Last year saw the launch of an investigation into Indigenous-specific racism in the B.C. health-care system, bringing new focus on Aboriginal health and wellness. As health-care providers look to implement the In Plain Sight Report recommendations, the Interior Voices podcast provides resources for improving culturally-safe care. Launched in 2019, the Interior Voices podcast is an informal, ongoing conversation around cultural safety and Aboriginal health. Now entering its third season, the series has become an important educational resource for our care teams. The podcast also offers a glimpse into the people and programs within Interior Health which support this important area of care. Interested in learning more? Check out these highlights: Season 2 Episode 7: Orange Shirt Day and Trauma-Informed PracticeSeason 1 Episode 2: Traditional Territory Acknowledgements Season 1 Episode 21: IH Board Chair Dr. Doug Cochrane Season 2 Episode 5: Karen Cooper, Director of Allied Health for IH West Season 2 Episode 9: Thompson Rivers University Aboriginal Research Project Season 2 Episode 2: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) Season 2 Episode 1: Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Season 1 Episode 13: IH Aboriginal Recruitment and Retention In Plain Sight: Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health Care News@IH Story: Creating Welcoming Spaces

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  

Odds are low that on any given day, a real emergency situation will arise. But Jane Power, director of clinical operations in Trail, has defied those odds a couple of notable times. A year ago on New Year’s Eve, a winter storm knocked out power at the Arrow Lake Hospital in Nakusp. Thankfully the back-up generator kicked into gear and all was well. Until 3:00 a.m. when the house generator failed and the lights went out. Despite heroic efforts by the maintenance team, the generator would not restart, and the building remained dark. The power outage caused a series of other problems. The doors of the connected long term care home were locked in the open position, so people prone to wandering might have left the building. The hospital's phone and internet systems were out of service. Without electricity, the building would have no heat, and the temperature of medication refrigerators was at risk. Jane was the manager-on-call in the area that night. When she learned about the emergency, she jumped into action and started making a series of late night phone calls to address the problems and coordinate resources. By mid-morning, Jane and her team had located another generator -- on New Year’s Day no less, and made arrangements to transfer all people living in long term care to a new place. Fortunately, power was restored early the next afternoon, and no one needed to leave their home. Would you be ready to manage such an emergency? Later that year and once again the manager-on-call, Jane got the call when the water supply to Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital stopped. This caused immediate problems for the renal program, threatened the hospital's ability to carry through with planned surgeries, and was going to cause problems for those living and working at nearby Poplar Ridge long term care home.  Jane and her team immediately arranged drinking water and planned for shutdowns to certain hospital programs. Fortunately, water pressure was restored sooner than expected and those disruptions were minimal.   Jane Power laughs when she is asked to share what she's learned about emergency response. “You need to respond quickly, you can’t manage everything yourself, and you need to pull together the right people so there are different voices and experiences trying to solve the problem," says Jane. “People are so generous. Everybody answers their phones – even in the middle of the night on New Year’s Eve. IH has amazing people.”  In the everyday bustle of health care, unusual circumstances can happen. Emergencies of this size don't happen often, but when they do, it's reassuring to know there emergency response plans in place for each Interior Health location, and people like Jane to lead us through them. Want to be like Jane? Check out our career choices!

With the December holidays quickly approaching, University Hospital of Northern B.C. was dealing with challenging staffing issues. This normally busy hospital was feeling increasingly stretched as the number of patients with COVID-19 continued to grow. In some departments, nurses were taking more shifts that they would have liked in order to keep up with demand. Many of them were in need of some time off to recharge and be with their families over the holidays. When Northern Health reached out for support and asked if nurses in other health authorities might be willing to to help, a group of four intensive care unit (ICU) nurses answered the call. One of the people to respond was Sarah Bullock, a nurse from Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail. Sarah Bullock “I think we are all in this together", says Sarah. "If our hospital was hit by COVID and we needed support, I would hope skilled nurses would be there for us too.” “Since the pandemic started, I have felt a sense of camaraderie with nurses across the world", says Sarah. "Our community has been fortunate, and I wanted to support those fellow nurses who were struggling under difficult circumstances.” Like most health-care workers, nurses are experiencing the pandemic in both their professional and personal lives. "I'm really proud of the professionalism and generosity these nurses showed by responding to the call for support from our neighbors to the north" says Crystal White, director of Interior Health's critical care network and trauma services network. "Sarah Bullock, Taryn Kehler, Taaryn Miller, and Mallory Shofield have reminded me that there are so many ways we can be there for each other." Since the pandemic began, the critical care network has been busy supporting and coordinating the ICU capacity to meet the need of our communities. "The hours have been long and at times tiring, but when I see nurses travel away from home over the holidays to support another community, it puts my own efforts into perspective, says Crystal. These nurses personify my idea of a frontline hero." When asked for her thoughts on how others might show support, Sarah is quick to say "I think we all need to be kind to one another. Everyone has their reasons for doing what they are doing and I think most of us are doing our best to play by the rules and survive these crazy times."  

