Name: Sarah Pilar Dares (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Clinical Operations Manager
Length of Service: 20 years
Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital
Community: Kamloops
Ancestral Territory: Tk'emlups in Secwépemc Nation.
Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: "People will forget what you said and what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel." —Maya Anjelou
For more than two decades, Kamloops has been home for Sarah Dares, who lives, works and provides care on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc Nation.
Since arriving to Kamloops in 2001, she has dedicated most of her nursing career to serving families within the area, and building relationships rooted in trust, humility and deep respect.
Her work has taken her across the region as a regional educator, supporting communities throughout Secwépemc, syilx/Okanagan, Nlaka’pamux, Ktunaxa, St’át’imc and Tsilhqot’in territories, an experience she describes as an honour and a privilege.
Born and raised in Whitehorse, Yukon, her family’s Tlingit roots and lived experiences have shaped her understanding of reconciliation in a profound way. She carries this with her every day.
“Several members of my family are Tlingit and have been directly affected by the intergenerational impacts of residential schools, racism and systemic inequities. Because of this, reconciliation is deeply personal and connected to the lived experiences of my family and community.”
Sarah adds reconciliation means listening deeply, honouring Indigenous knowledge, validating lived experiences, and fostering health-care environments where Indigenous families feel respected, safe and welcomed. “Reconciliation, to me, means creating space for truth, humility and meaningful change,” explains Sarah.
“It's an ongoing commitment to learning and meaningful relationship-building and doing everything in our power not to repeat history.”
