Name: Tanya Chmilar (she/her/hers) Job Title: Registered Nurse/Registered Psychiatric Nurse Years of Service: 25 Worksite: Community Health Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan Advice 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 Kootenay Years of Service: 7 months Worksite: Rocky Mountain Lodge Community: Cranbrook Ancestral 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) Interior Years of Service: 17 Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Community: Kamloops Ancestral Territory: Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Favourite 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 RN Years of Service: 30 Worksite: Day-Break Adult Day Centre Community: Vernon Ancestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan / Okanagan Interior Salish Advice 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 Worker Years of Service: 11 Worksite: Boundary District Hospital Community: Grand Forks Ancestral 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.”

Name: Kelsey Madeira (she/her) Job Title: Long-term Care Aide Years of Service: 4.5 Worksite: Sunnybank Centre Community: Oliver Ancestral Territory: Syilx Advice to live by: Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody. “There is nothing quite like caring for your elders,” says long-term care aide Kelsey Madeira. “Being able to care for those who can't take care of themselves gives me so much pride.” Kelsey enjoys working at Sunnybank Centre in Oliver. “It is so homey and a great place to work,” she says. “All of my co-workers are absolutely amazing and we make a great team!”

Dooshima enjoying views of Okanagan Lake in the winter Name: Dooshima Jessica Iyorchir (she/her) Job Title: Student Data Analyst Years of Service: Two months Worksite: Community Health & Services Centre Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx Advice to live by: Keep moving forward. Dooshima has a natural belief that there is nothing she can’t accomplish.  Raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Dooshima graduated from high school at the age of 16, from university with an undergraduate degree at the age of 21, and is currently pursuing her post-graduate diploma for marketing and data analytics at Okanagan College at the age of 23. “My education and work have always advanced throughout my life. I have no intention of stopping here, but rather to continue climbing to greater heights.” Dooshima now lives in Kelowna and works as a Student Data Analyst at Interior Health. 

Lauren Knapton, recreation therapist at Cottonwoods Name: Lauren Knapton (she/her) Job Title: Recreation therapist Years of Service: Six months Worksite: Cottonwoods Care Facility Community: Kelowna Ancestral Territory: Syilx Advice to live by: "People may not remember exactly what you did or what you said but people will never forget how you made them feel." – Maya Angelou Recreation therapist Lauren Knapton is inspired by the moments of joy she and her colleagues share with people in their care.  “Nothing makes me happier than when I see a resident experience a true moment of joy – either during a recreation program, dancing with a staff member, or listening to music,” she says. “Those small moments are what makes this job so amazing.”

Name: Shelby Henry (she/her/hers) Job Title: Administrative Services Clerk, Rehabilitation Department Years of Service: 10 Worksite: Shuswap Lake General Hospital Community: Salmon Arm Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc Advice to live by: “If you want a rainbow, you have to put up with a little rain.” — Dolly Parton Born and raised in Salmon Arm, B.C., Shelby Henry describes herself as bubbly and an animal lover. At work, she’s highly organized and focused on colleagues and clients. “I love to help people. I firmly believe we are all put on this blue marble floating through space for a reason. I have just been lucky enough to find my calling: it is to help people. I try and make things better than how I found them. I work with an incredible group of people and it is a blast to know we make a difference every day doing what we love.”