Sage Thomas of Tk'emlúps te Secwe̓pemc is making history in Kamloops as the only registered Indigenous midwife in British Columbia currently serving her home community. As a newly graduated maternity care provider, Sage says she feels a real sense of accomplishment and is excited for what the future holds. “I have found my passion,” she shares. Born and raised in Kamloops, Sage credits the birth of her first child in 2010 as the inspiration behind her career choice. During Sage’s own birthing experience, she felt her midwife provided safe care and support and a sense of control over her birthing decisions. “I thought, ‘Wow, this is something I can do for other Indigenous families,’” she recalls. That realization launched a 15-year journey beginning in 2011 with doula training followed by a decade working in Kamloops with a focus on Indigenous families. Along the way, she raised her own children while upgrading her education, working in childcare, and completing an art program at the En'owkin Centre and an Associate of Arts degree with a focus on anthropology and sociology at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) in 2021. A pivotal moment came for Sage when she attended a home birth as a doula where the family incorporated Indigenous ceremonial practices. Later, she was invited to the baby’s naming ceremony. “That was a huge eye-opener for me. I thought, this is what an Indigenous birthing experience could look like.” Sage started her midwifery studies through UBC in 2021 and gave birth to her youngest daughter in 2022 while attending school. She stayed committed to the program, which was a combination of online courses and in-person studies at BC Women’s Hospital over four years, including clinical placements at Sage Hills Community Midwives and Mighty Oak Midwifery in Kamloops whom Sage thanks for their ongoing support. “The first year was very academic-heavy. But as you progress you move into clinical placements, on-call work, charting and learning all the hands-on skills. It is demanding and gets more demanding as you go,” she says. She describes every birth she attends as special. “It’s always a beautiful moment. I get emotional every time.” Sage completed her final UBC exam in April, the Canadian Midwifery Registration exam in October and received her graduation certificate in November. But she admits she still has moments of disbelief. “It’s crazy sometimes to think when I’m answering the phone or ordering prescriptions or labs, that I’m a registered midwife. The last 15 years just flew by from when I said to myself, ‘I want to be a midwife,’ and now I’m here.” Sage plans to prioritize her practice at Mighty Oak Midwifery with Indigenous families first, as well as Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) and immigrant families, incorporating her own knowledge of Secwépemc cultural practices and language into the care she provides. Sage is one of five midwives serving the Thompson Nicola region from this clinic. Altogether, Kamloops has 12 registered midwives who attend more than 20 per cent of the births at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH). Elaine Barnes, Midwifery Department head at RIH, said seeing the first Indigenous UBC Midwifery graduate to have returned home to lead care in her own community is a deeply meaningful homecoming and one that fills her with hope for the future. Sage Thomas, Registered Midwife, poses for a photo with baby Adhara, a Tk'emlups te Secwepemc baby she delivered in August 2025. (Photo submitted) “It reflects what Call to Action 23, from the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action, looks like in practice: supporting Indigenous midwives to train, return home and lead care in their own communities,” says Elaine. “We are honoured to see that leadership come full circle and are thrilled for Sage and for the families she will serve." Sage’s achievements have also been recognized by Tk'emlúps te Secwe̓pemc Chief and Council, who sent her a congratulatory letter she described as “very special.” Sage credits her mother, a solo parent who pursued her own higher education, for instilling resilience and determination. “My mom taught me I don’t have to give up on myself just because high school didn’t work out. Once I found my passion, I had the drive to keep going.” As she settles into her role, Sage already has her sights set on one day opening an Indigenous-led birthing centre in Kamloops. “I envision this centre where we can have a space with a kitchen, where little ones feel safe and families as a whole can be welcomed,” says Sage. “I think it would be really great to have a place where families that need to travel into Kamloops to birth could come and stay for a couple days if they need to and for it to be a holistic, family-centred place, incorporating all generations from elders to little ones, with Knowledge Keepers, traditional medicines, and traditional plants outside to support pregnancy and birth ceremony.” Sage says she’d also like to offer traditional Indigenous Moontime teachings to support and celebrate menstrual health and wellness, coming-of-age ceremonies and sexual health education and health age care. To find out more or to seek care with a registered midwife, please visit the Midwives Association of British Columbia's website. Individuals interested in providing midwifery services in Kamloops are encouraged to contact Elaine Barnes for further information at elaine.barnes@interiorhealth.ca.  

Name: Elizabeth Adolph Job Title: Care Aide Length of Service: 35+ Years              Worksite: Mountain View Lodge Community: Lillooet Ancestral Territory: Stat'imc Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “Life is too short to stress the small stuff.” Thirty-five years into her career with Interior Health (IH), Elizabeth Adolph still loves what she does. Yes, Elizabeth is looking forward to retirement and travelling the world. But for now, she loves her colleagues and being there for her residents at Mountain View Lodge, a 22-bed long-term care facility in Lillooet. “It’s amazing to see staff working together during stressful situations, but more than anything I love to be able to sit with palliative residents who have no family so they are not alone. That’s very special,” she notes.

In the five years since the In Plain Sight (IPS) report was released, Interior Health (IH) has made strides toward being a culturally safe organization and improving the care it provides to Indigenous Peoples. “I want to recognize both the progress achieved and emphasize the significant work that remains eliminating racism and increasing access and health outcomes working alongside Indigenous partners,” notes IH president & CEO Sylvia Weir. Weir says, according to IH’s Indigenous partners, accounts of anti-Indigenous racism are increasing, and the organization is even more vigilant and steadfast about curbing all incidents of racism than ever. “I want to be clear that any and all reports of racism at IH sites will be treated with the utmost seriousness,” she says. “I encourage reporting when this behaviour is encountered so that we can take action and apply our investigative and disciplinary powers to the fullest extent.” This year’s IH response report includes interviews with Indigenous partners and Indigenous Patient Navigators to gain their valuable insights into how to best deliver services.

