Name: Mike Adams (he/him/his)Job Title: Team Leader, Healthy Community DevelopmentYears of Service: 30Worksite: Vernon Health Centre​​​​​​​Community: Head of Okanagan Lake, briefly known in time as VernonAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by:  “If you're not having fun and laughing, then it's time to move on.” “People. Helping people, supporting people, working with people.”   As an environmental health officer, Mike Adams’ passion is for making communities healthier places to live, learn, work and play. His goal is that everyone in the community has an equal opportunity to have the best life they want.

Name: Madison Waddington (she/her/hers)Job Title: Ultrasound TechnologistYears of Service: 10Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Secwepemc / Shuswap Interior SalishAdvice to live by: Live your life to the fullest; we are not guaranteed tomorrow. Madison Waddington is an outgoing, energetic ultrasound technologist. She works at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops, the city where she was born and raised. “I first got into the medical field because I was following in my dad’s footsteps to become an X-ray technician.”

Name: Chris Foley (he/him/his)Job Title: Workplace Health & Safety AdvisorYears of Service: 20Worksite: Commerce CourtCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: SyilxFavourite Quote: “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow! What a ride!’” — Hunter S. Thompson Workplace Health & Safety advisor Chris Foley is originally from Howell, Michigan. After marrying his Canadian wife, Jacquie, he moved to B.C. in 1993. They’ve lived in Summerland for the past 28 years, where they raised four amazing children. Chris has a fun-loving nature, and he’s always looking forward to the next adventure. When it comes to his job, Chris is hard-working and serious about helping others. “I started 20 years ago as a home support worker and care aide. Then, I worked as a rehab assistant because of the desire to help patients. Since I got the opportunity to join the Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) team, I’ve kept sight of the patient care piece, but focus more so on staff safety and well-being nowadays.”

Name: Brandy Martin (she/her/hers)Job Title: Central Functions Rehabilitation AssistantYears of Service: 25Worksite: Vernon Jubilee HospitalCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: SyilxAdvice to live by: You have to have a work-life balance. Brandy Martin, a central functions rehabilitation assistant, was born in Medicine Hat, Alta. She moved to Vernon, B.C., in 1987 and has been working at Interior Health for more than two decades. “As a health-care worker for the past 25 years, and a JOHSC [Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee] co-chair for the past year, I have come to really appreciate working with others that have a good work ethic and are willing to work collaboratively together to achieve the same goals.”

Name: Tanya Chmilar (she/her/hers)Job Title: Registered Nurse/Registered Psychiatric NurseYears of Service: 25Worksite: Community Health Services CentreCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by: Have fun and do your best. Maintain a work-life balance. Tanya Chmilar lives her motto every day — both at work and in her personal life: Have fun and do your best. After earning her Psychiatric Nursing Diploma in 1985, and her General Nursing Diploma in 1988, Tanya worked in Vernon, Kelowna and Cranbrook psychiatric inpatient units. She moved to Vancouver to complete her BScN from the University of British Columbia (UBC), then worked in emergency and short stay psychiatry at St. Paul’s Hospital and UBC.

Name: Jana Schulz (she/her/hers)Job Title: Regional Dementia Education Coordinator, East KootenayYears of Service: 7 monthsWorksite: Rocky Mountain LodgeCommunity: CranbrookAncestral Territory: Ktunaxa Nation Jana Schulz was born and raised in Cranbrook, B.C. In less than a year at Interior Health (IH), she has made a big impression as the Regional Dementia Education Coordinator for the East Kootenay, based at Rocky Mountain Lodge in Cranbrook. “She does a wonderful job, and is very much appreciated by her colleagues on the regional Seniors Mental Health team,” says her co-worker, Cherylynne Greenard-Smith. “Her courage to speak up and give recommendations for fair and culturally sensitive treatment of Indigenous Peoples is incredibly helpful to the work that we do, and also admirable and inspiring.”

Dr. Anders Ganstal enjoying his favourite winter activity - skiing Name: Dr. Anders Ganstal (he/him/his)Job Title: Emergency Physician, Clinical Assistant Professor for UBC Department of Emergency Medicine, Regional Medical Director for the British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) InteriorYears of Service: 17Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: Tk'emlúps te SecwépemcFavourite Quote/Advice to live by: Live for today, plan for tomorrow With the ultimate goal of improving patient care, Dr. Anders Ganstal leverages his local and regional leadership roles to advance large-scale health-care initiatives. Referencing one of his favourite sports, Anders shares, “Quality improvement is similar to mountain biking. When you look up to the top from the bottom, it’s quite overwhelming. It’s one step at a time; that’s how you get to the top of the mountain.”  For this physician leader, it’s the contribution of every single person and each incremental step in the right direction that help push a change initiative forward. 

Wanda (in the blue shirt) and her family Name: Wanda Handschuh (she/her/hers)Job Title: Health Services for Community Living (HSCL) Nursing, Clinical Educator RNYears of Service: 30Worksite: Day-Break Adult Day CentreCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan / Okanagan Interior SalishAdvice to live by: “If you are going through hell, just keep going,” and “Normal is only a setting on a dryer.” Wanda Handschuh has spent her entire life in British Columbia. Born in Dawson Creek, Wanda has also lived in Hudson Hope and Mica Creek, then Kamloops to complete school, study nursing and get married. After living in Revelstoke for a year with her husband, Darren (together for 34 years now), they moved to Vernon in 1991 and have never left.  Wanda enjoys supporting people with their health. Making people comfortable and sharing a laugh is important to her in her work. Currently a Clinical Educator in Health Services for Community Living (HSCL), Wanda enjoys meeting new people, and working with clients and their caregivers.  “Nursing has been a perfect fit for my personality and my passion. I look forward to continuing to learn about myself and others on this life journey.”

Celeste hiking at Idaho Peak in Sandon, B.C. Name: Celeste Hein (she/her/hers)Job Title: Patient Ambassador and Support WorkerYears of Service: 11Worksite: Boundary District HospitalCommunity: Grand ForksAncestral Territory: Syilx – Okanagan Interior Salish Celeste Hein was born and raised in Grand Forks, B.C., where she has been working as a Patient Ambassador and Support Worker at the Boundary District Hospital for 11 years. As an adventurous, outdoorsy person, she lives by the adage, “At the end of the day, your hair should be messy, your feet dirty and your eyes sparkling.”