We Are IH: Admin services manager’s staff give her confidence

January 11, 2024

Marie, husband Shane, Rory (in the red sweater) and Aaron pose with Santa.

Name: Marie Vajda (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Administrative Services Manager
Years of Service: 6
Worksite: Penticton Health Centre
Community: South Okanagan
Ancestral Territory: Syilx
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: “Don't stress. Take it one email, one request and one day at a time.” And “sorry—my crystal ball is broken!”

After working in retail supervision and management for 10 years, Marie found herself at a junction when the company she was working for closed.

After going back to school, she found a job as a medical office assistant in a busy North Vancouver office. When her husband’s work took them to Prince George, she found a job as a medical software tester and trainer.

Six years later, in 2017, the Vadja family moved to Penticton, where Marie found a position in administration at the Penticton Health Centre. What started out as a casual role became a permanent position. She was promoted to supervisor, then manager, administrative services.

In this Story…

Learn more about her journey with IH

Marie Vajda nominates Tannis Lee to keep We Are IH going.

Explore administrative services Careers@IH

Learn more about her journey with IH

A smiling woman in glasses wearing a red shirt and teal scarf cuddles a young boy — Marie poses with her son Rory in their Scout uniforms.

When she was growing up, Marie joined the Girl Guides and was a Guide until she was 19. After high school, she travelled to London, England to work at a World Guiding Centre, which groups from around the world come to visit. “I always thought I’d get back into Girl guiding, but then I had two boys!” laughs Marie.

Her oldest son Rory, who is seven, is in Beavers with Scouts Canada. Marie has now traded the blue Girl Guides uniform for the red Scout shirt! She is a Beaver leader and moves up to Cubs in the spring.
At Interior Health, the administrative services manager says she’s a firm believer in treating people the way you want to be treated. “No one is going to want to help you with anything if you haven't been treating them with respect,” she asserts. “I strive to make work as pleasant as possible.”

“My team inspires me to come to work every day. When I first started as a casual with IH, I never thought I would one day become a manager. It's been my staff and leaders that have given me the confidence to be the manager I am.”

-- Marie Vajda

One of her proudest moments at IH came when she was speaking to a friend she had recently met. “She had just gone for her COVID vaccine and was commenting on how well the immunization clinic was organized, and how well the space was laid out,” says Marie. “It was my team that had coordinated the vaccine clinic.”

A smiling woman with glasses and grey shirt sits on a grey couch cuddling two young boys — Marie relaxes with her sons in their Penticton home.

Born in Surrey and raised in North Vancouver, Marie enjoys all that the Okanagan has to offer. “My favourite thing about living in the Okanagan is how laid back it is, and how there’s always something to do,” Marie explains. She likes to spend time with friends, swim at the beach, and relax with a glass of wine on her patio.

She has now been in Penticton for six years, and has no plans to leave. “I’m looking forward to seeing how IH grows,” says Marie. “There's so much opportunity with this organization.”

A black and brown dog with pointy ears and pink collar stands next to a brown dog with floppy ears and a pink collar on snow — The Vadja’s family pets, Sasha (L) and Maggie (R).

Marie Vajda nominates Tannis Lee to keep We Are IH going.

"Tannis took over my position when I was awarded Administrative Services Supervisor. Before she could start in the position, I went on maternity leave. She was left with my manual in the midst of COVID testing and immunization clinics. Not only did she manage to survive the demands put on her but she thrived. I came back to my new position very impressed!" - Marie Vajda