’s Bring Your Own Device program encourages patients to bring their own smartphones, tablets or laptops to the hospital for entertainment and communication. Bedside TVs are no longer available. Bringing your own device gives you more control over your experience and a choice in how you stay connected and entertained. All our hospitals offer free, upgraded Wi‑Fi, so you can: Watch your usual streaming services Check your newsfeeds Play your favourite games Stay in touch with family and friends through messaging or social media If you plan to bring a device, don’t forget your charger and consider packing headphones for privacy. Packing thoughtfully and bringing the right items helps your admission go smoothy, gives you peace of mind, and lets you focus on rest and recovery.

Eight teens have been selected as winners for the 2025 Beyond the Buzz 2.0: Youth Voices on Substance Use poster contest.   Youth in Grades 6 to 12 living in the Interior Health region were invited to participate in the contest. Teen judges from the Interior Health YOUTHWISE Advisory Group evaluated and scored each poster based on a specific set of criteria in each theme category.  Rather than centering messages on the health risks associated with substance use, IH’s contest invites young people to take the lead in shaping the conversation. By elevating youth voices and their lived experiences, the initiative fuels authentic peer‑to‑peer communication that makes this contest for youth, by youth.  This year, the contest had four key themes:  Alcohol: Choices on Tap: Alcohol, Youth & Consequences   Tobacco: Tobacco Impact: Commercial Tobacco’s Environmental and Community Impacts*  Vape: Unmask the Vapour: Nicotine, Addiction & Hidden Dangers   Cannabis: Mind at Risk: Cannabis, Brain Development & Youth Well‑Being   *Commercial tobacco is not reflective of traditional, ceremonial, sacred and medicinal uses of raw tobacco by Indigenous and other cultures. 

Dr. Mark Szynkaruk—known simply as Dr. Mark to his patients—is a family doctor based in the small town of Grand Forks. A graduate of the University of Toronto’s medical school, he came to the Kootenay Boundary region over a decade ago as part of the first cohort of UBC’s newly-launched rural family medicine residency. He was drawn to the variety of work that medicine in a small, rural town offers and knew early on he wanted to work in addiction medicine. Today, his practice encompasses emergency, general medicine, long-term care, pediatrics, geriatrics and the addiction medicine program. In 2020, he was recognized with the patient-nominated My Family Doctor Award for the Interior Health region, one of five doctors recognized B.C.-wide. We chatted with Dr. Mark about how he became interested in addiction medicine, the changes he has seen since he launched the program, and what he wants people to know about addiction.

Interior Health (IH) is reminding residents to protect themselves and their families by purchasing food only from approved food businesses. In 2025, IH received 60 complaints about unapproved food vendors—a number that continues to rise. More people are turning to home-based food businesses to earn extra income or test out a new business idea with minimal personal investment. “Life is just getting more expensive,” notes IH Environmental Health Officer (EHO) Marion Masson. “Some people are selling food as a secondary source of income.”

Name: Tineke Dineen (she/her/hers) Job Title: Policy Specialist Length of Service: 2 years Worksite: Kelowna Community Health & Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: sylix   If you have a question about developing an Interior Health (IH) policy, reaching out to Tineke Dineen is a smart idea. Tineke was the first policy specialist hired at IH. For two-plus years, she has helped shape the role and organize many IH policies.  “I was excited to take the time to really learn about what needs the organization has for my position and what I should pursue to be of most use and value,” Tineke says. “Policy is such an interesting and unique area of the organization. I have the opportunity to review work that spans across all topic areas; I learn something new every day.   “I have always been interested in health,” she adds. "While I didn't always know what position I would end up in, or where my schooling would lead me, I have always been drawn to work that makes a positive impact on the health of individuals and communities.” 

Throughout her health-care career, Interior Health (IH) Laboratory Services Program Director Joanne Isber has worked in both Canada and the U.S. Joanne started her career as a medical lab technologist (MLT) in Ontario, then moved to Georgia where she spent 15 years working as a clinical lab scientist. In 2008, she returned to Canada and joined IH Laboratory Services as a manager and professional practice lead. Even after working and living for more than a decade in the U.S., Joanne knew she would eventually return to Canada. “When I thought about the long-term picture for me and my family, the decision to return home became clear,” she shares. From a career and professional standpoint, the advantages of working in Canada quickly add up. “The first thing that comes to mind is work-life balance which looks very different in Canada compared to the U.S.,” Joanne says. “The support for families, paid time off and long-term security, for example, really stands out once you experience it firsthand.” One of the biggest differences that Joanne points to is how time off works. In many U.S. roles, vacation, sick time, appointments and bereavement leave are often grouped into a single, limited bank of “time off” hours that can be quite limited. At IH, these are separate allocations, offering greater flexibility and more paid coverage for when life happens. “That alone can be a huge shift,” Joanne adds. “People are often surprised by how much flexibility they actually have here.” Joanne (foreground) enjoys some time on Arlington Lake.Family leave is another major draw for U.S.-trained medical lab professionals considering a move north. Canada’s generous maternity and parental leave options give families time to adjust, bond and plan, without the financial and emotional strain many health-care workers face elsewhere. At IH, parental leaves are even greater with the employer-paid parental leave top-ups available. MLTs at IH receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes extended health and wellness coverage, a defined benefit pension with employer-supported retirement contributions, and union representation through the Health Sciences Association. Early in a career, benefits like pensions and extended leave may not always be top of mind. But over time, they can make a very meaningful difference. “For many people, that pension is a game changer,” Joanne says. “It’s not something you always think about early in your career, but, especially in today’s economy, knowing you’ll have a reliable income waiting for you later can be incredibly reassuring.” A more streamlined pathway to working in Canada Recent regulatory changes have made it easier than ever for U.S.-trained MLTs to bring their skills and expertise to Canada. The Canadian Alliance of Medical Laboratory Professionals Regulators (CAMLPR) now offers a more streamlined certification pathway, including prior learning assessments, discipline-specific field-of-practice exams, and the option to complete exams by subject area rather than all at once. “These changes have removed barriers that used to delay certification,” Joanne explains. “There’s now a clearer, more streamlined pathway for lab professionals to have their qualifications recognized and start working in British Columbia sooner.” Medical lab technologist Justine TurchakAs IH continues to recruit medical laboratory professionals, filling these roles helps ensure diagnostic services run smoothly, turnaround times improve and patients across hospitals, emergency departments and community settings receive a timely, reliable diagnosis or treatment. Fully staffed teams also support healthier workloads and creates space for innovation and growth within teams. “When teams are supported and fully staffed, everything works better,” Joanne says. “People can focus on quality care, collaborate more easily, and continue improving how services are delivered—and that benefits everyone.” Beyond the role itself, IH offers something many professionals are looking for: the freedom to choose the community and lifestyle that fits them best within the IH region. Relocation support is also available to help make the move and ease the transition. Across the region, from large city centres to small towns, people enjoy strong community connections, shorter commutes and endless opportunities to explore lakes, mountains and four-season outdoor activities. The Southern Interior is truly a place where work fits into life, not the other way around. With easier pathways to certification, strong benefits for individuals and families, and communities ready to welcome new professionals, this is an exciting opportunity to imagine what comes next and where you want to build it. “Home is wherever you make it,” Joanne smiles. “And I feel very lucky to call the Southern Interior of B.C. my home.” Explore MLT opportunities at IH