“I know the feeling of not being included in a conversation”, says Allen Lee, a Medical Laboratory Technologist making big strides in furthering diversity and inclusivity efforts at Kelowna General Hospital’s (KGH) Laboratory. Allen immigrated to Canada when he was only 14 years old, encountering firsthand the many challenges of assimilating into a foreign culture. Now, as part of an Employee Voices Advisory Group (EVAG) at Interior Health, he does more than lend a listening ear to his coworkers; he writes and shares their authentic stories! Although he enjoyed working with his team, Allen noted there were at times missing connections when it came to knowing his coworkers personally. He helped bridge this gap by giving life to the “In Focus” initiative: a lighthearted and informational series of Q&A style pieces written to articulate the richness of his coworkers’ cultures and diverse backgrounds. One of Allen’s In Focus guest stars features Musarrat Abbass, a Medical Lab Assistant at KGH, affectionately nicknamed a gentle giant. He travelled across the globe from Pakistan to pursue a career in Canada’s health care industry. As Musarrat explains his lab work, one need only look at the jubilance on his face to know that Allen’s article made him feel seen, heard and valued. That, and it was the perfect opportunity for the Pakistani-born-and-raised lab assistant to divulge the details of his home country’s exquisite local cuisine of meats, rice and spices. As Kelowna’s demographic makeup evolved, Allen knew it was important to parallel those changes in his workplace. He found strong support for his inclusivity efforts in his manager, Kendra Soukeroff, Professional Practice Leader at KGH Medical Laboratory. Kendra acknowledged the importance of being empathetic in one’s professional relationships, noting how it transforms the work environment into a happy place. The Kelowna General Hospital Medical Laboratory department demonstrates a commitment to inclusion and celebrating diversity, especially in times when traditionally underrepresented groups continue struggling to feel a sense of community in their workplace. As Allen mentions, this is only the beginning, with a lot more room to grow diversity and inclusivity initiatives at Interior Health.   Stay updated with careers at Interior Health  @IHJobs  |  @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  | @InteriorHealthAuthority      

Kamloops is a city known for year-round adventure, culture, a supportive community and a healthy lifestyle. It's also home to a brand new and state-of-the-art Patient Care Tower at Royal Inland Hospital set to open its doors in summer 2022. The tower will include the latest technology for physicians, employees and patients to provide the best in patient care. This expansion brings a broad range of job opportunities including high acuity and specialty positions that a tertiary hospital provides while serving a large and diverse population. The new hospital tower was designed from a patient-centred and elder-friendly perspective, with extensive input from hospital staff, physicians, and stakeholders, Thompson Regional Hospital District, the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, and the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc. "The next couple of years at Royal Inland Hospital are going to be truly miraculous. Adding on the new surgical tower, with private rooms, much more patient-centred opportunities for care, the team at fingertips for patients, physicians, nurses, allied health, lab, x-ray, pharmacy, you name it, all working with the highest technology to be fast, efficient and safe. The quality of care for the patients is going to be exceptional."-Mandy, Regional Practice Leader of Allied Health at Royal Inland Hospital Dr. A Porter, Operating Room Surgeon at Royal Inland HospitalThe expansion to Royal Inland Hospital includes the latest health-care technology, featuring a rooftop helipad for emergencies, single-patient rooms to enhance patient privacy and infection prevention. This modern design provides overall bigger spaces for patients, staff, physicians, and families.  In addition to technological efficiencies, the hospital will provide inclusive spaces for staff and patients alike. Under the guidance of an Aboriginal Patient Navigator, the hospital’s sacred space allows patients of all cultures and backgrounds a safe space to practice their customs they associate with health and healing. "What I love about my work is the cultural agility that we experience and the curiosity around culture and spiritual care." -Debra, Aboriginal Patient Navigator (APN) at Royal Inland Hospital Kamloops is a short drive to world class skiing and is home to those who enjoy a healthy lifestyle in the outdoors with access to hiking and mountain biking trails surrounded by more than 100 lakes for fishing and water sports.  "There aren't too many places on earth wherein April you can be up snowboarding powder and then come down in the afternoon mountain biking right here in town."- Tom, Registered Nurse in Intensive Care at Royal Inland Hospital Sun Peaks Resort. Photo provided by TNRD. "Being in Kamloops there is a certain sense of community that can only be afforded by living in a city like this. It’s an amazing place to be. I’ve been offered so many great opportunities in this hospital and there is so much support mentorship and support."- Noah, Critical Care Registered Nurse at Royal Inland Hospital   If you're a health-care professional or just exploring health-care education opportunities, the Patient Care Tower at Royal Inland Hospital could be the next move in your medical career. Embark on your next career journey and apply at Interior Health today. Stay updated with careers at Interior Health  @IHJobs  |   @InteriorHealthBC.Careers  |  @InteriorHealthAuthority

