Thousands of volunteers of all ages work alongside our staff across the Interior Health (IH) region. Volunteers complement the care provided by our professionals, and are welcomed, respected and valued members of the IH care team. The incredible work, kindness and dedication of our volunteers make a huge difference in delivering outstanding care and positive experiences to the people we serve. Get to know some of the IH staff who help coordinate the dozens of volunteer programs around the region, and how volunteers are making a difference in the lives of clients, patients and staff.

Breastfeeding and human milk are not only important for the health and well-being of babies, but for parents, families and communities. While most parents can breastfeed newborns, many families face barriers and lack supports. These barriers may shorten how long a parent breastfeeds and contribute to lower breastfeeding rates.  

Have the talks, reduce the risks When we talk to teens about the importance of wearing a seatbelt, it's not because we are expecting a car crash. We do it because we want them to be as safe as possible. Teens who understand how seatbelts can reduce the risk of injuries or death are not more likely to speed or drive dangerously. But they are more likely to take steps to be safe in a vehicle. By the same token, it’s important to talk to teens about drugs and other substances, and how to reduce the risks.

Name: Lia Sambrielaz Job Title: Long-Term Care Coordinator Length of Service: 37 years Worksite: Cottonwoods Care Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: syilx Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “Never forget the difference you've made in other people’s lives.” Lia Sambrielaz wanted to help others from a young age. From when she was 12 years old to 17, she worked at Kelowna’s Cottonwoods Care Centre (a long-term care site) as a candy striper, an old term for young health-care volunteers who could be recognized by their red-and-white-striped uniforms. After completing her registered nurse (RN) training at Cariboo College in Kamloops (now Thompson Rivers University), she returned to Cottonwoods and worked as an RN for 23 years. She then spent time working at Kelowna General Hospital and Brookhaven Care Centre in Kelowna before returning to Cottonwoods, which she says felt like “being back at home.” “I have enjoyed working at Interior Health for almost 37 years,” Lia says. “I’m motivated to come to work by making a meaningful difference in others' lives. Every small act of kindness done for others does not go unnoticed.”

None of us knows what the future holds. But we can plan for it. Advance care planning is for everyone! It’s about thinking ahead, talking with those closest to you, and sharing what matters most—before a health crisis happens. Interior Health’s Advance Care Planning: Your Voice, Your Choice video series teaches about the purpose and importance of advance care planning (ACP) and why it gives peace of mind to you and your loved ones. The series presents different stories and experiences from individuals, family members and health-care providers and offers concrete ideas for you to create your own advance care plan. 

Access to healthy, affordable food is on many people’s minds as costs continue to rise. For communities across the Interior Health (IH) region—especially rural, remote and Indigenous communities—these challenges can be even greater. Yet these same communities continue to show strength, innovation and deep care for one another. Community Food Action Initiative (CFAI) is a health promotion program designed to improve food security by supporting community-led projects, such as community gardens, kitchens and food cooperatives. CFAI is a flexible funding initiative to support rural, remote and Indigenous partners’ food security priorities.

Name: Meghan Johnston (she/her/hers) Job Title: Integrated Crisis Response Team Length of Service: 15 years Worksite: Mental Health and Substance Use Access Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: syilx Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.” Meghan Johnston is a proud member of the Okanagan Indian Band and has lived on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the syilx Nation since 2002. “This land is not only where I live and work,” says Meghan. “It is home in every sense of the word.” To Meghan, reconciliation means Canadians being willing to learn—with an open heart and an open mind—about the truth of what happened to Indigenous people, and understanding the impacts that are still felt today. “This is very personal for me,” Meghan shares. “My family and my own life have been affected by intergenerational trauma and cultural genocide. Reconciliation isn’t just a word: it’s about education, compassion and accountability. It’s about learning to walk in each other’s shoes and building a future based on respect and understanding. I truly believe that through honest conversations and teaching, we can move forward in a better way.”

Jasmine Mingaud remembers the day she first started experiencing severe sciatic pain. She felt the sharp pain the minute she woke up that morning. Multiple scans and MRIs revealed she had a compressed disc that was most likely pinching her sciatic nerve. Jasmine was in and out of hospital—five times in one month—when the pain first cropped up. She says health-care professionals could not find the right combination of medication to ease her sciatic pain. At times she couldn’t get out of bed or get in and out of the shower. She also could no longer work at her job stocking shelves at a local store. “Nothing I tried helped,” says Jasmine. “They wanted me to go to physio. But because I couldn’t work, I had no income.” Her doctor then told her about the Central Okanagan Primary Care Network (PCN).

Behind every patient appointment, lab test and medical imaging test at Interior Health (IH) is a complex set of processes that must run smoothly to keep care moving. While much of this work happens out of sight, a small but mighty team is quietly transforming how that work gets done at IH.