With the summer upon us and long weekends ahead, people are flocking to lakes, rivers, swimming pools and the ocean to cool off. The B.C. Interior is a popular vacation destination, which may account for why Shuswap and Okanagan Lakes are among the top three lakes in B.C. with the most drowning deaths. “Water activities like swimming and boating can be a lot of fun and a great way to cool down, but drowning is a danger we all need to think about," says Mike Adams, team lead with Interior Health's Healthy Communities team. “Drownings peak in the summer months, and can happen quickly and quietly, sometimes in less than a minute.” On average, 78 people die in B.C. each year from drowning. The most common reasons for drowning deaths from 2013 to 2023 were boating, falling into the water and swimming. During that same time period, people 19–29 years old accounted for 20 per cent of deaths, and 80 per cent of all people who died were male. Drowning is preventable. Here are four ways you can be water smart to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Name: Chantal-Michelle Holt (she/her/hers)Job Title: Administration Clerk/Medical Office AssistantLength of Service: 8.5 yearsWorksite: Barriere Health CentreCommunity: BarriereAncestral Territory: Secwepemc Chantal has called Secwepemc territory home her entire life. Her deep connection to the land and community has guided both her personal journey and career path. For Chantal, reconciliation means something beautifully simple and profound: “That no matter what colour our skin, gender or nationality, we all get along.” Chantal’s path to health care was shaped by a deep desire to help others through some of their hardest moments. After joining Interior Health as a housekeeper at Royal Inland Hospital, it didn’t take long for her determination and heart to shine through. Within her first year, she was asked to step into a supervisory role—a proud moment that would set the tone for what was to come. Driven by a dream to work closer to home, she began picking up every shift she could. “Sometimes I would sleep for a few hours in my car between doubles,” she recalls.

Foundations in the Interior region raise funds that support medical equipment, care needs, and innovative local initiatives in their communities. Each organization includes respected community leaders, volunteers and staff who are passionate about meeting the needs of patients and families in Interior Health. Thanks to the generosity of their supporters, we all have a stronger health system.  In this next story of our series on the incredible health-care and hospital foundations throughout our region, we interviewed Richard Bullen, the president of the South Cariboo Health Foundation.  

Fostering the next generation of home-grown health-care workers is at the heart of a successful volunteer and work experience partnership between staff at Lillooet Hospital & Health Centre and School District 74 (SD74). Thanks to the collaboration, several local Lillooet students got a closer look into health care as a profession this year. So far, they like what they see, with two grade 12 students enrolled into post-secondary schools this fall to become registered nurses.

Name: Nida Farooqui (she/her/hers) Job Title: Communications Consultant, Digital HealthLength of Service: 9 monthsWorksite: Kelowna Community Health & Services Centre (CHSC)Community: KelownaAncestral Territory: syilxFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." - Ralph Waldo Emerson Nida feels grateful to live on the ancestral territory of the syilx Nation where she has lived since June 2024, and from 2020 to 2023.  “To me, reconciliation means to be aware of and grateful for the Indigenous communities,” she says. “It's bringing my whole self to connect, listen and learn from the values and rich history rooted in Indigenous teachings.” Nida has always loved working with and supporting people—especially when it comes to their well-being. She believes two essential pieces that support one's well-being are education and health.  After spending close to a decade of her career dedicated to higher education, she felt compelled to explore health care and use her communications and storytelling skills at Interior Health (IH) as a new way to support people.   

People visit emergency departments (EDs) for any number of reasons. For those with alcohol use disorder (AUD) or other alcohol-related health issues, the staff in the ED can be their first, and only, contact with health care. Now, thanks to new resources, protocols, readily available medications and specialized training, those who arrive at an ED in the Interior Health region can get the help they need to change their relationship with alcohol.  

Name: Jade Chaboyer-KondraJob Title: Lead, Indigenous EngagementLength of Service: 7 yearsWorksite:  Work from home in syilx territory (West Kelowna)Community: West KelownaAncestral Territory: syilx If you ask Jade Chaboyer-Kondra what drives her, she’ll tell you it’s in building relationships with people who work to make a difference in their communities and Nations. That passion is evident in the skill, knowledge, insights and compassion she brings to her work every single day.  You may know Jade in her role as lead, Indigenous Engagement on our Indigenous Partnerships team, or as a former host of the IH’s Indigenous health and wellness podcast, Interior Voices. We connected with her to learn more about what inspires her, the meaningful experiences she’s had throughout her career, and her life outside of work (spoiler alert: you’ll see her wearing orange and blue during the NHL season).  

The Interior region is home to many local wineries, breweries, cideries and distilleries—but is also home to some of the highest drinking rates in the province. If you find yourself uncomfortable with your relationship to alcohol, we offer a detox program that can be done discreetly from your own home.

Starting your first nursing job can feel overwhelming: a whirlwind of new faces, routines and responsibilities, and the high-stakes reality of patient care. At Interior Health (IH), we recognize that the transition from student to professional nurse is one of the most pivotal—and challenging—moments in a nursing career. The New Graduate Nurse Transition Program (NGNTP) helps bridge the gap between academic learning and clinical practice, building new nurses' confidence and skills as they step into their roles. That’s why our regional educators are here to support new grads every step of the way.