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.”
I pursued nursing because I wanted a career grounded in compassion, human connection and advocacy. Over time, I’ve become inspired by improving systems, strengthening education, and creating safer, more equitable spaces for both patients and staff. The career journey I've pursued has been challenging but rewarding.
Learn more about Sarah’s journey with IH
Sarah’s journey into nursing began with a simple but powerful intention: to build a career grounded in compassion and human connection. That intention has guided her through every chapter since.
She specialized early on and began her career on the Labour & Delivery unit at Royal Inland Hospital in 2006. In 2019, she specialized as a perioperative nurse.
Later she stepped into regional knowledge coordinator roles, first in Perioperative Services, then in Specialty Learning Pathways.
Today, she serves in Clinical Operations as the manager for Obstetrics and the Thompson Region Family Obstetrics Clinic, a role that blends her love of mentorship, her commitment to quality care, and her ability to bring people together during challenging times.
My path has always been guided by a strong support system, and a passion for teaching, advocacy and quality improvement. My life and career journey, while emotional and at times challenging, has shaped me into the nurse and leader I am today.
A career comes full circle
Ask her about her proudest moment, and Sarah will tell you it’s returning to lead the very unit where she began as a third-year nursing student—the very same place she spent 15 years growing, learning and finding her voice as a nurse.
Becoming manager of that unit wasn’t just a career milestone; it was deeply personal.
She later helped to redesign and implement new pathways in partnership with the Ministry of Health and post-secondary institutions. Today, she interviews and hires students into programs she helped build, creating a full-circle moment that still feels surreal.
Many of the learners she once taught are now staff she supports as their manager. Many of the mentors who once guided her are now colleagues. These relationships, layered with history and mutual respect, are among the most meaningful parts of her career.
“Relationships, compassion and connection are the heart of my work. I’m a human being first above everything else,” shares Sarah. “My proudest accomplishments are those that involve supporting teams through difficult transitions, uplifting others, and helping create environments where people feel cared for, heard, supported and respected.”
She also reflects proudly on leading her obstetrical team through an unprecedented period of change by instilling hope and resilience to a team that showed up for each other, even in times of uncertainty.
Sarah spends her days supporting staff, troubleshooting clinical and operational challenges, coordinating across services and sites and ensuring the unit runs smoothly. She spends much of her time checking in with staff, problem-solving, and supporting the needs of her team.
Looking ahead
After completing her Master of Nursing this past December, Sarah is excited to translate her academic work into tangible improvements for families and staff. She’s looking forward to contributing to long-term, sustainable solutions for obstetrical care. She's filled with optimism, curiosity and a deep sense of responsibility.
Outside the hospital, she finds joy in the quiet moments such as spending time with family, snuggling her fur babies, crocheting, attending yoga classes, and nurturing her garden of more than 75 plants.
She is a devoted plant enthusiast, turning plant care into a creative, calming practice. “It’s a hobby that brings me peace,” she says, “it allows me to experiment creatively with different species, arrangements and growth techniques.”
Just like her garden, Sarah helps her mentees grow and thrive
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