Like many expectant moms, Emily Canzian attended prenatal classes and did a lot of preparing for her son Luca’s birth.  But even with classes and education, it was still a shock to Emily how difficult breastfeeding proved to be in the first three days after birth. “You're not really prepared for how tough it's going to be,” says the Kelowna dietitian. “In the classes they touch on topics like the time it takes for milk to come in, and the several weeks it can take to establish breastfeeding and milk supply.  “The struggles and the changes in my own body as it prepared to produce milk were intense for me.” 

Content warning: This article references Indian residential schools (IRS) and may affect those who attended a school or know someone impacted by it. Each year, September 30 marks Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community intergenerational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of “Every Child Matters.” This date was chosen because it is the time of year in which Indigenous children were taken from their homes to residential schools. National Day for Truth and Reconciliation honours the children who never returned home from and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. This federal statutory holiday was created through legislative amendments made by Parliament in 2021. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Name: Natalie Daniels (she/her)Job Title: Manager, Indigenous Patient CareLength of Service: 11Worksite:  Regional/RemoteCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: syilx Natalie of Wiikwemkoong First Nation has called syilx territory home for 15 glorious years. She lives in a town colonially known as Vernon with her partner, Kirsten, and their dog Rosalita, who has “perfected the art of hammock lounging” during many family camping trips. To Natalie, inclusion and accessibility are what create the opportunity to truly belong. And through her leadership, her laughter and her determination, she has built a career out of embracing life’s ups and downs with heart.

A program designed to help students ages 12-16 develop skills to manage stress, peer pressure and conflict is set to expand to more schools across the Interior region and B.C. PreVenture is a research-backed program developed by University of Montreal’s Dr. Patricia Conrod that helps students recognize their own responses to challenges. Through two short, personality-focused in-school workshops, students develop adaptive coping skills, set long-term goals, and channel their unique personality towards achieving those goals.

Name: Xavier Gomes (he/him/his)Job Title: Manager, Support Services, East KootenayLength of Service: 4 yearsWorksite:  East Kootenay Regional HospitalCommunity: CranbrookAncestral Territory: KtunaxaFavourite Quote / Advice to Live By: "Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars."  Xavier is inspired to work in health care because it affords him the opportunity to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. “My mission is to support healing and recovery by ensuring access to nourishing food and proper nutrition, while promoting clean, safe environments that foster health, dignity and well-being for every patient and staff member I serve,” he shares.  He’s motivated every day by patients’ gratitude and the positive impact he has on their lives. “It’s incredibly fulfilling to know that my efforts contribute to their comfort and recovery during a time when they need it most,” Xavier says.  

Behind a heavy metal door with an orange biohazard sign at Penticton Regional Hospital is laboratory services. Here—and at labs like this across Interior Health (IH)—dedicated professionals test and process patients’ blood, urine and tissue samples 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The lab buzzes with activity and the whir of instruments. Lab professionals in blue gowns and gloves move about, placing samples in centrifuges and high-tech analyzers. Technologists sit at microscope stations evaluating blood cells and assessing culture plates for disease-causing pathogens. Others screen patients for compatible blood products. In an adjacent room, technologists inspect and prepare tissue slides for pathologists. A lab assistant places a sample in an analyzer. Analyzers like this one measure common biochemistry levels such as sodium, potassium and other electrolytes, as well as dozens of other tests such as enzymes and drug levels. Lab testing is the highest volume activity in medical care. With thousands of tests performed every day across the IH region, it’s hard to fathom the amount of energy and materials labs use—everything from vials and tubes to personal protective equipment, electricity and solvents.

For nearly three decades, a small playroom in Cariboo Memorial Hospital’s (CMH) emergency department has been a sanctuary for children and families in crisis. Known as Avril’s Room, it was created in memory of eight-year-old Avril Chevigny, who passed away on May 25, 1996, after a courageous battle with lymphoma/leukemia. Today, Avril’s legacy continues. As part of the CMH Redevelopment Project, Avril’s Room will be reimagined in the new emergency department (ED)—thanks to the dedication of her father, André Chevigny, and the support of Interior Health and the community of Williams Lake. “When I think back on those years, a lot of it was a fog—it seems like a dream now,” André says of the years Avril was battling cancer. “But what stands out is the community. Forty-seven RCMP officers shaved their heads, the Stampeders held hockey game, and we raised money for the hospital in so many ways. It’s mind-blowing how much people did for Avy.” Avril’s courage inspired everyone around her. “She was a great example,” André recalls. “I remember she would take her hat off and show everybody. She was proud of her little bald head.” For André, creating a space for children in the ED waiting room in her memory has always been about more than play—it’s about healing. “What’s the best way to get over your own hurt? Help others.” The new Avril’s Room will carry forward that spirit. “I’m excited that Williams Lake has the opportunity to continue something that’s been such a need and a success in our community,” André says. “To continue her name on through the room is such a reward and such a blessing for me.” André Chevingy (left) meets with chief of staff Dr. Jacques Neuhoff just outside of Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Williams Lake. Dr. Neuhoff expressed his thanks and appreciation to André for supporting and helping to design Avril’s Room. He hopes the 160-square-foot space featuring Disney murals as well as log furniture and a TV will continue to provide comfort for families during difficult times. “There are lots of families with children waiting for tests, blood work, x-rays. Their siblings are waiting too, and they need a place to go.” André’s message to parents facing similar challenges is simple but powerful: “Be as positive as you can—not just for the child who is sick, but for the whole family. Sometimes we don’t like the cards we’re dealt, but you just have to deal with them with faith and positivity, because everybody’s watching, especially the siblings.” In 2025, André was presented with the King Charles III Coronation Medal earlier this year in recognition of his work helping to support families with children fighting cancer. André Chevingy receiving the King Charles III Coronation Medal. He credits the community of Williams Lake with supporting his family and Avril's Room at CMH 29 years ago.“It’s not about me, it’s about what we did as a family. I became a better person from what I experienced, and now I pass that positivity to others. Being positive, being grateful and thankful makes a difference in other people’s lives.” Avril’s Room and the Avril Chevigny Fund, which continues to help families financially who are suffering from childhood cancer, have touched countless lives over the years, and their impact continues to ripple through the community. “I run into people every day who say they’ve used the room,” André shares. “Her little playroom has helped so many people. It’s been healing for me too. Sometimes I come up here by myself because it’s a healing place for me.” As the new emergency department takes shape, Avril’s legacy of hope, resilience and community support will continue to live on. “I really want to thank Interior Health. I’m so excited that her little playroom has helped so many people over the years. I’m excited that Williams Lake has the opportunity to continue on with something that’s been such a need and a success in our community over the years. So, I’m just really grateful that we are able to relocate her room and do the same thing over again, and it will continue for another generation or two, hopefully.”

This is part one in our three-part series that explores food literacy in schools in the Interior Health region. Students at KLO Middle School in Kelowna are learning about growing food and the importance of caring for the land thanks to the addition of a modular farm on school grounds.  With the help of funding from the President's Choice Children's Charity, the school installed a modular farm that uses hydroponics to grow leafy greens and herbs inside a large shipping container. Plants are grown without soil and are watered in a way that saves space and resources. Modular farms are easy to use, and can work in freezing temperatures as cold as -40°C. 

Name: Echo Porlier (she/her/hers)Job Title: Rural Nurse EducatorLength of Service: 20 yearsWorksite: Nicola Valley HospitalCommunity: Thompson Cariboo regionAncestral Territory: Secwépemc/Shuswap Interior SalishFavourite Quote / Advice to Live By: "A good education can change anyone. A good teacher can change everything." —Dr. Sudhir S. Balerao A self-described old soul, Echo Porlier enjoys the fundamentals of living: gardening, canning, preserving and reading. “I like to read physical books you can touch, smell and crinkle the corner to save your page!” She says these hobbies and tasks keep her grounded in her roots and provide an antidote to her varied and busy professional life as a rural nurse educator in Interior Health (IH). Inspired by her mom Diana Heighes’s nursing trajectory and her dedication and her ability to connect with patients, Echo pursued a similar path that allowed her to blend two of her passions: teaching and health care.