We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  Name: Ryan Lazauskas Worksite: Kelowna Community Health Centre  Years of Service: 3  Job Title: Employee Relations Consultant An adventurer at heart, growing up in the beautiful community of Kelowna in the Okanagan, Ryan has explored most trails on his road bike. His passion for exploring led him to travel abroad where he backpacked his way through over a dozen countries throughout Western Europe before starting his career. Ryan traveling abroad in London, England. Motivated to grow professionally, he embarked on his Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Human Resources Management from Okanagan College at the Kelowna campus, where he learned valuable skills that have propelled his career forward. His work experience with non-profits and the private sector gave him the knowledge, skill set, and experience to land a job at Interior Health as a Service Partner for the Benefits Department.   Over the past three years at Interior Health, Ryan is proud of the way he has been able to learn, grow, and adapt continuously. As a motivated employee, Ryan has been rewarded for his hard work with multiple new positions. He was awarded a new position in Recruitment and then he gained experience with Labour Relations, allowing him the opportunity to take on the role as a Labour Relations Service Partner. His love for helping others shines through in his work, granting him the recent role as an Employee Relations Consultant. His passion for serving others has helped him further exceed at Interior Health. As a results-orientated individual, Ryan is focused on getting the job done in the best way possible while providing excellent service. Ryan’s hard work continued to pay off in his personal life, as he recently purchased his first home in the Central Okanagan with his girlfriend. They expanded their family with their French Bulldog, Frankie, who has quickly become the centre of their world as they adventure the outdoors together. Ryan's French Bulldog, Frankie Ryan's girlfriend and French Bulldog This year may have travel restrictions, but when it is safe Ryan will continue his goal of traveling across the incredible province of British Columbia to further explore the outdoors of what B.C. has to offer! His love for his friends and family brings him so much joy, so he is looking forward to spending more quality time with his loved ones once it’s safe to do so. A great perk of living in the beautiful Okanagan is having Big White close by! Ryan plans to spend lots of time on the slopes this winter season exploring the mountains. Thank you for all that you do, Ryan! We appreciate you very much.   Ryan Lazauskas in Switzerland Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Ryan's nomination of Katherine Semenoff keeps the We Are IH loop going: Katherine has been an amazing colleague and big support for our team. She has been with Interior Health a long time. She is dedicated, driven and always looking to help you no matter what.

We are IH is a recognition campaign to spotlight Interior Health employees and medical staff – through pictures and stories.  To help us celebrate National Nursing Students Week, we met with Mariah Perry, a recent 2019 graduate from the Practical Nursing Program at Okanagan College. As part of the incredible team at Kelowna General Hospital, Mariah stands out for her big heart, her desire to spread kindness, and her positive attitude. At first, Mariah may be shy but before you know it she is filling the room with her radiating energy! Inspired by her desire to make a difference in the lives of others by working closely with them, she pursued a rewarding career as a Licensed Practical Nurse. As she was starting her career, the COVID-19 pandemic began, creating completely new challenges for everyone to navigate. We are so proud to see all of our health-care heroes rise to the occasion and continue to provide the best possible care amidst the pandemic. Mariah Perry in PPE Mariah reflects on the growth she has experienced throughout the pandemic. “I feel for the patients in the hospital, especially with visitor restrictions, but it has been something special to me, as I have had the opportunity to be there for my patients. It’s been inspiring to see us come together to get through this pandemic. Everyone motivates me, and it shows how we are stronger together and we’re not alone.” In the dynamic field of nursing, some days are better than others, but at the end of the day, you can end your shift with a sense of pride. Mariah shares one of her proudest moments at IH as she comforted a palliative patient. They shared meaningful conversation about life and he told her she was the nicest nurse he has ever had, really touching Mariah's heart. It's moments like these that make it all worth it.  “I love nursing because there is so much room to grow in this career. Right now, I do really love bedside nursing and the medical floors I work on, but I have the option to expand my knowledge in so many ways when I want to and I think that's amazing!”  Mariah Perry and her Grandfather From a young age, her family has been extremely influential in her life. Mariah’s grandfather ingrained in her his favourite quote as a child: “Always forward, never back.” These words have helped propel her forward during tough times and encourage her to persevere towards a solution. She fondly remembers her grandfather’s quote regularly to quickly move from worry to action forward. Young Mariah and her sibling Surrounded by the natural beauty of the four seasons, Mariah feels extremely grateful to be born and raised in Kelowna, her forever home. Growing up as “Mariah Perry” she was surprisingly asked if she was named after the famous, Mariah Carey, and also blessed with her vocals. Despite a short stint in singing lessons, Mariah has concluded it did not help her singing abilities and no one wants to hear her sing. You can find Mariah out shooting hoops playing basketball with her friends or taking on a DIY craft. Mariah knows how important self-care is, especially during these times in her career, so makes time to incorporate physical activity into her crafts to keep her mind in the right place. The pandemic has shown us what's important and not to take anything for granted. Mariah looks forward to a time where hugs can be given out freely, quality time can be spent with family and friends, and all of the added stress can be removed from everyone’s life. Thank you for all that you do, Mariah! You have a very successful career ahead of you and we are honoured to have you at Interior Health.    Check back each Friday for the next We are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Mariah's nomination of Mary Lynn Pallett keeps the We Are IH loop going: Mary is an LPN on 6 West and she is the absolute best! Her nickname is Mamma Lynn, she has such a big heart and really looks out for everyone on the unit!  

To say that Rachel has a big heart would be an understatement. Despite experiencing a lifetime of loss, she smiles easily and is quick to laugh. Rachel wants to help people in whatever way she can. That is why she agreed to share her story and speak about the impact of stigma as a person who uses drugs. She greets us at the door with bubbly enthusiasm, her freshly washed hair pulled up in a towel. She doesn’t seem nervous about being interviewed. She and her husband Jason are excited to host us. In fact, we are the first guests to visit their new home. Refreshments are offered. The apartment is spotless. A dream catcher with bright orange feathers hangs in the corner. Rachel’s husband made it, along with the wood carvings, sketches and paintings on display. Pinned above the living room couch are three certificates confirming Rachel has completed “Peer Support Training” - the training necessary to work with community agencies as a person with lived experience helping others with substance use issues. But when asked about her own family upbringing, her struggles with addiction, and her experience of stigma, those warm brown eyes immediately brim with tears. “I felt crappy,” she recalls. “I wouldn’t feel that I was worthy – I wasn’t good enough for myself, or for my spouse. Not good enough to be a sister, a daughter, or a mother. It was hard.” Rachel began using substances in her thirties, and cocaine use quickly grew to include crystal meth and heroin. Over the years Rachel lost jobs, family members, beloved friends and special belongings. Things like the dress passed down from her mother that was always intended for Rachel’s one-day wedding. It is difficult, if not impossible, to hold on to precious items in the midst of addiction and homelessness. Still, she managed to hold on to what is most dear to her: her life with Jason. The two now share a small apartment in the Okanagan, keeping largely to themselves, focussing on their recovery and working on their art. Rachel loves colouring and Jason is an avid drawer, painter and carver. They also volunteer, participating in community clean-ups, peer support groups and other initiatives. “All of us, we’re all equal,” Rachel says about the need to end the stigma around addiction and substance use. “We want just the same as you – to live life and be happy.” Watch and share the video and learn about Rachel’s story. Check out more resources about stigma and substance use. Help #EndStigma. Rachel's story is the final in a four part series of stories and videos about the stigma faced by those impacted by substance use.