Name: Angela Biddlecombe (she/her/hers)  Job Title: Sterile Compounding Coordinator  Length of Service: 20 years  Worksite: East Kootenay Regional Hospital Pharmacy (sterile compounding satellite)   Community: Cranbrook  Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa  Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: “I'm proud of my daughters' hard work and I enjoy seeing them develop into who they are. I love watching them skate—there's grace, strength and the ability to overcome pressure.”    Inspired by her aunt’s career as a pharmacist, Angela Biddlecombe joined the health-care sector more than two decades ago as a pharmacy technician, focusing on compounding, the preparation of custom medications.  Angela says pharmacy offers her a collaborative environment in which she thrives, a direct link to patient care, and the opportunity to mentor and support colleagues.  “I really enjoy the hands-on aspect of being a pharmacy technician and compounding products that are beneficial to patient care. I enjoy the problem solving to create new products, and the mentorship.” 

This is part three in our three-part series that explores food literacy in schools in the Interior Health region. The Souper Meals lunch program not only inspires students to try new foods and connect with each other over a meal but benefits our local food systems as well. Across School District 83 and the Shuswap region, something simple is making a big difference at lunchtime: a warm bowl of soup. Souper Meals is a school lunch program where soup, made with local produce and meats, is served along with fruit, veggies and buns to students once a week free of charge. The program not only inspires students to try new foods and connect with peers over a shared meal, but it also invests in the local food system.

With decades of experience rooted in compassion and commitment to children’s health, Dr. Jeff Wong is carving a strong path for pediatric care at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) as the new head of the Pediatric Department. In this new role, Dr. Wong is focused on rebuilding trust and creating a sustainable, collaborative system. “I see my role as a facilitator and coach,” he says. “We are building a system where all team members are actively engaged, involved and feel their voices are heard. People may come and go, but the system, if well-designed, lasts.” His passion for pediatrics began early in his medical career. “I’ve always hoped to be a pediatrician since I first graduated,” he says. In the early part of his career and after completing medical school at the University of Hong Kong, he rotated through several specialties as part of his internship. “My first rotation was pediatrics, and it was amazing. I realized I could help young patients—even those who couldn’t fully express themselves. I felt I was gifted in that way, so I decided to pursue pediatrics as my career.” Taking a bold step, Dr. Wong applied exclusively to pediatric departments and secured a position in the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. There, he built an impressive career, specializing in pediatric respirology and critical-care medicine, establishing a lung-function laboratory, and mentoring staff. A long-held plan to move to Canada would eventually redirect his path. Dr Wong began his training over a decade ago in Canada as a clinical fellow at Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, including time in the Intensive care unit (ICU). “I really liked the culture and the people in Canada. My family and I always had a plan to come here,” he explains. In 2021, he accepted a pediatric position at Penticton Regional Hospital, where he spent three years before joining the pediatric respirology team at Dalhousie University in Halifax. But the Okanagan’s unique balance of quiet and community life continued to call to him. “My family really loves this region,” he says. Eventually, they returned to the British Columbia, where Dr. Wong initially provided locum respirology service at BC Children’s Hospital. It was during this time he was also picking up locum shifts at KGH and he became familiar with the local health care community. It helped shape his decision to become a full-time pediatrician at KGH. Personal challenge With his extensive experience, dedication and vision for a collaborative system, Dr. Wong is poised to lead Kelowna’s pediatric team toward a new chapter, one of reliability, excellence and renewed community trust. His motivation for taking on the challenging leadership role at Kelowna General Hospital is deeply personal. “I consider myself a member of the Okanagan region. My children live here, and I believe the kids here deserve excellent pediatric care. When I read about parents’ frustration during past service disruptions, it was heartbreaking. I wanted to step up and help create a system that allows our children—and their families—to receive consistent, high-quality care.” To the community, Dr. Wong offers a heartfelt message: “I’m sorry for the previous service disruption. We are building a strong team, together with many experienced community pediatricians, committed to providing the best pediatric care possible. I understand that trust is easy to lose and hard to rebuild—but we are determined to regain it.” Supporting each other is key, he explains. “Discussion between doctors and nursing staff often produces the best management plan for critically ill or complex patients.” Dr. Wong took his new role in September of 2025.

With the holiday season here, many of us will be gathering to celebrate with family and friends. Celebrations often include food and sometimes alcohol. While enjoying wine, beer and spirits can be a pleasurable part of holiday celebrations, drinking too much can have harmful consequences, both short and long-term.

Name: Niomi Wright (she/her/hers) Job Title: Care Aide Length of Service: 18 years Worksite: Mountain View Lodge Community: Lillooet Ancestral Territory: St’at’imc Niomi Wright is a care aide at Mountain View Lodge located in Lillooet, B.C. on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the St’at’imc Nation where she was born, raised and still lives. After graduating high school, Niomi wasn’t sure what she wanted to do as a career. Initially, she thought she might pursue nursing. She decided to become a care aide first to get a feel for nursing to decide if it was the right long-term career choice. Little did she know that she would ultimately discover that her true calling was to be a care aide in long-term care at Interior Health (IH).

The holidays are a time for celebration, connection and making memories—not collisions. While many of us know the risks of drinking and driving, cannabis can also impair your ability to drive safely. One in four cannabis users admit to driving within four hours of consuming, even though THC, the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, can affect you for six hours or longer.