Name: Dr. Roseann Larstone (she/her/hers)Job Title: Corporate Director, Indigenous Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism EducationLength of Service: Five monthsWorksite:  Kelowna Community Health and Service CentreCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: syilx Dr. Roseann Larstone carries her work with both purpose and drive. Roseann lives in Armstrong and is based in  the Kelowna Community Health and Service Centre, where she serves as Corporate Director of Indigenous Cultural Safety and Anti-Racism Education within the Indigenous Partnerships portfolio. She’s deeply grounded in her values and identity as a member of the Métis Nation, and she honours the territory of the syilx Nation, where she lives, learns and works. For Roseann, acknowledging the land is an active reminder of the lived experiences, individual and collective responsibilities, and commitments to peoples and place that guide her.  “For me, reconciliation is grounded in respectful relationships, awareness and acceptance of the shared history of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in this country and working together toward a more just and equitable reality,” explains Roseann. Living within the colonial experience, she understands the ways in which interlocking systems bear down on Indigenous communities and families to influence lived realities. Her roots and cultural perspectives continue to shape the way she moves through the world. 

The fourth annual Interior Region Indigenous Food Forum (IRIFF) took place Oct. 22–23, 2025 in the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Ktunaxa Nation in the community of ʔaq̓am. More than 80 participants came to the event, and together, enjoyed two days of storytelling, networking, learning and connecting.   The IRIFF is an annual gathering that brings Indigenous community members together to discuss Indigenous food systems, traditional foods and medicines. It’s a collaborative event, guided by an advisory committee made up of community representatives from Ktunaxa communities.  Participants at the St. Eugene Pavilion.“The Food Forum is a community-driven and ever-evolving event,” says Kris Murray, corporate director of Indigenous Health & Wellness.  “It’s really a chance to talk about food and every part of Indigenous food systems—planting seeds, growing, harvesting, canning and food preservation. It’s also about the social and cultural aspects of foods and how they contribute to our health and wellness.”  “Themes like the impacts of the climate crisis and modern innovations that support traditional practices are woven into these conversations,” Kris adds. “I love seeing the faces that come back to this event year after year, and the community that this event has created.” Event planning is led by a steering committee with members from Interior Health and First Nations Health. The committee implements the vision of the advisory—from venue to speakers to menus.  IH staff are grateful to have had the chance to host past forums within syilx, Secwépemc and Tŝilhqot’in territories.   Sharing stories and knowledge This year, the forum opened with a Ktunaxa creation story shared by Joe Pierre—a story passed down through generations that speaks to the coming of the ʔaqⱡmaknik̓ (people). Day one began with community storytelling sessions from ʔaq̓am, ʔakisq̓nuk and yaqan nuʔkiy, exploring how food connects to culture, land, healing and wellness within Ktunaxa territory.  Attendees then engaged in presentations on Indigenous seed stewardship by Tiffany Traverse, an Indigenous researcher and seed steward. Tzvetelina Petkova and Dr. Amèlie Mathieu presented on chronic wasting disease, a progressive, fatal disease that affects deer, moose and elk.  Seeds at the trade table.The evening featured a community dinner, drumming and socializing, and opportunities to trade tables and swap seeds. Day two began with coffee around a cozy fire at the ʔaq̓am Arbour where participants listened to stories from communities about their experiences and the impacts present and past Food Forums have had. The Food Forum Sharing Circle was facilitated by Jill Worboys, public health dietitian. The stories shared were captured by graphic recording artist Darcy Roshau.  Action at the trade table.The event ended with space for reflection and continued dialogue, highlighting the networking and sharing that forms the foundation of this event. As Interior Health staff, we leave this year’s Indigenous Food Forum with a commitment to strengthen our accountability to reconciliation and actively drive change within the health system.

With the cooler months here, many of us are spending more time indoors. We keep doors and windows shut tight to keep the cold out and turn the heat on. We may be warm and cozy, but the combination of closed doors and windows, and higher indoor heat, may be drawing in more of a harmful gas: radon. A leading cause of lung cancer Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. And it’s the second-leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. In Canada, 16 per cent of lung cancer deaths are estimated to be caused by radon exposure, resulting in more than 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Importantly, radon exposure—and the risk of cancer—can be prevented. How do you know if you have radon levels in your home that exceed the Canadian Guideline? The only way to know for sure is to test. Here we’ve broken down the steps to test your home for radon and take action if needed.