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Every week Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  You can feel the passion and positivity radiate from Tannis when she is around. Her kind demeanour, caring heart, passion for helping others and her growth mindset play a crucial role in her successful career. As the Manager of the Primary Care Network in Central Okanagan at CHCS over the past two years, she is proud to be a part of IH. She continues to be inspired to work in Primary Care as it affords her the opportunity to participate in improving the health of all through a preventative, patient-centered, team-based approach. As a lifelong learner, she is always looking for new opportunities to expand her educational background. Her current exploration is in reviewing educational programs for coaching. The proudest moments of Tannis’ career have been over the past two years at IH being able to be a part of many incredible programs and projects including Public Health, Primary Care, Urgent and Primary Care Centres, and COVID-19 responses. Success within these programs and projects has come from being able to work with many dedicated IH staff and enabling teams. She is proud to be able to support and work with such amazing and passionate individuals. She looks forward to continued work with great people and teams in Interior Health and being a part of the ever-changing health-care landscape. Original art by Tannis Andersen Family is extremely important to Tannis and her relationships are a reflection of that. Born in Red Deer, Alta., her family soon moved to a small rural community, Gem, where she grew up surrounded by her family. After having a family of her own, two years ago they moved to the Okanagan to plant roots and live in such a beautiful and amazing place where they can enjoy many family activities year-round. An explorer at heart, she continues to explore unknown worlds through reading and painting. These hobbies allow her an escape and gain creative insight. Thank you for all that you do, Tannis! We are so happy you and your family have chosen the Okanagan and IH to live in. Tannis and her family.   Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Tannis's nomination of Rachel Thibault keeps the We Are IH loop going: Health Unit Aide at Outreach Urban Health Rachel goes above and beyond in her role every day to help support the clinic, staff, and patients. She really is the fabric that holds Outreach Urban Health together. If you need anything completed or need to know anything about the clinic Rachel is the first person everyone turns to and relies on. All you have to do is ask and she completes the work efficiently and compassionately.

Occupational therapist Robbie King knows about new beginnings. Sixteen years ago, Robbie made the decision to cross the country from Toronto. A native of Prince Edward Island, he was drawn west for the B.C. lifestyle. In Kamloops he became part of the care team at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH). “I love working at RIH,” says Robbie. “The move to Kamloops has been everything I hoped it would be. It’s a great area to live and to work. Being a part of the health-care team at RIH is very rewarding.” For Robbie, and the rest of the staff and physicians at RIH, change has been in the works since late 2018. That’s when construction began on the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower at RIH, a nine-storey addition to the RIH campus that will open to patients in the summer of 2022. The tower has been steadily rising. This fall, the construction project achieved its Topping Off milestone as the tower reached its full nine-storey height. To celebrate, staff and physicians were invited to sign a construction beam that would be placed in the tower. For two days in September, more than 400 members of the RIH community signed the beam and received a keep-sake photograph.   One of those staffers was Robbie King, who said the event put a surge of positivity through the RIH campus. “I really felt like the beam was like a time capsule that symbolized new beginnings being built on a strong foundation,” says Robbie. “It was a beautiful sunny day. It was a real positive vibe and I felt it helped to unite a lot of the staff at RIH together.” The construction project has continued through the COVID-19 pandemic and the beam signing event was held with a COVID-19 safety plan in place with physical distancing and enhanced sanitizing of the area where staff gathered to sign. With health-care workers also continuing to work during the pandemic, Robbie says it was a positive event that lifted the collective mood of RIH workers. “I feel like it really brightened our day. It uplifted people’s moods. I could feel it throughout the whole hospital.” he says. “I felt the timing was really appropriate, especially in 2020.” The event was organized by the RIH Foundation, EllisDon, RIH leadership and Interior Health Capital Planning & Projects. Close to 400 staff and physicians, along with community partners from the Thompson Regional Hospital District, the RIH Foundation and Kamloops’ Aboriginal groups signed the beam. Once all of the signatures were in place, Secwépemc elders from Bonaparte and Tk'emlups smudged the beam before it was lifted to the roof of the tower, accompanied by traditional Secwépemc drumming and singing. "This ceremony took place to honour the new Patient Care Tower site with prayers from the Secwépemc Elders to protect and watch over the land and all who enter the site. It was a beautiful day in Tk’emlups te Secwépemc,” says Cara Basil of the Secwepemc Health Caucus. Featuring single-patient rooms with enhanced privacy and infection prevention and control measures and state-of-the-art equipment, the Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Tower at RIH will change the way health care is delivered in Kamloops. Work is continuing on the tower which will open to patients in the summer of 2022.