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.

There is a misconception among people, that aerosol that results from vaping, is only water vapour. In reality, vaping heats a liquid that produces an aerosol, which contains many of the same chemicals as tobacco smoke like heavy metals, carbonyls, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These toxic chemicals may cause cancer, lung disease, and heart disease.Youth are especially susceptible to the negative effects of nicotine which can affect memory, concentration, and their alter brain development. Damage done by smoke, to people who smoke and vape – even younger people - makes it easier to get many lung illnesses. This may put them at risk for serious complications if they get COVID-19. If you do smoke or vape, remember to maintain a safe physical distance. Stay at least two metres (six feet) apart if smoking or vaping in a group, and smoke or vape outside instead of inside.When inhaled, diacetyl causes "popcorn lung" - a chronic disease that causes scarring in the lungs narrowing the airways, and making people cough and feel short of breathMen who smoke are twice as likely to experience impotence than those who don't smoke. Exposure to second-hand smoke is a significant factor in becoming impotent.Inhaling formaldehyde can cause symptoms like sore throat, cough, scratchy eyes, and nosebleeds. It’s also known to cause cancer of the nose and throat.Gum disease is an infection of the tissues and bones that surround and support the teeth. Smoking makes it harder for saliva to remove bacteria in the mouth, and as a result smokers have a higher chance of stained teeth, bad breath, and gum disease.Nicotine raises your blood pressure and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack.The tobacco plant has been an integral part of Indigenous culture for thousands of years, and should be treated with great respect. It is important not to confuse traditional tobacco and its sacred uses, with commercial tobacco and the addiction epidemic we see today.E-juice or Vape Juice is made up of propylene glycol or glycerine, flavourings and often nicotine. The health implications and safety of inhaling these substances are not yet known.Kids are at higher risk of getting sick from second-hand smoke because their lungs are still developing. Kids exposed to second-hand smoke have a greater risk of getting lung infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia. They also suffer from chronic coughing, wheezing and breathing problems, and are more likely to get asthma when exposed to second-hand smoke.Researchers say that more than 90% of lung cancers in men and at least 70% in women are directly caused by cigarette smoking. Lung cancer can also be caused by second-hand smoke. People who regularly breathe second-hand smoke have almost double the risk of getting lung cancer than people who stay away from smoke.Smoking is bad for your health, but it can also make a serious dent in your bank account. Did you know that smoking 5 cigarettes per day could cost you $1500 per year? And 10 cigarettes per day could cost you $3000 per year? Think of what you could buy with that money!Visit the Break It Off website to find out how much of your money is going up in smoke!While other chemicals primarily affect the body, nicotine affects the brain. When people use nicotine products, nicotine is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream, reaching the brain within seconds. In teens, nicotine can significantly alter brain development.Smoking and chewing tobacco are a major cause of oral cancer. Thirty-seven percent (37%) of people diagnosed with oral cancer are expected to die within 5 years after diagnosis.Psoriasis is a chronic skin problem that results in thick, white, silvery, or red patches of skin that can occur anywhere on your body. Experts believe psoriasis occurs when the immune system causes the skin to become inflamed. Smoking can make psoriasis worse.Choosing to quit smoking is a huge decision. Luckily, today there are many methods for young adults to choose from, and different apps, groups and coaches available for support. Learn more about resources available and be done with smoking and vaping at BreakItOff.caDespite efforts by health care professionals, smoking during pregnancy remains a serious public health problem. Approximately 20% - 30% of pregnant women use tobacco during pregnancy which results in serious risks for both the woman and the fetus. Smoking during pregnancy has been shown to increase risks of: low birth weight, still births, decreased fetal growth, premature births, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and infertility.There is no risk-free level of exposure to tobacco smoke. It affects other adults around you, children, and pets. Long-term effects of second-hand smoke exposure increases the risk of asthma, heart disease, stroke, and many types of cancer.Smoking can cause laryngeal cancer - cancer of the larynx. The larynx connects the throat (pharynx) to the windpipe, which leads to the lungs. It is an important structure that serves three main functions - to help you breathe, swallow, and speak.Smoking can make you more prone to peptic ulcers, it makes them take longer to heal, and more likely to reoccur. Young adults are encouraged not to start vaping. There are many misconceptions about the harms of vaping and a false belief that it is safe or, at the very least, harmless. This could not be farther from the truth!Everyone will have their own experience with withdrawal symptoms. For some, withdrawal won’t feel so bad. For others, it will feel horrible. Know that these symptoms won’t last forever, and usually become less noticeable after the first 4-5 days.Inhaling smoke causes permanent damage to the lungs, making their job of circulating oxygen to the rest of the body very difficult. Chest x-rays of a smoker can help detect chronic disease, heart and blood vessel issues, and some cancers. Young people are especially susceptible to the negative effects of nicotine and other chemicals found in vaping products, such as addiction.There is a misconception that inhaling "zero nicotine" products is safe. In reality, the harmful impacts of inhaling flavouring chemicals and other additives are still widely unknown.

