The Juniper Ridge neighbourhood of Kamloops when it caught fire in 2021 Canada Day is often celebrated around Canada with fireworks. In 2021, Mother Nature provided a light show in the form of a lightning storm for those living in the Juniper Ridge and Valleyview neighbourhoods of Kamloops. A wooded area below the ridge appeared to have ignited from the lightning and fire quickly spread towards homes in Valleyview, leading to tactical evacuations of homes under threat and Kamloops Fire Rescue calling out every available firefighter to work. Fortunately, no homes were lost during the incident, but for Karen Cooper (pictured below), Clinical Operations Director in the Thompson-Cariboo Shuswap area, and Juniper Ridge resident, it was a jolt into action. Within minutes of the lightning strike, neighbours texted her to be ready to leave. Having been incident commander on the Lytton fire for her job at Interior Health just the day before, Karen had a “go bag” packed already, and had her son do the same. As such, they were able to act quickly and drive out the lone egress route before the congestion that followed.  “Driving down the long hill looking at the 50-foot walls of flames moving rapidly towards my home was terrifying, and yet hearing later of folks who crept down the hill, taking over two hours to get to safety, made me so grateful for the preparation done just hours earlier. I missed key items, such as my passport and some of my important papers, but I learned a lot and updated my “go bag” items accordingly. I didn’t unpack that bag until December, not wanting to let go of the potential need for it after such a long season of maintaining readiness. “Lastly, I reached out immediately to my team for support through a group text. I was able to hand off being incident commander, and received many welcome words of encouragement from my peers. Knowing I had covered off my work, had a place to go and that my loved ones were safe was so critical to dealing with the immense stress of the situation. “I cannot overstate the importance of having a plan, an egress route, a “go bag” and your circle of support people identified in advance of an emergency situation.” Natural Disaster Champions series In 2021, the B.C. Interior region experienced a natural disaster season like none other. Interior Health staff stepped up and came together to support each other, patients, friends, family and communities. We’re sharing the stories of staff members reflecting on how being prepared – at home and at work – can make all the difference when minutes matter. View more stories in the series

Name: Nicole Walby (she/her/hers) Job Title: Manager, Clinical OperationsYears of Service: 1Worksite: Royal Inland HospitalCommunity: KamloopsAncestral Territory: SecwepemcAdvice to live by: “Go into the world and do well. But more importantly, go into the world and do good.” - Minor Myers Jr. Nicole has deep roots in nursing. Her favourite part of being a nurse is when she’s present when a patient who has had challenging medical needs gets to go home – watching a client and their family leave knowing that she’s participated in meeting their treatment priorities. “I am inspired by the people that I work with. My cup is filled by seeing patients and families improve their health status through perseverance and education; watching new staff grow and develop; and seasoned staff advocate for best practice.” One of the projects Nicole most enjoyed being part of was working with the porter team to create support for the units. She appreciated how the group found it empowering to see the huge impact they made by taking on some non-nursing duties, and spending time with patients and clients that are lonely or confused. “I am frequently amazed at the level of compassion, dedication and enthusiasm shown by the people I am fortunate to work with.”

Émilie Paquin (pictured above) is a Grade 8 student from Revelstoke. She loves to ski, mountain bike, swim, rock climb, and play volleyball and soccer. “I can do all of these things – even as a deaf person,” she says, adding that her electronic hearing devices (cochlear implants) have given her “superpowers” that allow her to listen to music without anyone knowing, and even mute her brother when he’s bugging her. She also speaks three languages – English, sign, and French, the latter a result of her parents hailing from Quebec. “I value these things to be my great qualities in being deaf,” she explains. That Émilie has learned to define her own existence in a most positive way is testament to her emotional maturity. But it’s also proof that early intervention is crucial to helping children with hearing impairment grow up learning to live with and, in fact, thrive in their abilities, instead of being defined by their disabilities, says Carolyn Duncan, a speech-language pathologist with Interior Health. “Currently, over 97 per cent of babies born in B.C. are being screened, with one in every 500 babies being born with permanent hearing loss,” says Carolyn. “Hearing and language are connected, and babies who are deaf or hard of hearing need support as early as possible.”