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Every week Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  To help us celebrate National Respiratory Week, we are excited to feature Jacqueline Turvey, RRT, CRE, CTE, and the Coordinator at Integrated Primary and Community Care Program/Primary Care Respiratory Therapist at Interior Health in Kamloops for the past 13 years. Over her career, she has made an incredible impact working within her community of Kamloops and supporting the Primary Care offices in a variety of cases. As an educator, every day at work she pursues her passion for helping others in their homes, physician offices, or in her own office. One of her most satisfying projects was an Emergency Preparedness Class (specifically relating to forest fires) for her clients. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, as they shared how they felt safer and more aware of what they can do to help their breathing stay in control during forest fires. It’s moments like these that bring everyone together and help us support each other through tough times. “I love my job because it offers so much variety. Some days I feel like a detective trying to put together pieces of information to figure out how to best help one of my clients. There is so much job satisfaction in supporting a client and knowing that it is the support/information that we provided that is the thing that helps them feel better or improve their quality of life.” One of her proudest moments at IH was being recognized by Chris Mazurkewich, the past president and CEO, of Interior Health in September 2018 for her Emergency Preparedness work with her clients. Thank you for your phenomenal contribution, Jacqueline! Looking back through her career, Jacqueline reminiscences on opportunities she was able to experience as an RT. A highlight was participating as a volunteer for four years in an international project to Guyana called Global Access to Spirometry Project (GASP) led by Dr. Bob Levy, Respirologist, and Carmen Rempel, RRT, CRE, both from VCH. Working in such a collaborative environment, Jacqueline continues to inspire others and be inspired by the knowledge and professionalism of the different clinicians and Primary Care providers that she works alongside. Her clients continue to inspire her in her purpose to help people be their healthiest and best self, one breath at a time. Family is very important to Jacqueline. She is currently raising her family in her hometown of the Secwépemc / Kamloops territory balancing her professional and personal life. As a mother, wife, and person of First Nations heritage, she values having fun, laughing, and creating memories with her loved ones. In her downtime Jacqueline likes to express her creative side while playing the ukulele, making jewelry, painting, knitting/crocheting, gardening, and cooking (especially fresh from her own garden!). Jacqueline and her team, among our other frontline workers, have been working exceptionally hard during the COVID-19 pandemic and we are so proud of their tenancy, innovation, and contribution to keeping us safe. Thank you so much for all that you do, Jacqueline! Nominate a colleague or join in yourself with the We Are IH submission form. Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Jacqueline's nomination of Lisa Mullen keeps the We Are IH loop going: Lisa has been with IH for over 15 years at the same site (KPCC) which is amazing. She is a talented baker and when we used to have staff parties everyone would look forward to her treats. Clinicians, Primary Care Providers, and other clerical staff look to her for her expertise and organization skills. She provides leadership and stability at our site and she models the values that create a wonderful workplace culture. Her wonderful personality, kind ways and her calm presence are lovely to be around. Congratulations Lisa on your 15-year long-term service pin at IH! "I would like to extend our appreciation for the amazing work you do. Your diligence, self-motivation, leadership, and dedications are an inspiration to the team and an important role in the clinic!" - Jodie Helm, Lisa's Manager

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Every week Interior Health employees or medical staff will be featured through our News@IH website and our weekly In the Loop Roundup email newsletter.  As an Acute Care Social Worker at Vernon Jubilee Hospital over the past six years, Natalie is always looking for ways to further her education and career. As a recent graduate from the University of Waterloo’s Master of Social Work program, she continues to provide value to IH, her co-workers, and her patients. With a growth mindset, she continues to learn more each day, lately via podcasts. One of her proudest moments at IH was initiating a conversation with IH’s President and CEO Susan Brown regarding racism in our health-care system and having an opportunity to discuss the ways IH is working on acknowledging and improving Cultural Safety and Cultural Humility. This has certainly given her the confidence and drive to continue being a voice in that discussion. We are so proud of you, Natalie, and thankful to have you and your voice at IH. Born in Castlegar, her family moved shortly after to where she would grow up in Coquitlam and Vancouver. Looking for a change, she moved to Vernon 10 years ago and is very happy with her decision to plant roots and grow her career here. She is a member of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation situated on the northeastern part of Manitoulin Island in Ontario and a visitor to the Okanagan/Syilx territory where she lives in Vernon. Natalie feels extremely lucky to work with such an incredible team of social workers in the North Okanagan. The strength and professionalism that they share with their community members and teams inspire her to advocate against health inequities and to work towards demolishing power imbalances that are so often present in our health-care system. Her co-workers describe her as a hilarious, witty, charming, dependable, and authentic person with a great shoe collection. An outdoor adventurer at heart, she loves exploring the beautiful outdoors of the Okanagan road cycling or hiking with her dog, Jack. She is often looking forward to the weekend and spending quality time with Jack searching for the picturesque backdrop for her Dog, Jack’s Instagram account. Follow him on Instagram @cairnjack! Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Natalie's nomination of Allison New keeps the We Are IH loop going: Palliative Care Coordinator of Shuswap Home Health. Allison is a great advocate for improving the lives and care of the community members she serves. She is a leader at Home Health and will go above and beyond to ensure the right care is offered to community members by a knowledgeable and engaged team.