As we look back on 2020, we might be tempted to focus on the challenges. However, I want to take a moment to reflect on the strength and resilience demonstrated by individuals and communities as we overcame unimaginable odds together. Our health care system, supported by outstanding teams of providers, patients and families, found new and innovative ways to provide and receive care. Our capital projects continued and new services opened to ensure more patients could access the health care services they need, closer to home. The COVID-19 pandemic hit us hard early in the year and as new information about this novel virus came streaming in, health-care teams throughout Interior Health stepped up to rapidly adapt new processes and procedures. A team of health-care professionals at Royal Inland Hospital shared their experience about working and adjusting to the early days of the pandemic on our News@IH website, Facing the Unknown. It was inspirational throughout these past 10 months to see the spirit of our health-care workers and physicians across the health authority. You may need a tissue to watch as they encouraged each other on YouTube in this video, Health Care Staff Supporting Health Care Staff. These creative efforts to keep staff and patients feeling optimistic are just a few examples of what went on consistently in the background at health care sites throughout Interior Health. When I consider the stresses that health-care staff and physicians have endured in this pandemic, I am deeply moved and so proud of the attitude and strength of our teams who have one shared goal – to protect you and each other and to provide the best care possible. The behind-the-scenes work included upgrading technology to provide care from a distance, opening a new emergency department at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail, emergency department and pharmacy renovations at the Penticton Regional Hospital, and continued construction of the new Patient Care Tower at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. Urgent primary care centres continued to open, offering access to primary care services for many patients who don’t have a primary care provider of their own and to those who needed to see a physician or nurse practitioner immediately. Surgeries restarted in May and through the collective efforts of the entire surgical team from our physicians, to nurses, to cleaning staff and leadership staff, we have made great initial progress in catching up on the elective surgeries that were paused in March to ensure hospital beds and workers were available to handle a surge in COVID-19. The year 2020 taught us how to work together to face challenges and you were there with us every step of the way; washing your hands like never before, staying home when you were asked, wearing masks to protect others and making huge sacrifices when you were only able to visit relatives in long-term care from a distance. We know how difficult this was for our residents and their families. You also showed your support for our health care workers with pot banging at night, parades and beautiful hand-painted signs at our health-care facilities. We are profoundly grateful. Now we have reached 2021 and we still have a pandemic under way, but we have renewed hope with the launch of a massive immunization program to halt the spread of the COVID-19. The fast development of a safe and effective vaccine is monumental and a credit to dedicated scientists around the world who were able to build on what is already known about vaccinations. In Interior Health, a full-scale effort is already in progress to immunize our most vulnerable populations and the health-care workers most at risk from COVID-19. This will take place over the next three months. At the moment, COVID-19 vaccines are not available for the general public, but this will change quickly. We anticipate everyone in the B.C. Interior who wants a vaccine will have been immunized by the fall. Until then, as long as we keep each other healthy, we will soon be able to celebrate renewed connections within our homes, our communities and our health-care sites. Thank you again for your support in 2020 and Happy New Year to you all!