We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Alicia Cardiff Worksite: Dr. Andrew Pavilion, Recreation Department, Summerland Years of Service: 1 Job Title: Recreation Therapy Assistant As a Recreational Therapist, it's more than helping clients strengthen their physical, social and cognitive capabilities. It's about engaging with clients and bringing a smile to their faces. To help us celebrate Recreational Therapist Month, Alicia, a Recreational Therapy Assistant with Dr. Andrew Pavilion in Summerland, shares her journey to finding her passion for helping others through her work. Alicia’s love for fitness ignited at the young age of 16, as she became a certified lifeguard and fitness instructor. Working in city pool facilities in the Okanagan, Vancouver and Nanaimo, Alicia gained first-hand experience in recreation. Inspired to learn more, she pursued a diploma in Recreation Service at Langara College followed by a Bachelor of Recreation in Nanaimo. Alicia was able to utilize her education and experience to pursue her passion of travel, as she taught backcountry safety awareness for BC Search and Rescue throughout the province. When she wasn’t touring BC, she was travelling the world, including a period of her life living in Ireland. Upon accepting the position of Recreation Therapy Coordinator at Sun Point Village in 2006, Alicia brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to long-term care for Baptist Housing. Eager to expand her knowledge, she furthered her education at the University of Calgary in the Community Rehab Program. This highlighted her passion for seniors, including a focus on fall prevention and becoming a certified senior’s fitness instructor and personal trainer. Passionate about engaging with those with dementia in meaningful activation to help minimize their responsive behaviours, Alicia’s next career goal is to become a certified dementia care consultant. This would allow her to offer education to people in long-term care, their family, and staff, helping others provide the best possible care. Alicia took a step back from work to focus on starting her family with her husband in Peachland, where she was also born and raised. Now that her two boys are 5 and 6 years old, Alicia wanted to return to work close to home. Intrigued by the smaller size facility with more one-on-one time, she accepted a casual position at Interior Health with Dr. Andrew Pavilion. The love that Alicia has for her job is admirable, as she notes that if she won the lottery she would still love to continue her work. Grateful to have the opportunity to help others, Alicia brings a positive outlook to her work and life. Located in the Okanagan, Alicia is able to continue to pursue her outdoor lifestyle, with 27 years of snowboarding under her belt, a passion for hiking, training for triathlons and tending to her ever-growing garden. Her energetic personality and sense of humour brings life to everyone around her. Thank you for all that you do! Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook: Interior Health  |   Instagram: interiorhealthbc |   LinkedIn: Interior Health Authority

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Kim Forsyth Worksite: Kelowna General Hospital Years of Service: 11 Job Title: Clinical Practice Educator for Post-Anesthesia Recovery Room Quote: "Nothing can dim the light that shines from within" - Maya Angelou. As the first face they see as they awaken from surgery, patients are greeted with Kim's warm and welcoming smile. Her kind demeanour puts people at ease as she guides them through the post-anesthesia recovery. “Post-anesthesia recovery is a unique part of a patient’s journey that not many people get to see. When my patients first wake up, it is a sense of relief, happiness, and positivity. It’s the first step of the recovery phase.” - Kim Forsyth, Clinical Practice Leader for PeriAnesthesia Recovery, Kelowna General Hospital To help us celebrate PeriAnesthesia Nurses Week, Kim reminiscences on her journey to finding what she calls her "happy place" in the Post-Anesthesia Recovery room. Working at Kelowna General Hospital for over 11 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role overseeing and assisting with the education of all staff in the Post-Anesthesia Recovery department. Her enthusiastic personality shines through her work as she inspires her team to have fun as they learn with an interactive approach, such as the beloved game of Jeopardy. Kim's proudest moment at Interior Health is advancing to her long-time career aspiration of being a clinical practice educator for PeriAnestheisa Recovery. Young Kim was always lending a helping hand, caring for others and playing nurse with her friends and family. At a young age, she knew that she wanted to pursue her passion for helping and teaching others, but she wasn't quite sure if that was as a teacher or a nurse. During a presentation by a group of nurses on health-care careers at her school in Grade 9, a lightbulb went on and Kim knew that becoming a nurse was the career she wanted to pursue. As her career developed, she found a niche as a clinical practice educator where she could blend her two passions; nursing and teaching. Growing up very close with her family in Kelowna, she wanted to stay in close proximity as she pursued her Bachelor of Science as a Registered Nurse at the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus.  Eager to put her education into practice, she pursued a career at Interior Health working in the Intensive Care Unit at Kelowna General Hospital as a Critical Care Nurse. Following her curiosity in the vast field of nursing, she felt a sense of excitement as she rolled her patients into the PostAnesthesia recovery room. Her interest was sparked further as her friendly co-worker welcomed Kim with a short tour and explanation of the wonderful world of PostAnesthesia Recovery. With the support of her family, co-workers, and management, she followed her curiosity and found her "happy place" in the PostAnesthesia Recovery room. "Follow your curiosity, learn what you are passionate about, find what inspires you and take the leap! There are so many career opportunities out there and you can find one that you love." - Kim Forsyth, Clinical Practice Leader for PeriAnesthesia Recovery, Kelowna General Hospital As the COVID-19 pandemic brought a lot of change, it affected Kim both personally and professionally. As a leader, she adjusted and guided her team through these changes in the workplace to ensure a safe experience for all. With perseverance and a positive attitude, Kim has helped navigate her team throughout the ongoing pandemic, but she is looking forward to it being over. The pandemic created another shift in her personal life as she found another passion of hers. With new restrictions in place, she was unable to catch up with a friend over lunch, so they decided to find a new way to connect while snowshoeing. Her love of the outdoors grew as she discovered the world of snowshoeing while taking in the scenic views of the Okanagan. When Kim isn’t teaching others, making her patients smile, or snowshoeing on mountain tops, you can find her cozy at home, quilting. Inspired by her mom's hobby as a quilter, they bonded over this creative hobby creating memories and quilts. Kim believes happiness, positivity, and perseverance are essential to everyday life. Kim applies the determined, ambitious, and positive connotation of this quote to all aspects of her life and job: work hard, be kind and always help others along the way. Thank you for sharing your story and celebrating PeriAnestheisa Nurses week with us. The work you do is incredible and we are so grateful! Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Christie Cornell Message: Christie was the kind and welcoming nurse working in the PostAnesthesia Recovery room the day I realized how I wanted to advance my career. I credit where I am now to her! For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Stay updated with careers at Interior Health Facebook  |   Instagram  |   LinkedIn  

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Dr. Johann Schreve Worksite: Vernon Jubilee Hospital, Okanagan / Sylix Nation Years of Service: 5 Job Title: Hospitalist Quote: "Seize the day, carpe diem" Dr. Schreve's positive outlook on life, innovative mindset, curiosity, and passion to fix the world started at a young age. His all-encompassing adoration to help others was inspired by his father, an accomplished and respected medical doctor. Growing up in a small farm community in Ceres, South Africa, it was instilled in Dr. Schreve to support and take care of your community. He has put helping others at the forefront of his life and throughout his career. With a genuine interest in people and understanding their problems, he takes the time to listen to his patients and provide valuable guidance that allows them to positively change their life. Originally passionate about psychology, Dr. Schreve integrated his passion for mental health into his practice as a medical doctor. This personable perspective has lead to many innovative advances in his work and the communities he has served. Passionate about technology, efficient tools, and processes, Dr. Schreve's creative and divergent thought methods have led to many technological advances in the medical field. As an integral member of the Patient Quality Improvement (PQI) Initiative, he combines his love of helping people and technology to streamline electronic documentation for medical records. This initiative is creating a standard for medical professionals to lead quality improvement projects and enhances the delivery of quality patient care. One of his proudest moments at Interior Health was being recognized for thinking differently by the Chief Information Medical Officer and Vice President, Mike Ertel, for his innovative approach to documenting patient information enhancing patient care. Born in Windhoek, Namibia, his family relocated to Ceres, South Africa, and he was raised in a tight-knit community, where everyone knew each other. His great love story began in Grade 1 when he met the love of his life. Their friendship evolved over the years into a romance at the age of 17. Fast forward to today, they have built a life of their own and extended their family to four kids under the age of 12. After moving his family to Canada in 2013, first to Chetwynd, B.C., followed by Williams Lake, they have now put down roots in Vernon, where they are close to their family. Living in Vernon in the Okanagan fondly reminds him of Stellenbosch, South Africa, also located in wine country, where the people are enthusiastic about leading a fulfilling life. As a nature lover, he recently has taken up cross-country skiing, where the whole family can explore the beautiful outdoors together. He is looking forward to taking his above-average golf game to the course where he can connect with his friends and colleagues. Understanding the importance of physical activity, getting out in nature, and taking time for yourself, he practices what he preaches. The four-season lifestyle in the Okanagan allows him the opportunity for work-life balance and a place where his children are receiving exceptional education. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Schreve is reminded of his time responding to the HIV/TB pandemic in South Africa. He is proud to be a part of Interior Health, which he believes is doing a remarkable job managing public health and keeping hospitals open to the public. The pandemic has created a shift in care to a virtual approach, where it has created ease of access to care for his patients. The reach for care has extended to outlying communities allowing him to effectively reach and help more people. A positive outcome of the pandemic is moving virtual care forward and inspiring Dr. Schreve to embark on a new journey. Joined by the University of British Columbia community of Individualized Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition, he is working towards diabetes prevention, alongside approximately 3,000 international members who are communicating on the reversal of diabetes. His own lifestyle practice Afya Wellness launches in April of this year to bring an interactive approach to internal medicine encouraging patients to lead a healthy lifestyle for diabetes management or reversal. In alignment with his inspiration to become a medical doctor, this new venture allows him to work within his passion of helping people change their lifestyles. Dr. Schreve's funny, kind and caring personality has a positive impact on both his patients and colleagues at Vernon Jubilee Hospital and across Interior Health. We are incredibly fortunate to have the experience, expertise and dedication of Dr. Schreve on our team, providing exceptional patient care. Thank you for all that you do for our communities, Dr. Schreve! Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Dr. Travis Allen Message:  "Dr. Travis Allen does a lot for our service. He is a visionary, a true leader, who brings people together. He inspired me to move to Vernon. He creates a positive culture in the hospital." For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Cindy Crawford Worksite: Trinity Care Centre, Penticton, Okanagan / Sylix Nation Years of Service: 7 Job Title: Nursing Assistant Quote: "We all have things going on in life - be kind." Passionate, ambitious, and humorous perfectly describe Cindy. Living by her motto “life is too short to not enjoy as much of it as you can,” Cindy appreciates travelling and adores time spent with her adorable dog, Malachi (Mal-a-k-eye). Longing for an occupation full of excitement, service, and fulfilment, Cindy decided to begin a new career endeavour in health care. She began as a support staff worker at Fraser Health, working within housekeeping and dietary. Eager to advance her career and implement necessary changes for patients, Cindy was determined to go back to school to become a Nursing Assistant. In 2008, Cindy relocated to Penticton to begin her education as a Health Care Aide at Sprott Shaw College. While attending school, Cindy worked within the Housekeeping department at the Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH). She was overjoyed when she was accepted into the Activity Assistant program last year at the College of the Rockies, graduating this year. Her admirable work ethic and compassionate nature has been prominent throughout her entire career. From day one, Cindy’s daily objective has remained the same: “I show up to work to seek the ability to make someone smile and laugh for another day.” Her co-workers appreciate her positive outlook and fun attitude that brings so much joy to the workplace. A monumental career moment for Cindy was when she was offered the opportunity to become a facilitator for Provincial Violence Prevention. Shortly after, she received training to facilitate the Safe Patient Handling course. Cindy proudly states, “it is an honour to be able to assist my co-workers to be safe,” a true testament to her genuine character. Cindy has held the position as co-chair on the Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee for six years at Trinity Care Centre and takes great pride in being part of the team that keeps our workplace safe. Cindy has been taking care of her father since her mother passed away, and finds pleasure in providing a safe space for each one of our patients. Truly a selfless, considerate and generous individual. Thank you for all that you do Cindy, IH and Malachi appreciate you, so much! Cindy with co-worker, Cheri at Trinity Care Centre in Penticton Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Cheri Scroggi Message: "She is very