We have launched a new event calendar on our website at https://www.interiorhealth.ca/event-calendar. Check out the calendar to view health-related events happening throughout the Interior region, from the Thompson Cariboo Shuswap to the East Kootenay, and everywhere in between.   Here are five reasons you'll want to bookmark IH's new event calendar.

Name: Ilka Stoyanova Chobanova (she/her/hers) Job Title: Registered Nurse, Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC)Length of Service: 18 years Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: My favourite word is “Today.” My favorite quote is by Maya Angelou: "Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better." My philosophy is to do the right thing when nobody is watching; it’s the definition of integrity and one of the pillars of my moral code.   When Ilka Chobanova immigrated to Canada in 2003, she didn’t know how to speak English. Three and a half years later, she started working as a registered nurse (RN) with Interior Health.  “I remember feeling quite stressed when I had to talk on the phone with my health-care colleagues,” says Ilka, who was an internationally educated RN and had worked in Bulgaria and Germany. “At one point, I wanted to create a ‘survival kit’ for the future internationally educated nurses.”  Nearly 20 years since her IH career began, Ilka has made a tremendous impact. She specializes in peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) nursing. She assists patients when IV access is needed for bloodwork, CT scans or even chemotherapy treatments.   She was a 2025 regional winner for Western Canada in the CVAA/BD Excellence in Vascular Access Management & Infusion Therapy Awards. The awards recognize the important contributions made in vascular access management and infusion therapy practice with a focus on peripheral IV therapy. It was the first time a team member from Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) has been recognized with the award. 

Grade 9 students from across the Southern Interior region joined Interior Health (IH) on Nov. 5 for Take Our Kids to Work Day 2025—and what a turnout it was! This year saw record participation with students exploring more than 30 departments in over 10 communities. From patient care to administration and everything in between, IH teams opened their doors to give students a hands-on look at the many exciting and meaningful careers in health care. Whether diving into skills workshops, shadowing staff, or getting a behind-the-scenes look at hospital operations, students enjoyed a day filled with discovery, inspiration and fun.

Name: Erica Lynn McDivittJob Title: Interim Clinical Educator for RadiologyLength of Service: 21 Years                      Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Tk’emlups te SecwepemcFavourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “When given the choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.” When Erica Lynn McDivitt entered the health-care field more than two decades ago, she wanted to help patients, and that’s still her main pursuit. However, her focus has switched from being a frontline worker to helping mentor the next generation of X-ray technologists. “Our job is very interesting. Having the privilege to share that knowledge and experience is what inspires me today,” says Erica. “I want to create positive experiences for not only patients but for my co-workers and the future generation of X-ray technologists.”

When Marianne Danzalan left the Philippines to start a new chapter in Canada, she carried with her not only her experience as a physiotherapist but also a dream: to continue helping people move, heal and live better lives. Five years later, that dream has become reality. In October, Marianne began her new role as a licensed physiotherapist with Interior Health (IH) at Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre in Merritt, B.C. It’s been a journey filled with determination, courage and countless hours of hard work.

Name: April Lee Anne Wright (she/her/hers)Job Title: Unit ClerkLength of Service: 11.5 yearsWorksite: West Chilcotin Health CentreCommunity: Tatla LakeAncestral Territory: Tŝilh qo t’inFavourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “We need to remember life doesn't need to be so complex. Stop, be present and find the joy in simply being able to walk in the splendor around us.” —April April Wright, a unit clerk at West Chilcotin Health Centre, loves being part of her small remote community. When she’s not in the clinic helping and caring for her fellow community members, she’s getting her hands dirty in her garden or exploring the forest with her dogs. “There is something so simple and soothing about being in the garden helping things grow, or walking in the forest in the winter with my dogs admiring the wonderful things nature has given us. It sets the world right for me.” April enjoys helping people, advocating for their needs, and being available during difficult times in their lives. She can offer them comfort and human connection in a community where services and access can be limited. “Living and working in a small remote town gives me a larger sense of purpose since the patients we're caring for aren't just patients: they’re friends, neighbours and people we love and spend time with. We are fortunate enough that we get to share their joys with them, and we are blessed to be able to offer them empathy and comfort on some of the most difficult days of their lives.”