We Are IH: Helping residents motivates Vernon maintenance worker

A moment that stands out for Kevin is the time when a resident asked him to hang a picture for her. “I had a lot on the go but decided to take a quick look. She explained that her son made the picture out of little pieces of tile. It was wrapped in a blanket, and it was around 24 x 30 inches and weighed 30 plus pounds. I couldn't believe the work involved in making it. I could sense the importance to her in her eyes and her voice; I knew I had to install this work of art for her.

“Later on, another worker said [the resident] wanted to see me. I knocked on her door, and when I entered she reached over, handed me a big orange chocolate bar and said ‘Thank you. You are wonderful.’ I said ‘You’re welcome, because you are a queen of diamonds.’ She laughed and said ‘That's what my son calls me.’

“It’s those types of little jobs that might not mean much to us, but to her it meant everything.”

Kevin, who considers himself a straight-up guy, has a wife, Christie, three kids and four grandkids, including a brand-new one born in February 2023.

In his free time, Kevin enjoys salmon fishing and hunting. In fact, for 32 years, he’s visited Nootka Island three times a year to go salmon fishing. Camping on the traditional and unceded territory of the Mowachaht Peoples, and learning about and from their history and way of life, is a highlight of the year for Kevin.

Have you thought about a career in the trades at IH?

Explore career opportunities