Often during an emergency, there are people who stand out as exceptional leaders. Michael-Ann Miller (pictured above), clinical operations manager in the South Okanagan (SOK), is one of them. In the fall of 2021, the Tulameen River crested and flooded the town of Princeton in the SOK. During the flood, with roads and highways cut off due to water rising, Michael-Ann was the eyes and ears on the ground, supporting and coordinating emergency efforts. Homes were devastated, and water, gas and other utilities were impacted.  “I’m sure she did a lot more than I know about!” said Sarah Edwards, manager of the primary care network in the SOK. “Michael-Ann is a true superstar who cares greatly about her community and is passionate about providing access to safe and excellent health care in rural communities.” Not only did Michael-Ann support and coordinate the move of patients from the hospital facilities in her care but also from Ridgewood Lodge long-term care facility, as its manager was on vacation at the time. Michael-Ann also fielded the strong emotions and stress coming from both staff and the community of Princeton. At the same time, she was also dealing with personal impacts of the flood, and caring for her family and elderly in-law extended family. “Michael-Ann worked tirelessly to ensure everyone was evacuated safely, effectively and efficiently, and in a timely way,” said Jana Abetkoff, directory of primary care in the SOK. “She supported staff struggling to work in challenging conditions while managing their own personal impacts as well. "The dedication she demonstrated was exemplary in this circumstance. We will forever be grateful for her professionalism, resilience, organization and commitment to staff, clients and her community." Natural Disaster Champions series In 2021, the B.C. Interior region experienced a natural disaster season like none other. Interior Health staff stepped up and came together to support each other, patients, friends, family and communities. We’re sharing the stories of staff members reflecting on how being prepared – at home and at work – can make all the difference when minutes matter. View more stories in the series

Name: Jessica Niemela (she/her/hers)Job Title: AudiologistYears of Service: 3Worksite: Vernon Health UnitCommunity: VernonAncestral Territory: SyilxAdvice to live by: “It’s not just about hearing, it’s about being heard.” – Gael Hannan Going through her own journey with hearing loss and wearing hearing aids provided inspiration for Jessica’s career choice.  “The journey is not always easy and requires a holistic approach that goes beyond wearing hearing devices,” shares Jessica.  The onset of permanent hearing loss can happen after birth, making it important for children to have their hearing screened prior to entering school in order to give them the best chance for academic success and social/emotional development. Jessica finds it most rewarding to work with children and families through their own journeys with hearing loss and to see them become their own self-advocates for accessibility.

Name: Dr. Kathryn Brown (she/her/hers)Job Title: Cardiologist, Regional Director of Cardiac Diagnostics, Medical Director of CardiologyYears of Service: 7Worksite: Kelowna General HospitalCommunity: KelownaAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by: Life is 10 per cent what happens to you, and 90 per cent how you react to it. An adrenaline lover and avid traveller by heart, Kathryn is also a passionate and dedicated physician leader at Interior Health. She started her physician career as a cardiologist, and has now expanded her role to also serve as an administrator and leader as Regional Director of Cardiac Diagnostics and Medical Director of Cardiology. “Being a physician is inherently a privilege,” shares Kathryn. “You care for people at their most vulnerable, frightened, hopeful and every phase in between. To immediately be trusted, confided in, and have people place their bodies, their futures and their fears in your hands is an amazing and humbling honour that I try to live up to every day.” In this work, she helps improve and shape the future of heart health and care in our communities – yet another amazing opportunity she says she is grateful for.

Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital emergency department nurses: Jane Carlton, Tamara Roscoe, Teresa Myers, and Emily Larochelle Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a treatable medical condition. And, yet, many people living with OUD don’t have a regular care provider who can help connect them to medication. For many, their first exposure to treatment is through an emergency department (ED). Which is why it’s so important that Interior Health has now made the opioid use disorder medication Suboxone available in its EDs. Suboxone is an Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) medication used to treat dependence on opioid drugs. 

Helping new managers is a dream job for Colleen McEwan (pictured above), who has become the first manager mentor in Interior Health.  Before her retirement, she worked as both a manager and a director in clinical operations for Interior Health in the Central Okanagan, North Okanagan and Thompson regions. Last fall, she returned on a part-time basis to pilot a manager mentor program at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops, where many managers are new to their roles.

Clint Blok, playing his guitar while camping Name: Clint Blok (he/him/his)Job Title: Community Integration Care CoordinatorYears of Service: 11Worksite: Penticton Urgent and Primary Care CentreCommunity: PentictonAncestral Territory: Syilx OkanaganAdvice to live by: Be the best version of yourself! When Clint began nursing school, he planned on working in the operating room (OR), but it turns out he’s never worked or done a placement there. Eleven years in to his career with Interior Health, Clint is a Registered Nurse (RN) Team Lead (or Community Integration Care Coordinator) at the Penticton Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC).