Celebrating IH staff who are helping make health-care sustainable

April 22, 2025

Clinical sustainability coordinator Christine Henderson (L) and Dr. Launny Lowden (R) presented on their work to "Green the Lab" at Quality Forum 2025.

This Earth Day, we celebrate our incredible staff and medical professionals who have been taking action to advance environmental initiatives across Interior Health (IH). Together, they’re leading us to create a health-care future that’s sustainable for decades to come.

To celebrate Earth Day this year, we created a video to showcase some of our sustainability highlights from the past year.

Explore highlights from the past year

We made climate change a strategic priority

As part of our 2024–2027 Strategic Direction, we have included a new strategic priority, Addressing Climate Change and Sustainability.

We continued to implement Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap actions

In 2024, we continued to implement the 20 actions under our Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap, our five-year plan to embed climate action and sustainability across our operations.

We received two national awards

We received two national awards for our accomplishments in environmental sustainability and energy management.

Four people in formal attire pose with an award on a stage in front of a purple and yellow background. — Lorne Sisley, executive director of Corporate Services at IH, accepts the Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award by the Canadian College of Health Leaders. From L to R: Alain Doucet, President and CEO, Canadian College of Health Leaders (2018-2024), Luis Rodrigues, general manager, Energy and Infrastructure Solutions, Trane Technologies, Lorne Sisley, Brenda Rebman, CHE, Chair, Canadian College of Health Leaders (2022-2025).

The Canadian College of Health Leaders awarded us the Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award for an “unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility amidst daunting climate challenges.”

A group of people in casual attire, some wearing lanyards, stand in front of lab equipment in a hospital. — Some members of the Kootenay Lake Hospital lab team. The KLH lab was recognized for their efforts to implement strategies to improve the lab's environmental performance.

In November, Kootenay Lake Hospital’s Laboratory was awarded the 2024–25 Green Lab Award from the Canadian Association of Pathologists. The laboratory team has been dedicated to implementing strategies to improve the site’s environmental performance while maintaining high-quality patient care.

We hired IH's first medical director, climate change and sustainability

A person in an orange quarter zip hoodie stands with their hands in their pockets in front of a solar panel in a field of dry grasses. — Dr. Ilona Hale

We hired Dr. Ilona Hale, our first medical director, climate change and sustainability, to advance clinical sustainability projects.

We identified sustainability opportunities in Pharmacy and Lab Services

Two people, one in a green sweater, one in a blue jacket, and wearing lanyards stand together in front of poster presentations at a conference. — Christine Henderson (L) and Dr. Launny Lowden (R) presented on their work to ‘Green the Lab’ at Quality Forum 2025.

We have worked closely to identify sustainability opportunities to reduce waste and emissions in Pharmacy and Lab Services. We launched a Lab Sustainability Focus Group and published a national playbook on integrating sustainability into clinical laboratories.

We engaged with communities and Indigenous partners

Two people wearing bike helmets sit on a bench at the top of a mountain overlooking a river and mountains. The skies look hazy. — A hazy day in Trail, B.C. IH piloted a Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment project in the Kootenay Boundary region in 2024.

We continued to engage and work together with local communities and Indigenous partners to coordinate pre-season activities, prepare for extreme weather events and reduce climate related health impacts.

In the Kootenay Boundary (KB) region, we piloted a Climate Change and Health Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment project. This assessment evaluates vulnerability of climate-related health impacts, focusing on extreme heat, cold, flooding, wildfires and smoke, and drought in the KB. It will serve as a template for future assessment in other Interior regions.