Farm work is essential to our food supply. Every year, hundreds of temporary agriculture workers from across the country travel to B.C. to help with harvest. This year was no different, with the big exception of COVID-19. Municipalities and regional districts in our region worked closely with the provincial government, Interior Health and many other organizations to keep farm workers and communities safe. When the Loose Bay campground outside Oliver was closed by it's management society due to the complexity of COVID-19 regulations, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen stepped in and opened the site to accommodate agricultural workers. They did this without initial funding and worked tirelessly with IH to establish COVID protocols for the site. They even produced bilingual signage to accommodate the many French Canadians staying there. The District of Summerland identified a section of their local public campground to be used exclusively by domestic farmworkers. They even set up extra facilities and brought in an RV in case anyone needed self-isolation accommodation. The Regional District of Central Kootenay, in partnership with the Town of Creston, established an Economic Recovery Committee to help the agriculture industry adopt and communicate the necessary guidelines and orders from the federal and provincial government. This committee also arranged and managed an agricultural worker accommodation site to ensure the health and safety of employees and their community. Inside Interior Health we were also busy preparing for this important time in our communities. Many different teams came together to develop a plan that would help us prepare for all possibilities. This effective internal teamwork - in partnership with external stakeholders - was public health in action because it protected the health-care system and prevented domestic temporary agricultural COVID-19 cases. “Public health work done well is invisible because the outcome is what people would expect, no outbreaks among domestic farm workers” says Dr. Silvina Mema, Medical Health Officer. The efforts of those involved in the planning and implementation of safe accommodation hubs paid off and helped to keep all IH communities safe this harvest season.

We Are IH is a new recognition campaign to spotlight our people in a real way – through pictures and stories that allow their authenticity to shine through! Each week we will showcase an Interior Health employee who is working to make a difference in their community. Ken radiates positive energy and makes being at work a happy place simply with his presence. Over the past 12 years as a Housekeeper at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH), he has been inspired by working with patients in need, more recently in his current department, the Psychiatry Ward. Whether it’s an ear to listen or helpful advice, Ken always shows up as his authentic self to help others. As a big believer in everyone working as a team, he is always looking out for one another and ensuring that he is offering help wherever it is needed. Ken feels lucky to be working on the Psychiatry Ward where his team feels more like family. It's second nature for everyone to help each other as they work collaboratively as a team to do the best possible job. Born and raised in Richmond, B.C., he is a true outdoorsman, and exploring new areas has always been a passion of his. When Ken isn’t working you can find him exploring the wilderness outdoors, in the woods setting up camp and catching fish for dinner. He loves a getaway with his wife and is looking forward to treating her very soon! Ken feels grateful to work alongside her and be a part of the incredible housekeeping team in Psychiatry at KGH. Thank you for all that you do, Ken, we appreciate you so much! Check back each Friday for the next We Are IH feature. For more information contact EmployeeExperience@InteriorHealth.ca. Ken's nomination of Amanda Burgess Moffett keeps the We Are IH loop going: “I would like to nominate my wife, Amanda Burgess Moffett, a housekeeper at KGH for over 17 years. She has been Shop Steward, JOHSC Committee, Former Supervisor of Housekeeping at KGH, and currently works as a Housekeeper in Psychiatry. Her constant goal is to help other workers with all of their problems.”