Algae are a natural part of the aquatic ecosystems of lakes and algae blooms can occur throughout the Interior Health region. Blue-green algae are actually a microscopic bacteria called cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria can live in waters through winter. In the warmer spring and summer months, cyanobacteria can multiply very quickly and produce several types of toxins that can be poisonous to people, pets and livestock. “It’s that time of year when we can see increased blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms on lakes. These blooms tend to stay on the water surface and may have a leafy scent,” says Interior Health medical health officer Dr. Andy Delli Pizzi. “Sometimes blooms can be toxic for those who come in contact with the water. My advice is to use common sense and avoid contact or consuming water if you suspect there is a cyanobacteria bloom.”

Name: Robert GignacJob Title: Care AideYears of Service: 35Worksite: Parkview PlaceCommunity: EnderbyAncestral Territory: Secwépemc NationFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “It’s better to give than to receive.” Since joining Parkview Place in 2012, Robert Gignac has left his mark on the long-term care home. He has greeted people with a smile as a screener, helped things run smoothly behind the scenes, and most recently, has been serving residents as a care aide.  Most importantly, Robert always tries to leave residents smiling after an interaction. “When I work with some of my residents, they ask, ‘What is your name?’ When I say, ‘Mr. Wonderful,’ they burst out laughing,” Robert says. 

Name: Bettina Panio (she/her/hers)Job Title: Certified Practice Registered Nurse (RN)Years of Service: 13Worksite: Blue River Health Centre, Clearwater, Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital & Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital (ED & ICU)Community: Louis CreekAncestral Territory: SecwepemcFavourite Quote: I love quotes that touch me and call to me. There are too many to chose from but since this is about nursing, I really like this quote, “Value what you do and add value by what you do.”Advice to Live By: Be like a tree: Stand tall and proud. Stay grounded. Connect with your roots. Turn over a new leaf. Bend before you break. Go out on a limb. Drink plenty of water. Be content and enjoy your unique natural beauty. Keep growing. Enjoy the view. A desire to expand the scope of her practice, coupled with great family support, has led Certified Practice Registered Nurse Bettina Panio to try a new position at Interior Health (IH) in the remote community of Blue River. Since November 2024, Bettina has been providing care two days a week for clients at the Blue River Health Centre. The centre, located between Clearwater and Valemount along Highway 5, is based out of the historic Blue River Outpost building which was established as a first aid clinic in 1948.

“Preparedness is not a luxury. It’s a necessity.” That’s the message Interior Health’s (IH) Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC) team wants to get across to our communities as British Columbia emergency agencies prepare for another unpredictable wildfire season. And, with temperatures warming up, now is the time to review your emergency plan and take stock of your emergency kit, so you’re prepared. While there are some fundamental items that should always live in your kit—water, food, a battery-operated or wind-up flashlight and radio, personal medications, extra keys and cash—everyone’s personal situation is unique and there are no rules for what you can or can’t add to those basic supplies.

Name: Mike Robinson (he/him/his)Job Title: UrologistYears of Service: 10Worksite: Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH)Community: TrailAncestral Territory: Sinixt, syilx and Ktunaxa  Raised in the small lakeside town of Christina Lake, B.C., Dr. Mike Robinson always knew the West Kootenays would be part of his story. What he didn’t know, as a young student passionate about human physiology, was that he would one day become a cornerstone of surgical care in the region he calls home. After completing his undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics and Exercise Physiology at the University of British Columbia (UBC), Dr. Robinson continued to medical school through UBC’s Northern Medical Program in Prince George, as part of only the second cohort of this innovative, community-based initiative.  He later returned to Vancouver for a surgical residency at UBC and spent a year working locum positions in Vancouver before ultimately finding his professional home in Trail.

Doug Berry says after a lengthy journey to his cancer diagnosis and treatment, he is thankful for the travel support he received through the Cancer Travel and Accommodation Services (CTAAS) program.    In 2023, Doug had visited Mexico for his daughter’s wedding. For years, he had been experiencing soreness and itchiness on his skin. During the trip, the Sicamous resident saw a new dermatologist who suggested he undergo a biopsy.  “Two weeks later, I received a letter saying I should visit an oncologist,” Doug recalls. “It was a bit of a shock, but I called my doctor right away.” 

Thousands of volunteers of all ages work alongside our staff across the Interior Health region. Volunteers complement the care provided by our professionals, and are welcomed, respected and valued members of the IH care team. The incredible work, kindness and dedication of our volunteers make a huge difference in delivering outstanding care and positive experiences to the people we serve. We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to all our volunteers across IH for supporting our patients, our visitors and our staff. This National Volunteer Week, we are celebrating volunteers all around IH and would like to introduce you to two outstanding volunteers who help strengthen our communities.

Name: Hilary Brotherhood (she/her/hers)Job Title: UrologistYears of Service: 5Worksite: Kootenay Boundary Regional HospitalCommunity: Trail, B.C. Ancestral Territory: syilx territoryFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Dr. Maya Angelou Born and raised in Kamloops, B.C., Dr. Hilary Brotherhood always knew she wanted to serve others in a meaningful way. Now a urologist based at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail, Hilary has spent the past five years delivering specialized, compassionate care to patients across the Kootenays.

Andrea* walks into the pharmacy sporting casual clothes and sneakers, a purse slung over her shoulder. Small jewellery studs dot her face, and her warm, friendly face is framed by a short bob. For the past two years, Andrea has been coming to this pharmacy two to three times a week to have her fentanyl patches changed by a registered nurse. Since she started the fentanyl patch program—under a broader program known as prescribed safer supply—she’s gone from living in a tent city in Kelowna to full-time employment, owning a car and renting a place of her own. *Name changed to protect client's privacy and identity.