kind and cares, not only about her residents but also her co-workers." For more information, contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Jessica Reimer Worksite: Kelowna Health Services, Okanagan / Sylix Nation Years of Service: 2 Job Title: Career Marketing Assistant Quote: "You can't buy back your time, be present." There is something special about Jessica. Many recognize her by her beautiful bright white smile, warm demeanour, bubbly personality, and fun attitude. Her positively infectious energy radiates through the Kelowna Health Services building when she is around. Regularly cheerleading her co-workers on, Jess provides a creative insight into problem-solving and creating meaningful ways to attract, retain, and recognize Interior Health's employees. Jessica Reimer with Manager, Lauren Hristoski, at Interior Health photoshoot Jessica's strong work ethic, desire to succeed, and positive outlook have greatly contributed to her career development from a Recruitment Service Partner to her current role as a Career Marketing Assistant. Working alongside many departments such as Employee and Physician Recruitment, Employee Experience and Communications, Jessica aligns the goals of the organization to execute engaging, meaningful, and effective marketing strategies. Born in a small farm town outside of Vancouver called Agassiz, Jess was raised with her younger sister and close to her family to be the incredible person she has become today. She began to build a life for herself in Kelowna after moving to the city in Grade 11 and graduating from the Okanagan College with her Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Human Resources Management. The education she received and the work experience she gained during these years greatly contributed to her successful career at Interior Health. Jessica Reimer at Okanagan College graduation with fellow Interior Health employee Ryan Lazauskas (right) Inspired to make a positive impact in the lives of others, Jess has created a career path that allows her to use her creative design abilities and outgoing personality to connect with others on a personal level. A proud moment for Jessica was during a video interview at Kelowna General Hospital with a Medical Lab Technologist, Mussarat, where they bonded over his life experience. Born and raised in Pakistan, Mussarat taught Jessica a few Arabic phrases and shared his journey to Interior Health. Both Mussarat and Jessica felt grateful for this special experience that moved Jessica to tears, knowing that one person and one story can be so impactful and unique. It's moments like these that confirm to Jess that she is on the right career path. You may also recognize Jessica for her In Focus article in Kelowna Now where she opens up more about her personal and professional life. Like many, Jessica's plans changed in 2020 with the global pandemic. After over a decade with her husband, Brad, they had planned a backpacking trip across Europe for six weeks. Unable to travel, they created new plans, starting their family. Currently awaiting her first child in February, Jess will be starting a very new exciting adventure. Congratulations, Jessica and Brad! Jessica Reimer snowshoeing at Big White Mountain, Kelowna An adventurer at heart, Jess is looking forward to spending more quality time with her family outdoors. She can be found snowboarding or exploring the snowy mountains on snowshoes in the winter. During the spring and summer, she spends time gardening and exploring the many opportunities the Okanagan offers. As a free spirit, she can be caught dancing in the kitchen like no one is watching, singing along to her favourite tune. This summer Jess was able to cross an item off her bucket list with Interior Health. To promote the beautiful Okanagan, Jess played a role behind-the-scenes in planning and on-the-screen as one of the real Interior Health employees in an IH promotional video. Jessica's kind heart opens to the people she meets in health care as she connects with different departments. Through experience, her eyes are continually opened to learning more about the complexities of health care and her gratitude for our employee's service. Inspired to recognize those employees for their hard work, Jess creatively acknowledges those employees touching the lives of many. Thank you for all that you do, Jessica! We are so excited for you to start your family! Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Tonia Polak Message:  "I wanted to recognize Tonia for her outstanding problem solving and managerial skills. I was very impressed by her demeanour and positivity. I don't know her personally, but if she's anything like how she is at work she would be an amazing We Are IH feature." For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Doris Charest Worksite: East Kootenays/Kootenay Boundary Staffing Service Centre, Ktunaxa (Tun-ah-hah) / Kootenay Ktunaxa Years of Service: 9.5 Job Title: Portfolio Clerk The holiday season is like no other at the Charest family home. Doris Charest, Interior Health’s (IH) endearing Portfolio Clerk, handcrafts many of the festive ornaments that make up her Christmas décor. It’s no secret that she has quite the artistic side; apart from enjoying decorative tole painting, Doris has also been cutting out wooden Christmas decoration pieces for over 15 years. Apart from her crafty nature, Doris loves the outdoors where she can be found immersing herself in a book next to a cozy campfire. True to the nature of anyone born and raised in British Columbia’s beautiful Cranbrook city, she enjoys the many lakes, campgrounds and mountains that surround her. In the future, she looks forward to having grandchildren, helping raise them in the very community she and her children grew up in. Till then, she gives her unconditional love to her grand puppy, Izzie, an affectionate SPCA rescue. Over nine years ago, Doris found herself at a cross-roads when she received a recommendation from a fellow Interior Health employee and friend; she applied knowing it would be a great place to work. Starting her career at IH off with a casual role at reception and Short Call desk, Doris was soon promoted to a full-time position as a Portfolio Clerk. She continues working in this role today at the Staffing Service Centre in East Kootenay/Kootenay Boundary. Her kind and helpful demeanour does not go unnoticed as she helps her team solve problems together. While the holidays are undoubtedly different this year, the lights at the Charest home continue to shine on as brightly as ever. Thanks for everything you do for Interior Health, Doris! We wish you many more successful years. Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Ceilidh Stump  Message: She is wonderful person who is a great listener and very helpful and always there when you need her.  For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca.   

Growing up in Penticton, Lindsay Dionne always knew the South Okanagan was a great place to live. A registered nurse, she spent a small part of her health-care career outside of her home town, but always maintained her ties to the area. Now a nurse educator in the intensive care unit and the emergency department, Lindsay has been working at Penticton Regional Hospital since 2003, save for that quick jaunt to the lower mainland. “My family is here and it’s a nice community,” says Lindsay. “The hospital has a great community feel to it as well. It’s a friendly place to work. It’s a regional site so you have a lot of interesting work to do. You get a well-rounded experience.”   With the opening of the David E. Kampe Tower in April 2019, Penticton saw its hospital modernized with a six-storey tower and parkade. Once the tower opened, crews began to work on Phase 2 of the project, including a major renovation and expansion of the PRH emergency department. This November, the first part of the new ED will open to patients with new patient check-in and registration areas, complete with a new process for patients coming for care. “The way we used to do things was the patient came in and presented to registration first and then saw a nurse,” explains Lindsay. “We’ve changed the process to what’s called ‘nurse first’ so the nurse will assess patients when they come in and we will see where they go depending on their needs.” The registration process will follow the assessment. The change in process is considered best practice and is being done in other hospitals in Interior Health and right across the province. “It’s designed so that we see the sickest people first,” she says.   In planning for the expansion of the emergency department at PRH, Lindsay and some members of the IH Capital Planning & Projects team travelled to a few different hospitals in B.C., learning how they assess and treat patients so they could ensure the new department at PRH is on the cutting edge of patient care. Everything is designed with the patient in mind and to provide the best working conditions for emergency department team members. The patient check-in and registration area opens Nov. 16 while renovations continue in the main ED, creating enhanced patient care spaces that will see a phased opening from January 2021 to early 2022.   “It’s going to be a much bigger space. There will be more nurses and staff, more designated treatment areas, a much more comfortable setting,” says Lindsay, noting that patient rooms will be divided by walls as opposed to curtains when the ED opens, increasing privacy and infection prevention and control measures. Along with the work in the PRH emergency department, there are also renovations taking place in the PRH pharmacy and material stores.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Brianna Hawkins Worksite: Rocky Mountain Lodge, Ktunaxa (Tun-ah-hah) / Kootenay Ktunaxa Years of Service: 6 Job Title: Registered Dietitian Growing up in Kitimat, a small town in northern British Columbia, Brianna was motivated to pursue a career in health care from a young age. She found herself immersed in health care throughout her childhood, encouraged by her father's love for his career as a Lab Tech. Through her love of cooking, nutrition, and sciences, Brianna found her niche as a dietitian. Eager for new experiences and furthering her education, Brianna spread her wings to another province and enrolled in the Registered Dietitian program at the University of Alberta. Inspired by her preceptors to relocate outside of Calgary after completing her internship in 2014, Brianna knew she wanted to move back to beautiful British Columbia. With only three suitcases in tow, she moved to Cranbrook. The plan was to only stay a year, but during that time, the Kootenays captured her heart and she is here to stay, luckily for us! In her current role as a Dietitian at Rocky Mountain Lodge, Brianna loves working in both renal and acute care, making each day different and exciting. As part of the amazing renal team, she enjoys working with patients over months, or even years to experience real change and possibly delay dialysis. It’s moments like these that help her realize she is making a difference in the lives of others. “I love the challenge of working in acute care, using a different set of skills and the fact every day is so different. I have an amazing dietitian co-worker who I learn from every day” - Brianna Hawkins A dietitian's major role is to help patients adapt to the dialysis diet so they can enjoy some of their favourite foods while still being aware of dietary recommendations. The dialysis diet can be restrictive and very challenging for patients to navigate. Having the support of a knowledgeable dietitian is crucial to help manage a chronic condition. “I love being able to talk to patients about food and seeing the joy in their eyes when they can have their favourite Christmas dish or enjoy something special for their birthday.” - Brianna Hawkins A traveler at heart, Brianna is patiently waiting until she can explore new places again. First stop, Germany, followed by Peru and then Australia. In the meantime, she will continue to dream of planning her wedding in Hawaii! Luckily during these times, Brianna can continue to be out hiking, running, and exploring the beautiful outdoors. As an avid chef, she spends a lot of time cooking delicious meals and trying new recipes. Thank you for all that you do, Brianna! Nominate your colleagues to keep the We Are IH loop going: Name: Georgi Winger  Message: As a Chronic Kidney Disease Nurse, she does an amazing job keeping track of all our patients, managing an ever-increasing load, and is always there is talk! I couldn’t do my job without her! For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Lauren Hristoski Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Centre  Years of Service: 5 Job Title: Manager of Career Marketing, Human Resources Lauren radiates the workplace with positive energy as her welcoming demeanour makes people feel supported. As a hard worker who is determined to make impactful change, she has paved her own career path at Interior Health. Working in Human Resources for many years, Lauren has been given the opportunity to grow career marketing initiatives through a newly developed department, Career Marketing. Lauren brings crucial knowledge of Interior Health and career marketing to her new role that provides instrumental value to the organization. Over the past year, the team has grown significantly to provide marketing support to employee and medical staff recruitment, employee experience, and recently the pandemic response. As an adaptable and innovative individual, Lauren has led work throughout the pandemic to ensure her team has had a smooth transition to a virtual work environment. Lauren’s love of people and passion for uplifting people has supported the growth of employee initiatives including We Are IH. Her commitment to sharing authentic stories, promoting Interior Health as an employer, and showcasing diversity and inclusion has significantly assisted in sharing our brand story. With Lauren’s out-of-the-box creative thinking, she showcased our award of becoming a B.C. Top 100 Employer by creating a video of our people to celebrate our story. Lauren feels so fortunate to be part of supportive teams that work collaboratively together to achieve their goals. Born in Edmonton, Lauren grew up very close with her family including her parents, sister, and brother. Graduating from French immersion high school with a bilingual degree, she furthered her passion for health by graduating with a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of Calgary. After living most of her life in Calgary, Lauren relocated her family to the Okanagan to live an exciting and active four-season lifestyle. In the summer you can find Lauren and her family standup paddleboarding, hiking, biking, playing games, and exploring all there is to offer in beautiful British Columbia. Over the winter season, she spends her time with her family up at Big White hitting the slopes and sipping on hot cocoa. Lauren’s two little girls also possess her bright smile, kind demeanour, intelligence, and adventurous spirit. As food lovers, her kids are often sous chefs in the kitchen and share Lauren’s passion for experiencing delicious food and cuisines. Lauren is looking forward to travelling again and being able to experience more of the world through her daughters' eyes. Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Lauren's nomination of Jenn Goodwin keeps the We Are IH loop going: As a leader in the organization, Jenn is always looking for opportunities to grow and support teams. She always has a smile on her face walking down the hall and takes time to say "Hello" and ask simple questions that brightens your day.