Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in B.C. More than 6,000 people die a year in B.C. due to tobacco use. What’s perhaps even more concerning is nine out of 10 people who use tobacco started in adolescence, according to the BC Lung Foundation. January 19–25 is National Non-Smoking Week. To mark this week, we invited Aditi, a middle school student in Kelowna, to chat with Dr. Silvina Mema, IH’s deputy chief medical health officer about smoking and vaping. Aditi is a member of Interior Health’s YOUTHWISE Advisory Group, an advisory group of youth 13–19 years old who help improve youth-focused health and well-being services. Read on to learn more about tobacco, smoking and vaping. Learn why vaping isn’t harmless and some good reasons to quit. We also offer a list of free resources and programs to help you commit to quit for good in 2025.

Name: Karen Moison (she/her/hers)Job Title: Executive Assistant to Chief Financial Officer & Vice President, Corporate ServicesYears of Service: 6Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Services CentreCommunity: Okanagan/KelownaAncestral Territory: syilx/Okanagan (O-kan-a-gan) Nation Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: The world is yours to explore! Karen Moison was born in Richmond, B.C. and grew up in Ladner. She’s been living in the beautiful Okanagan for 30 years. She divides her time between two communities: West Kelowna in the Okanagan and Christian Valley in Boundary Country, a community she plans to make her primary residence in the future. Karen is a compassionate, loving person who is deeply family-oriented. She’s always seeking new adventures! Karen has been with Interior Health (IH) since December 2018. She started as a project and administrative assistant in Strategic Initiatives. Karen transitioned to support the simulation department before accepting a Human Resources (HR) recruitment assistant role.

After a warm start to winter across much of the province, British Columbians are encouraged to prepare for colder weather and winter road conditions in the days and weeks ahead. As temperatures drop, it’s important to be aware of the health risks of cold. Here's what you can do to ensure you remain safe and healthy.

Name: Nicky Stewart (she/her/hers)Job Title: Food Service SupervisorYears of Service: 25Worksite: Cariboo Memorial HospitalCommunity: Williams LakeAncestral Territory: Secwépemc NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Always see the glass half full” and “You draw more bees to honey than vinegar.” Born in Vancouver, raised in Kamloops, and residing in the Cariboo, Nicolette (Nicky) Stewart is coming up on an impressive 26 years with Interior Health (IH). She cherishes spending time with her family, friends and dog, Tia, and is passionate about coaching her grandchildren’s soccer team alongside her daughter. That passion continues at work, where Nicky supervises the dietary department at Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH). “I have a great food services team that supports our many departmental successes,” she says. “I also have an excellent manager who continually allows us to bring forward and develop those successes.”

The Indigenous Engagement Team at Interior Health (IH) has been recognized as Runner-Up for the BC Quality Awards in the Leadership in Co-Designing Health Quality with Communities category. This recognition celebrates the team's innovative partnership with First Nations and Métis communities to create Nation-based health-care advocate roles, a groundbreaking approach to fostering equity and cultural safety in health care. Each advocate is co-managed by the engagement manager and a Nation manager. The advocates take direction primarily from their Nation’s priorities, ensuring their work aligns with community-specific needs and aspirations. For example, the Métis Nation BC Health Systems advocate worked to develop the Métis Health and Wellness Plan, which set forth eight priority areas for MNBC and IH to work together to create better health outcomes for Métis people in the Interior. This collaborative effort demonstrates the power of co-design in addressing systemic gaps and advancing community health. "In co-designing these positions with First Nations, Interior Health (IH) has done an incredible job in showcasing how a Health Authority and an Indigenous Nation/Community should work together," shared the Ulkatcho First Nation. "All work with our people and for our people should be driven by our people (nothing about us without us)." Another example is the role that advocates play in managing the letter of understanding (LOU) work between IH and the Nations. This includes organizing LOU meetings, revising the document, socializing  the document with the Nation, and incorporating changes as needed. By facilitating these processes, advocates ensure that the agreements are living documents that reflect current needs and mutual commitments.

You’ve tested your home for radon or are thinking of testing. Perhaps you purchased or borrowed a continuous radon monitor to short-term test or watch levels daily. Or, maybe you bought your kit online and performed a long-term test for a minimum of 91 days during the winter months, the ideal method of radon testing. Your results are showing your radon levels are over the Canadian Guideline of 200 Bq/m³ (Becquerels is a unit of radioactivity named after Henry Becquerel). Now what? In this story, we share why your results might be high and what you can do about it. We also cover special situations like new home builds and information for renters.

Winter weather is here. In B.C., you may start a trip in sunshine and then face stretches of slush, ice, heavy snowfall, or compact snow, all of which can make driving conditions unpredictable and hazardous.  Here are some steps you can take to make your road travel safer in the winter months. 

Name: Nicole Big Sorrel Horse (she/her/hers)Job Title: Practice Lead, Indigenous Mental Wellness TeamYears of Service: 10Worksite: Kelowna, Indigenous Mental Wellness Team, MHSU TransformationCommunity: Unceded syilx nation, West Kelowna.Ancestral Territory: Unceded syilx nation Nicole Big Sorrel Horse is a practice lead on the Indigenous Mental Wellness team at Interior Health (IH), where she works closely with Indigenous partners and Clinical Operations to develop person-centered, culturally safe, and evidence-based resources that address mental wellness and substance use for Indigenous people.  As a strong, compassionate person who enjoys spending time with her son and family, she’s inspired by her family and Indigenous peoples in the different Nations and communities that she supports and works with.

With the holidays upon us, many of us look forward to spending time with family and friends. Holidays are special, and can mean more visits and gatherings, as well as activities and outings. But for someone with dementia or cognitive impairment, large groups, noises and flashing lights, and unfamiliar places and people, can cause increased anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. We spoke with two experts in seniors and dementia care about navigating the holidays and making this time of year pleasant and enjoyable for everyone. Whether your loved one is at home with you, or you’re visiting them in long-term care, here are some tips and things to consider.